[LittleCowTW]

Use a very small bit to start your hole, perhaps 1/16 inch. And then step up to your final drive size. When chosing hole size, remember that the grommet must barely fit inside the hole. It should be hard work to finagle the thing in there, because you dont want the holder wiggling around and damaging the sensitive leads of your LED. My final drill bit size ended up being 3/8, yours may not be.

 

[LittleCowTW]

When drilling your starter hole, drill from the inside due to the fact that this is a curved surface, and if you should so happen to slip off of your punch mark while drilling, you dont want to damage the finished outer surface of your bucket that everyone is going to see. But when you drill your final hole, drill from the outside so that your drilling burrs will not have to be filed from the outside, I hope that makes sense, its important. Again, drill the starter hole from the inside, and the final hole from the outside.

Use a round file to deburr the hole prior to installing your grommet, this will ensure that the grommet lays nice and flush on the surface of the bucket. Be gentle.

 

[LittleCowTW]

Putting in the Grommet...I wonder if I am spelling that right? probably not.:

Depending on the length of your LED holders threaded shaft, and the overall thickness of your bucket, the grommet that you are using may not fit. THATS OK. If you cannot get your grommet into possition without being warped and wrinkled, or if you cannot get your nut and lock washer threaded on once you screw in your holder, then you need to use a razor blade to very precisely cut off one of the fluted ends of the grommet. The final product should look like a hollow mushroom.

Once you trim your grommet (it should still be hard to get in) use a scribe or a flathead screwdriver to gently coax the grommet into possition so that it is totally seated in the hole and there are no burrs pushing up the rubber.

The tiny shaft of rubber that used to bridge the gap between the two fluted ends of the grommet must still penetrate the bucket and be visible on the inside. Seen here from the inside with just a little bit of rubber showing.

 

[LittleCowTW]

Once the grommet is seated properly you can remove the nut and lockwasher from the holder and begin to screw it into the grommet, it should be very very tight. I always come away with bruised thumbs after screwing one of these suckers in and it takes me five to ten minutes. But that tightness is necessary to eliminate vibration and, if required, eliminate the need to install the nut and washer on the backside.

 

[LittleCowTW]

Thats it! now your pre-wired LEDS should simply slide into the backside of the holder as such:

Just for fun, lets Check and see what color LED I pulled out of the tackle box using my digital multimeter.

Set the meter to read resistance and lowest level.

Use gator clips to attach the leads of the LED (long leg is possitive) to the leads of the meter.

Batta bing, Amber, now ill wire in a switch to tell me when this bowl gets full of old parts or something I guess. Note how bright it is with just this small trickle of electricity, highlighting the importance of using appropriate resistors when wiring LEDS.

 

[LittleCowTW]

So thats the deal, an old instructor of mine would have called this thread a "long road to a small house". But I know you guys appreciate detail, so hopefully you all enjoy this post. If anybody has any corrections they would like to gouge me on please feel free. Or If I have been unclear about anything please do not hesitate to ask.

Thanks everyone for reading!

 

[FnMag]

Thanks for the time and effort you put into this! I've started my shopping list and can't wait to get started (next pay day)

 

[LittleCowTW]

Thanks for the time and effort you put into this! I've started my shopping list and can't wait to get started (next pay day)

Post a Pic when it comes out man I am super excited to see what kind of inovations start popping up!

 

[TW-Brian]

Very nicely done LittleCow, thanks!



This suggestion is priceless, I only hope that I remember it the next time I need to remove a carb float.



"As a side note the spring loaded center punch is handy for things like carb float pins."