Punching holes in a cast aluminum box

I've bought some small cast aluminum boxes with water tight lids, to use for housing the electrical connection off my heating elements.



I need some advice whether i can punch it with e.g. a Green Lee 1 1/4 inch hole punch, or i need to drill it.

I'm about to finish building my 55 gal electrical 3 vessel RIMS system, with 3 Camco 5500W elements in each vessel.

Lars

A Greenlee punch will work great in those. However, it might be a little tough threading the element through the hole since the metal is probably thicker than your average stainless steel brew pot.

I would use a "vari-bit" which is a step drill bit.
It would drill a nice hole quick in that aluminum.

Taht looks like a nice little aluminum box.

A step drill will work real good if the material isn't real thick. If it is a little thicker a hole saw will do the trick.

Hi

Interesting how the "punch out" is completely crushed.

Thank you all.

Lars