Are there better tools for drilling tiny holes?

[Dan Poirier]

I'm currently using a pin vice hand drill that came in a set of beginner modeling tools I bought with my first model. It looks like this:

 

 

It's okay with larger bits, but when I try to use something as small as a 0.3 mm bit, I have to use a wrench to get it tight enough for the bit not to slip.  I don't like using tools that I have to force this way. That's using the collet with the smallest opening, as seen in the closer end in this picture.

 

I'm wondering if I just need a better made instance of this same tool, and if so, how would I find one. Or is there a better tool for the job?

 

I hope the vast experience on this forum can help me out.

 

 

 

 

 

[Desertanimal]

Are you sure you’re using the correct size collet? If you remove the nut the collets are double sided. You might be using one that’sa tiny bit too large. 
The Tamiya pin vise is expensive but feels so much better in the hand. 

Chris

[Landlubber Mike]

I have a set in different sizes from Starrett - a little more expensive, but very well made.

[CPDDET]

I too have the Starrett set. Not cheap but bought it and never looked back. Quality tool.

[Gregory]

I have a couple of these, and they work fine from 0 to 1/8 size bits.  It uses a mini chuck, so no collets needed.

 

Pin Vise Hand Drill

 

[Dr PR]

I bought a set of four machinists" pin vices with collets from Micro Mark with the smallest closing down to essentially nothing. It holds the smallest drill bits I have found. These "pin vices" do not have a "head" so they can be fit into collets in a milling machine. How true they are for use a  a drill press or milling machine I do not know. But they work fine for hand tools. I have been satisfied with them for hand use.

 

4-piece Machinist's Pin Vise Set  $18.95

 

https://micromark.com/products/4-piece-machinists-pin-vise-set-1?variant=44018022318251&frt=15&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8OO3pNDBiAMVEw2tBh1YPjleEAQYASABEgL1jPD_BwE

[ERS Rich]

If you have the budget checkout Foredom.

 

https://www.foredom.net/product/cobalt-steel-step-drills-17-head-sizes-from-5mm-to-2-3mm/

 

 

-Rich

 

[BenD]

Getting a set of drill bits with a large shank will help.

 

Another solution that worked for me was to use some aluminum foil. The pictures below will demonstrate. The bit never moved when being used.

 

[Gregory]

2 hours ago, ERS Rich said:

If you have the budget checkout Foredom.

They show .5mm as the smallest.  Another concern with the costly bits, even though the quality is there,   breaking of the small bits, is not uncommon in the modeling environment.

 

Ten of these, .3 - 1.1mm, for $6 might be a better investment.  ( yes, they do break easily.  It pays to be careful )

 

 

 

[Toolmaker]

17 hours ago, Gregory said:

They show .5mm as the smallest.  Another concern with the costly bits, even though the quality is there,   breaking of the small bits, is not uncommon in the modeling environment.

 

Ten of these, .3 - 1.1mm, for $6 might be a better investment.  ( yes, they do break easily.  It pays to be careful )

 

 

 

In my opinion these are not generally suitable for our hobby. The reasoning is;

 

They are pcb drills. That’s “printed circuit board” drills. They are designed to be run at many thousands of rpm, usually in air spindles doing 20-40k plus revs. They are also designed to be held rigidly and securely in controlled feed environments. They have a high helix angle (the flute spiral) and if you can’t control the feed rate they will screw themselves into wood rather than cut through it.
They are indeed cheap as they are hugely mass produced for the pcb market. Selling them to hobbyists is just up-selling.
Take all the above reasoning and then add in that they are made from very unforgiving tungsten carbide which will accommodate almost zero flexing and after the first or second time you break one in an already fixed in deck fitting you will realise you should not have bothered.

Stay with hss, high speed steel. You won’t be sorry.

A decent pin vice and a set of high speed steel drill will give you great service.

 

cheers

Paul

Edited September 15 by Toolmaker

[Tossedman]

These PCB drills work great in my little Proxxon drill press. Rarely break one because they are in a drill press and go straight up and down. I use collets so they run straight and true. When I put them in a pin vice it's like Paul says, they just screw in. Can't seem to get up to the required RPM by twisting them with my fingers. 😉

 

Rich, thanks for the heads up on the Foredom bits. Time to take a look around for some.

 

Cheers,

 

Todd

[Gregory]

25 minutes ago, Toolmaker said:

Stay with hss, high speed steel. You won’t be sorry.

Do you have a source for HSS smaller than #80

[Toolmaker]

5 minutes ago, Tossedman said:

These PCB drills work great in my little Proxxon drill press. Rarely break one because they are in a drill press and go straight up and down. I use collets so they run straight and true. When I put them in a pin vice it's like Paul says, they just screw in. Can't seem to get up to the required RPM by twisting them with my fingers. 😉

 

Rich, thanks for the heads up on the Foredom bits. Time to take a look around for some.

 

Cheers,

 

Todd

Yes Todd, I agree. I can use them in my Sherline for the same reasons. Just not suitable for hand work.

[Toolmaker]

5 minutes ago, Gregory said:

Do you have a source for HSS smaller than #80

Companies such as Dormer do drill sets down to 0.3mm which is a little smaller than number 80. These sets are readily available from various companies.

Individual hss twist drills are easily sourced down to 0.2mm (-.008 inch). After that it’s getting specialised and prices start to take off.

I’m in the uk so my links are only relevant to there. No doubt similar is available in the US.

[ERS Rich]

In my shop, fortunate to have a Fordom drill press with several hand pieces - because my hand gets tired, and need to do the work faster.

 

These micro chucks close to zero, meaning no space when fully closed.  Have several pin vices, from micromark, amati, etc.  and find even their smallest collet does not close to zero.

 

https://www.foredom.net/product/a-m50-micro-chuck-with-3-32-shank/

 

Cheers

[Chuck Seiler]

Here is one I like alot.  It handles the really small micro bits and is VERY comfortable in the hand.

 

I got it from a local hobby shop (model train) but it is also available online.

[Dr PR]

I second that Toolmaker said - the tungsten carbide bits are VERY fragile and break if they are slightly bent. You cannot se the smallest bits in hand held tools - at least not for very long. And if they break off flush with the surface you eitherr leave them in place - blocking the hole you are trying to drill = or dig them out leaving behind a crater.

 

High speed steel is what you want for pin vices and other hand tools.

 

I have used the "aluminum wrap" technique with pin vices with collets that do not close entirely. It works sometimes, sometimes not.

 

I am not entirely certain I got the four "machinists'" pin vices from Micromark - I am sure they are made in China and they seem to be available from many sources on the Internet. The smallest holds a #80 drill bit very firmly with the collet tightened hand tight (no tools needed). The entire shaft is hollow so very long drill bits can be used with the larger devices. And to steady your drilling in tight places you can insert a wooden dowel in the back end to fix the axis of rotation. I have used this method to drill holes in the inner side of bulwarks from across the model and through standing rigging.

 

A good source for tools and materials is McMaster-Carr. We used the for decades at work. Good quality tools and materials. They sell small quantities to hobbyists.

 

https://www.mcmaster.com/

[Snug Harbor Johnny]

  A lucky builder can use a dental drill ... it can get into tight spaces and uses fairly small bits.

Edited September 15 by Snug Harbor Johnny

[No Idea]

18 hours ago, ERS Rich said:

In my shop, fortunate to have a Fordom drill press with several hand pieces - because my hand gets tired, and need to do the work faster.

 

These micro chucks close to zero, meaning no space when fully closed.  Have several pin vices, from micromark, amati, etc.  and find even their smallest collet does not close to zero.

 

https://www.foredom.net/product/a-m50-micro-chuck-with-3-32-shank/

 

Cheers

The Foredom drill press is a very well made tool and its accuracy is fantastic.  I bought one hoping it would justify the price and they certainly do.

 

I also recommend the Starrett pin vices they are very good indeed and are well worth the money.  They will last you a lifetime and then some.

 

The comments about the drill bits are spot on - I buy cheap HSS jobber bits from RS in the UK and they last ages.  They are also slightly flexible which helps when drilling in an awkward place say inside the hull with a 0.3mm bit.

[paul ron]

these are cheap but work well.

 

https://www.amazon.com/GYROS-Keyless-Mini-Adapter-Chuck/dp/B0000DD2N3/ref=sr_1_50_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ZBGwGlbMLVw-DCj04DtiOSkjyOJiK6Kwg9in8mktZN2jwNbCHprax2fnzHm3UA9wWCuun2KzJ1Mr0U5gBETT8eAP6F8yfJGh-XGjBQPyg7g.DLnn-DoQHYmTzgqcHTic3rK2PPORWaFWORj2FsrJb94&dib_tag=se&keywords=micro+drill+chuck+adapter&qid=1726520545&sr=8-50-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGZfbmV4dA&psc=1

 

 

[paul ron]

On 9/14/2024 at 2:36 PM, Chuck Seiler said:

Here is one I like alot.  It handles the really small micro bits and is VERY comfortable in the hand.

 

I got it from a local hobby shop (model train) but it is also available online.

micro chucks with this handle makes drilling easy. but a motorized hand piece with the micro chucks is really the best way to go. 

[Chuck Seiler]

32 minutes ago, paul ron said:

micro chucks with this handle makes drilling easy. but a motorized hand piece with the micro chucks is really the best way to go. 

Sometimes.  That is what my Dremel is for.

[Jack12477]

I use a WeCheer micro drill which has a corded and non-corded version (I have both) which takes all the Dremel collets and micro drills. 

[mnl]

Find a good used Electro Mechano or Dumore drill press. You will be very satisfied.

Edited September 17 by mnl

[Cleat]

I have a Vanda-Lay drill press for my Dremel.

 

[Loracs]

I second the Vanda-lay system.  Very stable, very well build.  Highly configurable.  In addition, if you have a Foredom flex-shaft, you can get an additional adaptor for it.  For me, the Foredom and the vanda-lay system are great combo.

 

However, for small hole 0.5mm or less a manual option (Pin Vise Hand Drill) is likely the best.

Edited September 17 by Loracs

[paul ron]

13 hours ago, Jack12477 said:

I use a WeCheer micro drill which has a corded and non-corded version (I have both) which takes all the Dremel collets and micro drills. 

excelent price too. 

 

on the other end if money is no object upower has an excelent machine...

https://handpiecesolutions.com/laboratory-handpieces-urawa-urawa-up500.html

 

 

[wefalck]

I tend to shy away from tools sold in model shops, but rather go for the quality tools sold to watchmakers. They may be the same tools, but of higher quality, albeit at a somewhat higher price. However, one has to pay attention, because even watchmaker's supply houses, particularly the on-line ones, today often sell Chinese scrap. I tend to buy secondhand semi-antique tools ...

 

Below is a selection of my antique and modern tool-/workholding and drilling tools:

 1 - Archimedes drill for watchmakers.
 2 - Slender modern pin-vice with hollow fluted brass body.
 3 - Slender antique pin-vice with hollow fluted brass body.
 4 - Shop-made pin-vice with walnut body and head made from an insert drill-chuck; these drill-chucks are unfit for their intended purpose as they usually do not run true.
 5 - Eclipse toolmaker's pin-vice with knurled steel body; these come in different sizes.
 6 - French-style pin-vice; these are closed with the sliding ring and have usually brass inserts in the two jaws that can be adapted to special needs;
 7 - Dito, here the jaws are replaced in hard-wood for delicate parts.
 8 - Antique laboratory pin-vice with fluted wooden handle.
 9 - Modern pin-vice with fluted wooden handle; these come in different sizes and capacities.
10 - Antique toolmaker's pin-vice for very delicate work in confined spaces and for holding tiny files and broaches.

 

The Archimedes drill of No.1 closes from 1 mm down to near zero and holds even my 0.1 mm drills. They make also a variety with spring-return that can be worked with one hand (though I wouldn't do that with such tiny drills).

 

Before the days when I had all those tools, I slipped a section of cored solder wire over the drill. The run-out may too big for an electric drill, but it works very well for hand-drilling.
 

 

Edited September 19 by wefalck

[puckotred]

Got this in the mail the other day. It makes holes.... so kind of useful but nothing one should buy for any reason other than it's cool. 

[wefalck]

Got a similar one for Christmas from my beloved and well-meaning, but not so well-informed in these matters wife a few years ago. If yours really goes down to the indicated rpms, it is much more useful than mine, which has rpms in the thousands. It was really meant for engraving glass, rather than drilling. For this reason it is also designed to only take bits with 2.35 mm shaft. The smallest drill diametre with this shaft seems to be 0.5 mm.