ampage Tube Amps / Music Electronics	For current discussions, please visit Music Electronics Forum.

ampage archive

Vintage threads from the first ten years

Greenlee punches

:

9/29/2000 7:24 PM
Monty	Greenlee punches What are the 3 or 4 most useful sizes for building guitar amps? Even used, these guys are expensive. Thanks, Monty

9/29/2000 8:13 PM
Reid Kneeland	"Uncle Ned" Carlson sells a reasonably priced punch set. Have a look at http://www.triodeel.com (a great place to deal with, in my experience). The kit is on the "amp parts" page. Reid

9/29/2000 8:41 PM
Monty	Thanks, Reid, 5/8, 3/4, 11/16 , 1, 1 -3/16 for $50 is not bad. Do those sizes cover everything? I'd think a sub-5/8 would be needed for jack and pot holes. Monty

9/29/2000 9:40 PM

Here's the sizes I use

Preamp tubes--3/4" and 7/8" depending on the size of the socket. But these two sizes pretty much cover anything for the nine pin sockets available.

Power Tubes--1-1/16" cover the common ones still being made today available most everywhere. I also want a 1-1/8" for those expensive buggers from Angela.

It's really, find out what sockets are available and which ones you like. Buy the sizes you need.

For the smaller sized holes, pots/jacks/etc... I use a unibit available at most hardware stores. Nice clean round holes.

bw

9/30/2000 2:57 AM
Steve A.	Monty: I'd think a sub-5/8 would be needed for jack and pot holes. I've been using "Uni-Bits" for the smaller holes; these are a stepped bit which will cover maybe 13 different sizes. I just got another one that starts at 1/2" and goes up to 1". They are not cheap; the smaller one is around $25 and the larger one is around $40. --Good luck! Steve Ahola

9/30/2000 1:03 AM

Here is my gift to you, Monty, and anyone else reading this reply. Not being turned on by the price of Greenlee punches today, I dug up a great alternative. They are called Q-Max, and they are made in England (next door to Marshall, by their address). Cheap. I bought, and use these sizes;
3/4" - $8.00 (CNDN)!
1" - $10.00 (CNDN)!
1 1/8" - $12.00 (CNDN)!
They make punches from 5/16" up to 1 1/2" round. The prices above were a 'sale', that happens at my local supplier every few months, but regular price isn't more than $25 for the 1 1/2"!
This cover 12AX7 holes, the two sizes of octal sockets around today and FP filter capacitor 'cans'. They differ only slightly from Greenlee. I have no idea who in the U.S. carries them. Another tip is to get a 'Lowbucks' catalog. They sell a hand punch 'machine' that uses your Greenlee punches and turns the machine into a quasi-iron worker! No more turning the socket around and around and around. Just put your punch in and pull down on the handle. What could be easier? How about the $175 U.S. price?
Well, those are my tips for the day. I always buy used Greenlee punches at 'Tool Exchange' second hand stores/flea markets/yard sales, etc. because if you think the round ones are $$$ try buying a 'D' knockout for your Heyco clip! Oi, vey!

9/30/2000 2:54 AM
Jim Jones	Hey Randy, I just moved to Winnipeg and I'm curious as to where you picked up those Q-Max jobbies... I'm always borrowing Greenlees from work - never had the cash to spring for them, though. Thanks, Jim

Page 1 of 2