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Force Aware
Tapping and heatsink compound
Alrighty, well now that the holders/adapters are ready, it brings me to the next step of my LED saber journey: drilling and tapping.
Now I've done neither before, so I went out to Home Depot and got what I think is the right equipment. However, before drilling a hole and possibly ruining what I've waited so long for, I thought I'd first ask the experts. [
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This is what I bought. Behold.
Now before anyone asks, yes, I purchased 8-32 thumbscrews, so no worries there. And I figured since this package says 8-32 on it (don't know what the "NC" means), it has to be the right one, yes?
Also I bought a "T-Handle Tap Wrench" since I know the tapping has to be done by hand. That'll do, right?
Ah yes, and one last question. For attaching the LED to the heatsink, is there a specific brand of compound you fine folks can recommend? I looked around Home Depot for some, but that store is so mismanaged, it's a wonder I can find anything at all.
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Hey Grima,
What you need is "Thermal Paste" available in small tubes from radio shack $5 range.
As far as tapping goes I reccomend the following...
1. Safety glasses
2. A solid vice, mounted firmly on a bench (I use a rag/towel to keep the vice jaws from damaging my peice, but it needs to be secure.
3. Get a peice of aluminum and practice on it. (you can buy raw aluminum from a metal store, or just find scrap)
Good luck!
MC
You want to go home and re-think your life
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Grima,
I would advise test tapping on scrap before the real thing. When you tap make sure to go slowly, and make sure you are perpendicular to the piece. Turn the tap 1/4 to 1/2 a revolution then back it up to clear the cuttings. It also might be advisable to use a lubricant. I believe kerosene is recomended for aluminium but you might want to check that. I know many people are saying to themselves 'but it is only a small hole to tap' but beleive me it is a pain to get a broken tap out of a project. Last summer I was working on a spiral staircase and had to tap 30 holes in 1/4" hardend steel. We ended up breaking 8 taps in the process.
Edit- I think the NC stands for National Common or Coarse. It is basically a measure of standard. Another tap standard is NF for finer threads.
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Sith Lord
A word of caution with the thermal compound, when you open the tube and apply it, a little goes a long way. That stuff has the ability to get on everything, hands, clothing, and electronics non of these are very good. This compund has been called by many names by techs over the years but the best one is, monkey snot it gets every where.
Do-Clo
Don't make me destroy you...
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Why not use olive oil as a lubricant. I've never tried it but the guy at sears reccomended it.
I have surrendured to the ways of the darkside. Fear is my ally
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Olive Oil?
As a tap lubricant or as a thermal paste???
Anyways Grima, you can get scrap aluminum from any junkyard or thrift store;
- Broken Lawn Chair tube
- Aluminum pots and pans
- Old Crutches
- Vaccume cleaner pipe
... You get the idea.
Thrift stores are the wonderland of the creative! (you can quote me)
MC
You want to go home and re-think your life
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Hobby craft stores sometimes sell small pieces of metal as well. My Home Depot sells 2 to 4 foot metal bars and rods as well. It is around the hardware isle by the joist hangers and brackets if that helps. I had to pick some up myself awhile back for a test run on a project. I usually dont want to buy new if I am going to just use it as a test sample but after I picked some up I was suprised at all the other projects I got out of it.
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Olive oil as a lubricant for tapping.
I have surrendured to the ways of the darkside. Fear is my ally
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