Opinions Requested: Drilling a Control Panel?

MilitiaMan

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So ... I am finishing up my MultiWilliams cabinet. I bought a Joust control panel from someone here that had already gone to the trouble of plugging all of the original holes with bondo (saved me some work, thank you).

I have completely sanded the control panel, applied some additional bondo to smooth things out even more, and sprayed a coat of primer on it. This thing is smooth as a baby's ass and ready for the MW overlay. I am still going to apply a coat of black paint before applying the overlay.

Here is my question:

This thing is perfectly smooth right now and has NO holes in it whatsoever. Should I ...

A. Apply the MW overlay first before cutting the holes and then drill the holes after the overlay adheres properly?

or

B. tape the overlay on, mark the holes, drill the holes, and then apply the overlay over the newly drilled panel?

My concern is if I drill the holes before applying the overlay that the holes might not match up perfectly once the overlay is applied.

My other concern is if I apply the overlay and THEN drill the holes that I may rip or tear the overlay with the drill bit.

What would you do?

Just looking for opinions here ... there are no wrong answers. ;-)

Steve
MM
 
Go with B and every good carpenter's motto: measure twice, cut once.
 
My concern is if I drill the holes before applying the overlay that the holes might not match up perfectly once the overlay is applied.

As long as you clamp the overlay properly before applying the overlay that won't be an issue.
 
A. Apply the MW overlay first before cutting the holes and then drill the holes after the overlay adheres properly?

If you catch/tear/scrape the overlay while drilling.... do you want to strip it off and start again?? Go to plan B!!
The only holes that must be EXACT are the joystick holes. The buttons have flanges that will cover any minor misalignment, then again, if your using joystick dust covers on top, they will cover the holes too... Just measure and re-measure as was mentioned.

Did your panel have the metal top plate in it? did you just bring the bondo level with that? Just curious... I'm just starting a MW panel, using a Joust panel. I ordered a few SS metal plates which should be here today. My plan is to measure and drill the new plate, check to make sure it matches the CPO, then bondo and fill the CP, use a router to make space for the joystick dust covers to sit under the metal. Then assemble.

I'd be interested in seeing pictures of your progress!!
 
Option B. I use those spring clip clamps and all over the CP to make sure I have it right and then use a 10 p nail to punch a hole through the overlay into the wood to make sure I have the centers.

Remember there is about a 1/16" lip all around buttons so being off just slightly is not a problem.

ken
 
If you catch/tear/scrape the overlay while drilling.... do you want to strip it off and start again?? Go to plan B!!
The only holes that must be EXACT are the joystick holes. The buttons have flanges that will cover any minor misalignment, then again, if your using joystick dust covers on top, they will cover the holes too... Just measure and re-measure as was mentioned.

Did your panel have the metal top plate in it? did you just bring the bondo level with that? Just curious... I'm just starting a MW panel, using a Joust panel. I ordered a few SS metal plates which should be here today. My plan is to measure and drill the new plate, check to make sure it matches the CPO, then bondo and fill the CP, use a router to make space for the joystick dust covers to sit under the metal. Then assemble.

I'd be interested in seeing pictures of your progress!!

Yes ... the CP I am using does have the large metal plate over the top as it is also a Joust control panel originally.

The previous owner has already bondoed in the holes, but there was still a lot of overlay residue on the panel (which I sanded off) and there were quite a few nicks/indentions in both the wood part of the panel and the metal part of the panel. I basically used bondo and then glazing compound to fill in all of the little imperfections as I wanted to start with a totally smooth surface.

I am getting some good ideas here as far as measuring goes, so I will incorporate all of those when I go to drill my holes.

I will try to get some photos along the way. Thanks for the great ideas!

Steve
MM
 
I use those spring clip clamps and all over the CP to make sure I have it right and then use a 10 p nail to punch a hole through the overlay into the wood to make sure I have the centers.

Now that is a damn good idea Ken!

I will be drilling into metal and then wood underneath. I assume I can still use this idea, but I may have to hit the hammer a bit harder to get it to "score" the metal where I will start drilling. Thoughts?

Steve
MM
 
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