Case DIY: Best way to remove specific small piece of metal?

[Gazjam]

Ola :)
Latest round of Oppo 203 mods round the corner, and need a bit of help with this one.
Thanks.

I2s output board on its way from Hong Kong and I need to mod the back of the case to accommodate the HDMI socket to feed i2s to the Dac.

Its always the little things...grrr.
Whats the best way to remove the three metal strips to accomodate the socket?
Thinking maybe a dremmel or other hobby tool, cant think of any saw blade that's small enough to get in there?

https://i.imgur.com/J2uteIp.jpg

[Sherwood]

Ola :)
Latest round of Oppo 203 mods round the corner, and need a bit of help with this one.
Thanks.

I2s output board on its way from Hong Kong and I need to mod the back of the case to accommodate the HDMI socket to feed i2s to the Dac.

Its always the little things...grrr.
Whats the best way to remove the three metal strips to accomodate the socket?
Thinking maybe a dremmel or other hobby tool, cant think of any saw blade that's small enough to get in there?

https://i.imgur.com/J2uteIp.jpg

Any cheap fretsaw will do the job. Just feed the blade through the slit and connect to the saw. Then just saw gently until you cut through the three strips. Once finished you can tidy up with a small file.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-Tools-453456-300-Fretsaw/dp/B01EGRQBBE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1533496831&sr=8-2&keywords=fretsaw

Geoff

[Wakefield Turntables]

Tinsnips and then use a small meta file to square the edges off. A 5 minute job.

[CageyH]

A Dremel (or similar rotary tool) with a small cutting disc.

[walpurgis]

A Dremal (or similar rotary tool) with a small cutting disc.

I agree. I'd use a diamond coated disc. Done lots of similar jobs with one. Just take your time.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Blowtorch? :eyebrows:

[Gazjam]

Chisel?

[alphaGT]

The Dremel is the way to go, I’ve done this exact thing before. The cheap little abrasive wheels would do the job in seconds. Diamond coated works equally well and doesn’t break so easily. Take it in short bursts so the heat won’t warp the metal, or flake the paint. Looks like an interesting project!

Russell

[Sherwood]

The Dremel is the way to go, I’ve done this exact thing before. The cheap little abrasive wheels would do the job in seconds. Diamond coated works equally well and doesn’t break so easily. Take it in short bursts so the heat won’t warp the metal, or flake the paint. Looks like an interesting project!

Russell

I am sure the Dremel would do a fine job. However, it seems to be an expensive solution if it is only for this single task. Always worth having a fretsaw in the toolkit though!

An alternative is using an oversize metal drill bit to separate each link, and then using a small long nose piers to bend and break the link at each end.

Geoff

[CageyH]

There are cheaper alternatives to a Dremel.

You could also look at water jet cutting, as well as a plasma cutter (if we carry on from the chisel suggestion).

[Gazjam]

Sheesh..bought a Dremel..

[alphaGT]

Every home can use a Dremel. It comes in handy now and then, I was polishing guitar frets just the other day.

Russell

[Gazjam]

Since getting mine for modding the Oppo Russell I’ve found many uses for it.
Why did I wait so long?! :)

[sumday]

Remember your goggles......metal splinters in eye=bad.