I bought the lamps, the wiring harness, and the special nuts that hold the lamps in place from my local Ford dealer this week. I also bought a Greenlee slugbuster knockout punch set for 1/2" conduit, that Greenlee says will make a .89" hole (just a shade bigger than the 7/8" (.875) hole required). I'm sure that there are a couple of electricians here that have used these punch sets for making holes in unpunched electrical boxes. Is this the right tool for the job ??? Greenlee says that this punch can handle 10 gauge or 3.5 millimeter steel. Is this correct ??? 3.5 mm is awfully thick--it's about 1/8 inch. I don't think that the sheet metal on my 2003 F-250 is even near 1/8 inch thick.

So, will this punch do the job, or should I have gotten a 7/8" radio chassis Greenlee punch ????


RON

 

It will work just fine. I've never installed clearance lights, but I've punched a few holes with a greenlee in my time. You'll need to drill a 13/32" hole for the draw bolt. It will cut Ford sheet metal like butter.


Bill

 

Will punch thry sheetmetal like butter, leaving a nice burr free edge. I use them for round, square, "D", notch & rectangular holes, sometimes in quite heavy sheet metal. Yes, they will punch thru an electrical box. The "Slugbuster" is the better style, as it cuts the slug in two making it easy to remove from the punch. One word of caution - make sure the initial drilled hole is accurately located, if it's off, the punched hole will be also. If the initial hole is off slightly, it can be drilled a little bit oversized and the punch can be shifted a bit to bring it back into position. When punching the larger holes, (anything with a punch center bolt 1/2"), i usually drill a 1/16" pilot hole, followed by a 1/4" hole. Then I use a 1/2" Greenlee to punch the hole for the bigger punch. Seems to be more accurate when the final hole has to be spot on.

 

Hey Rongold - could you post a pic of this tool? I've been wanting clearance lights forever, but the thought of making holes in the roof is scary..... I had read somewhere on this site that someone had made a paper template, might try the search function.

 

Here's the deluxe set - but take your major credit card with you!

 

Tell you guys what I'm a gonna do - since a lot of FTE'rs are adding the lights, I'll look to see, I think I have a spare punch - you all verify the correct hole size .....and if I have a spare one, I'll mail it to the 1st one who posts to borrow it. When he's done, he mails it to the next one on the list ... and so on. All I'd ask is an email when each ships/receives it...........

 

This is something I have wanted to do for a long time I just can't drill the hole in the roof of my cab. I hope you all post some photos this will be something to see. That tool looks nice. I have never seen anything like that! I thought everyone used a hole saw.

 

Do a forum search on "clearance". I started a thread last week and it had some good pictures and links in it.


RON

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/GREENLEE-SLUG-BU...QQcmdZViewItem

 

WOW! I just looked at that. Buy it now for $177.00 plus shipping?

 

Told ya - major credit card!

 

Ah comeon, you don't need anything as expensive as that. This one punch will do the job:

http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT...MT4NO=34201429

Any electrician is guaranteed to have one in that size. Just ask a friend.

Bill

 

Now that is much better! I thought Snap on had high prices for tools.

 

The expensive kit is for guys who are going to use it a lot and want a series of sizes, plus it has the ratcheting tool which works really nice. With the single tool you will just use a regular wrench or socket and turn the screw. It'll last for hundreds of holes, but the bolt does wear out. I have just replaced the bolt with a socket cap screw in a pinch. You certainly don't need the fancy tool to do your project.

BTW, I'll bet you can rent that tool at any good tool rental yard for $5.

Bill