Toggle Switch

[sporter]

I need to mount a toggle switch on an uphlostered piece of 1/2" plywood. The barrell (the part with the threads) would have to be at least 3/4" long in order to go through the plywood and allow the nut to go on. I can't find a switch this size anywhere? Help!!

 

[SlowlySinking]

Re: Toggle Switch

Hi, what you need is a FORSTNER BIT, it's a wood working tool used with a power drill. It cuts a round hole with no taper if that makes sense, this effectively reduces the thickness of the wood in the area where you want to mount the switch, check iBoats mall, if not there try HarborFreight.com and do a search on FORSTNER BIT.<br />They have them at great prices. Good luck

 

[crab bait]

Re: Toggle Switch

SLOWLY has the right idea.. but you could use a spade/flat/paddle bit almost as well..get at ANY hardware store..<br /><br />bore a say,, a 1 in hole with the bit,, say 1/2 way thru or so from the back side..<br /><br />then bore your switch hole the rest-of-the-way.. now you'll have stock removal an plenty of room for the back nut..

 

[cp]

Re: Toggle Switch

Seems there aren't any toggle switches with a ¾" long bushing. If you're going to thin out the ½" plywood as suggested above, recognize that, unless you've got a round toggle switch, you'll probably have to take a router to the wood, not just a drill bit. Either that or make a big hole part way through, and a small hole all the way through. That'll be because of the need to allow the rectangular body of the switch to also go halfway into the wood. And your toggle switch will also have to have its terminals on the back end, not the sides. Even with a round toggle switch, you'll probably have to drill two holes, a larger one part way into the wood for the switch body and a smaller one all the way through for the bushing.<br /><br />Just my 2¢ but maybe you should consider using a push/pull kind of switch since they're made for panel thicknesses up to 5/8 inch, so you'd just have to drill one hole. If push/pull is a viable alternative, go look at the Cole Hersee website, under 'switches':<br /><br /> http://www.colehersee.com/catalog_top/index.htm <br /><br />There're probably other companies, but I only looked at Cole Hersee since their switches are sold at West Marine. Maybe that indicates they're suitable for boat use (I have no other basis for saying that)? Good luck.