What is the best way to drill into metal - without a lathe?

jarndice · Post by **jarndice** » Thu Aug 28, 2014 9:43 am

A lot of us have a DREMEL but to get the most from it I would recommend purchasing the DREMEL WORK STATION, It allows you to hold your drill firmly in any position of the compass which means you can "TURN" with it as you would with a LATHE which makes it possible to use its high speed under full control, although the work will need support as DREMEL have yet to cotton on to the full versatility of their product

shaun

tanks_for_the_memory · Thu Aug 28, 2014 10:22 am

jarndice wrote:Tanks I was a bit surprised at your entry, you being my hero and all I have an archimedes drill, it's ok BUT a regular PIN VICE is the answer to drilling small holes ( I spent this afternoon drilling holes in tow rope clamps so that I can fit schumo wing nuts) The value of using a pin vice is that you have total control over speed of the bit and the exact position of it, E-BAY or AMAZON have them at very cheap prices, I would suggest one that has a top that spins and a choice of chucks, It is one of the most used tools that I have. Good luck. shaun

Now Shaun, I'm the first to admit that I still have a lot to learn! That's why I put out these little SOS's from time to time - and then you get to teach me a thing or two...

Now there may be some problems with terminology here. By 'pin vice' does everyone simply mean a twist drill or something a little more involved? Others talk of a drill press. Is this what you mean?

Silverline 262212 Drill Press 250mm 350W

jarndice · Post by **jarndice** » Thu Aug 28, 2014 11:24 am

TFTM, I wasn't having a go, It's just that I have learnt so much from your builds so that you took me unawares, NO THAT PILLAR DRILL is NOT a PIN VICE, Go to E-BAY and type in PIN VICE (PIN VISE) and you will see that for less than a Tenner you can have one complete with a pack of 20 micro bits, go on you know you want to

shaun

ALPHA · Post by **ALPHA** » Thu Aug 28, 2014 1:27 pm

lposter wrote:
ALPHA wrote: OFF TOPIC.... Hey lposter... How is that KV2 coming along...she under paint yet?

ALPHA
hey ho Alpha

Im afraid not. I'll update that thread in a minute.

p

Saw the update... thanks...still looks awesome

ALPHA

ALPHA · Post by **ALPHA** » Thu Aug 28, 2014 1:36 pm

tanks_for_the_memory wrote:
Now there may be some problems with terminology here. By 'pin vice' does everyone simply mean a twist drill or something a little more involved? Others talk of a drill press. Is this what you mean?

Silverline 262212 Drill Press 250mm 350W

Yup that's a drill press.... under the cover is a three speed reduction...you just move a belt... they've been around a long time... and are very economical... you would be surprised with the things you can do with it...I can see only one disadvantage... drill presses are usually made of metal...metal everything... in comparison to the lathe you have pictured ....that would probably be more portable...as it looks to be constructed of plastic

The vice I mention is this type

it is made to be secured to the drill "table" ...

It's a good investment if you plan to do a lot of that fine work... leaves both hands pretty much free... and you are assured a little better precision...if you don't plan on doing much of that kind of work.. yeah a pin vise is fine..

ALPHA

tomhugill · Post by **tomhugill** » Thu Aug 28, 2014 3:33 pm

Pillar drill, metal work lathe and the router; the holy trinity of metalwork and scratch building!

jarndice · Post by **jarndice** » Thu Aug 28, 2014 3:39 pm

Tom if you add a Dremel work station to your workshop you pretty much have all that in one place. shaun

ALPHA · Post by **ALPHA** » Thu Aug 28, 2014 3:42 pm

PILLAR DRILL

...I have still got to get used to the accent

ALPHA

tanks_for_the_memory · Thu Aug 28, 2014 8:56 pm

tomhugill wrote:Re: What is the best way to drill into metal - without a lat
by tomhugill » Thu Aug 28, 2014 2:33 pm

Pillar drill, metal work lathe and the router; the holy trinity of metalwork and scratch building!

OK, this is starting to sound like a language class...

So is the pillar drill the same as a drill press? And what is a router?!

ALPHA · Post by **ALPHA** » Thu Aug 28, 2014 10:57 pm

tanks_for_the_memory wrote:
tomhugill wrote:Re: What is the best way to drill into metal - without a lat
by tomhugill » Thu Aug 28, 2014 2:33 pm

Pillar drill, metal work lathe and the router; the holy trinity of metalwork and scratch building!
OK, this is starting to sound like a language class...

So is the pillar drill the same as a drill press? And what is a router?!

Yeah I guess the pillar drill ...is Brit for Drill Press

....I hope router is the same...this is a Router

this is a standard one... there is also another type ...a plunge router...which might be handier for modeling as you can compress the unit down onto the material

These are full size units...dremel make mini versions that convert the dremel into either

ALPHA