I was wondering, what folks are using to cut the holes in the instrument panel to place round gauges.

I need to cut 3 2 1/4" holes and only want to do it once.

 

Please share what you are using and or method.

 

Thanks,

Rich simmons

Murfreesboro, TN

601XLB

Looking at next spring flight!  (I hope!)

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Comment by Dan Dempsey on October 3, 2012 at 11:58am
I made a very simple hole cutter. Works great!
http://daniel.dempseyfamily.us/zodiac/wings/skeleton/holecutter.jpg
Comment by John Austin on October 3, 2012 at 9:42am

By the way, Rich, just noticed you're near KMBT. I frequently fly my CH750 over to visit my  brother (I'm near KCSV) there! Nice little airport, but busy!

Comment by John Austin on October 3, 2012 at 9:40am
If you can put the panel flat and better yet, use a drill press, an adjustable circle cutter (sometimes called a fly cutter) works great and are usually about $15 or so. They can be used for any size hole you'd need on a panel.
Once way to get around having to put a large flat panel in the drill press is to put your gauges on sub-panels mounted to the panel with nut plates. This way, the entire sub-panel can be pulled for maintenance and access behind the panel. I've got two sub-panels on my 750 and wish I had installed three! I also found the gauge lay-out template that Spruce sells very handy to get precise alignment of gauge holes and mounting holes.

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