On Sat, 9 Apr 2016 22:30:59 -0400, "Jim Wilkins"
wrote:

"Larry Jaques" wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 09 Apr 2016 20:04:14 -0500, "Lloyd E. Sponenburgh"
lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote:

On Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 4:18:19 PM UTC-7, John Doe wrote:
I need to cut a 1/2" square through 1/4" aluminum. It doesn't have
to
be centered, but the dimensions of the hole need to be correct.
---------------

Your subject said "with NO TOOLS". I'm not sure how you can justify
using even a drill bit with the 'no tools' restriction.

Answer: Rent a machinist. No can do otherwise.

My high school shop teacher was a retired Swedish cabinet maker who
taught us the traditional skills, like how to hone a wood plane blade
or joint, file and set the teeth on a handsaw.

Ditto in my 8th grade wood and metal shops, but we didn't have the
experienced cabinetmaker to guide us, just a guy who had done wood and
metalworking non-professionally. He followed a guide and had enough
experience to guide us through the basic skill building. I loved it
all.

But with no tools, the answer is still "rent a machinist", oui?


Before turning us loose
on the power tools he required us to plane a block of wood square
enough to pass the sliver of light test with a try square.

That's the way to roll, too. Learn the basics and get the skills
before ruining yourself on power tools.


While I sure do appreciate power tools I don't have to depend on them.

I've been a Neanderthal woodworker for a long time, but the older I
get, the more I need power tools to get the precision. There is
almost no way to take 1/32 off a stick with a hand saw and keep it
square (and/or properly angled), but with a miter saw, it's a piece of
cake. Ditto adjusting angles a skosh to fit.


One of Friday's projects was filing angled slots for Tie-Wraps to
attach a large capacitor to an aluminum panel.

Cool. It's great be able to do it right and make it look good as well
as having it work well.

--
If you want to make your dreams come true,
the first thing you have to do is wake up!
--anon