September 7, 2012

Drilling the Enclosure

Pedal Building Electronics, Pedal, Video 36

Here’s the table of contents for the whole DIY pedal building series:

Now that we’ve modeled the enclosure and printed a drilling template, we’re ready to jump out of Sketchup and into the real world.

In this video, I’ll be demonstrating how to accurately drill the holes in a diecast aluminum 125B guitar pedal enclosure, preparing to install the electronics. I’m using the drilling template we printed in part 2. The pedal I’m building is a modified Ross compressor, using a printed circuit board purchased from GuitarPCB.

Funny, I just noticed while reviewing the final video edit that I was saying “barrel” instead of “bezel” for the LED bezel. I guess I was channeling my inner Cooper.

Some of the resources used in this video:

Carl Professional Rotary Trimmer
Automatic punch
3/32” drill bit- always handy. Buy a cheap 10-pack in case you break one.
Unibit stepped drill bit. I’ve since purchased this unbelievably cheap set from Harbor Freight which has steps down to 1/8”
Round file
Fractional calipers – one of my favorite tools
Weller WES51 soldering station
Pot back covers – or just make your own with heat shrink, or electrical tape
See more pedal-building resources in the Intro to DIY Pedal Building

36 Comments

Cameron Becker
September 7, 2012 @ 9:04 pm

Wow this is an amazing series! keep it up

Reply
GrimKriegor
September 7, 2012 @ 9:12 pm

Thx for the videos good sire, this is good stuff, as always!

Reply
kleydj13
September 7, 2012 @ 9:22 pm

Great video, thanks.

Reply
The8TrackChap
September 7, 2012 @ 10:26 pm

I recommend just buying pre-drilled enclosures from Pedal Parts Plus. They have all parts for pedals you would need and everything fits nicely in their pre-drilled enclosures. You can even custom order various hole configurations for various knobs and switches etc.

Reply
- John
  September 8, 2012 @ 10:25 am
  
  Sure, you can get predrilled enclosures from ppp, mammoth, byoc, etc, not to mention complete pedal kits. My intention with this video series is to show how to do it all from scratch.
  
  Reply
  - iagobroxado
    December 25, 2012 @ 3:13 pm
    
    That’s really cool John, cos’ sometimes we want a hole layout the DIY stores don’t offer as pre-drilled option or we have to enlarge a pre-existing hole, as you demonstrated.
    
    Reply
The8TrackChap
September 7, 2012 @ 10:39 pm

What effect is it? The easiest types of effects to build are usually fuzzes and overdrives and distortions. But some overdrives can be complex if they have op-amp chips.

Reply
- John
  September 8, 2012 @ 10:27 am
  
  This is a modified Ross compressor. (See the notes below the video). I’m planning to do a video later demonstrating how to make a simple boost or fuzz, on vero/strip-board,
  
  Reply
  - The8TrackChap
    September 8, 2012 @ 3:26 pm
    
    I’ve actually tried making my own ToneBender replica circuit, but the Germanium PNP transistors are extremely heat sensitive and I think I ruined them. The ones I used were 2N404 and they had gold leads and I believe gold is actually one of the most conductive metals for heat.
    
    Reply
TheEarthBlues2
September 8, 2012 @ 5:53 am

Fantastic!

Reply
Finishing the Enclosure -
September 28, 2012 @ 6:06 pm

[…] previous posts, we modeled the enclosure in Sketchup, drilled it, and now we’re ready for paint and artwork. In this video, I talk about options for […]

Reply
Using GIMP to Create Pedal Artwork -
October 15, 2012 @ 10:09 pm

[…] next step in finishing up the pedal that we’ve modeled, drilled and painted previously, is to prepare the artwork and […]

Reply
Waterslide Decals -
December 17, 2012 @ 12:23 pm

[…] the pedal, and apply a durable clear finish. In previous videos, I showed how to model, drill, and paint the enclosure, and design and prepare the artwork and labels in […]

Reply
MrKingalow
April 17, 2013 @ 5:57 pm

Thanks so much – you gave me the confidence to do this myself – why pay someone else? 🙂

Reply
Gledison Fonseca
June 6, 2013 @ 11:43 am

thanks for the video John! look, what about a square hole for a square DC input? 😛
any suggestions?

Reply
- John
  June 6, 2013 @ 3:11 pm
  
  Aluminum is soft- you could drill a smaller round hole, and then use a fine straight file (or maybe chisel) to turn your circle into a square.
  Better idea- use round DC jacks 🙂
  
  Reply
lawrence096
July 28, 2013 @ 2:30 pm

Thanks a lot for the video, clear precise instructions, straight to the point.

Reply
Rafael Santana
September 3, 2013 @ 2:20 pm

you rocks man!!

Reply
George Jetson
January 2, 2014 @ 8:43 am

If you want cases and parts for next to nothing, scout pawn shops & music
stores for busted pedals. I advertise for busted pedals in any condition. I
rarely pay more than $10. I get an enclosure and spare parts to boot.
Special switches, jacks, controls, 9v clips, caps, resistors for other
projects. A lot of times I buy a pedal that is easily repaired. It saves a
lot of time & money.

Reply
dannysanchez7924
January 11, 2014 @ 5:20 pm

what wattage is your drill rated at? would a cordless drill work?

Reply
aran everitt
March 10, 2014 @ 12:11 pm

Awsome video man random question but what soldering iron is that? I need an
upgrade 🙂

Reply
bluegpu
March 29, 2014 @ 3:16 pm

Great video! thanks!

Reply
Miguel Nascimento
June 6, 2014 @ 9:28 am

What gear do you use? I take forever to drill a single hole… I have cheap
HSS drill bits and a 500W with 3000rpm drill. Do I need to buy better
drills?

Reply
Andy Betts
July 19, 2014 @ 9:03 am

It’s aluminium….. There’s 2 i’s in it… not one. nice job though, and a
good finish 🙂

Reply
tony beavers
December 12, 2014 @ 10:13 am

Where do you buy the enclosure?

Reply
Michael Driskell
January 11, 2015 @ 6:37 pm

Great videos! What graphic program do you use for your designs?

Reply
Dorbe Biton
January 12, 2015 @ 5:12 am

I was wondering about the part you vacuumed the shreds… Doesn’t that
kills the vacume?!?

Reply
Deathlycream
March 9, 2015 @ 5:23 pm

aren’t you scared for your fingers? 🙁

Reply
Sebastian Walker
July 7, 2015 @ 1:59 pm

What are the covers called you used on your pots?

Reply
Arcadio D
November 30, 2015 @ 9:07 am

Hi Jonh, amazing page. Do you have the layout of the 3PDT PCB you used ? I’ve been trying to look for a good one.

Reply
- John
  November 30, 2015 @ 9:54 am
  
  I used an earlier version of this 3PDT board from guitarpcb:
  http://www.guitarpcb.com/apps/webstore/products/show/3436229
  -John
  
  Reply
  - Arcadio D
    November 30, 2015 @ 10:23 am
    
    Oh, i thought it was a DIY version, thanks for the quick response i really appreciate.
    
    Reply
Intro to DIY Pedal Building - Planet Z
September 1, 2016 @ 11:00 am

[…] Drilling a 125B Guitar Effects Pedal Enclosure […]

Reply
Sketch Me Up! - Planet Z
September 1, 2016 @ 11:01 am

[…] Drilling a 125B Guitar Effects Pedal Enclosure […]

Reply
Finishing the Enclosure - Planet Z
September 1, 2016 @ 11:06 am

[…] previous posts, we modeled the enclosure in Sketchup, drilled it, and now we’re ready for paint and artwork. In this video, I talk about options for finishing […]

Reply
DIY Guitar Pedal Building Series - Planet Z
September 1, 2016 @ 11:49 am

[…] Drilling a 125B Guitar Effects Pedal Enclosure […]

Reply

Drilling the Enclosure

36 Comments

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