Pin drills

[RobW]

Looking at a couple of the kits I've bought I'm going to need to drill/open holes up. I'm assuming the 1/2" Black & Decker isn't suitable, but are these any good?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00L ... 59R24J6ORA Or any recommendations?

[ALPHA]

They are good ...both handles work great...I wouldn't recommend using any of the drills in a power drill though...it's not that you can't...but the fine ones will pretty much disintegrate once any pressure along with the drill weight is put on them
And yes..half inch chuck is too big...Quarter inch chuck is the smallest if you can find one...I have one...and have broken many of those bits reason I stick to using the manual handles now


ALPHA

ps...some bits will fit into a Dremel chuck...spins a little too fast though

[silversurfer1947]

When I bought my pin drill, it came with a load of drill bits included. To be honest, they were pretty rubbish. Not sharp and the thin ones broke with my not too delicate touch. I purchased a set of tungsten carbide tipped drill, which had thick shafts. So much better, drilled through what I needed in an instant, and with the thick shafts, so much more robust.

[tomhugill]

When I bought my pin drill, it came with a load of drill bits included. To be honest, they were pretty rubbish. Not sharp and the thin ones broke with my not too delicate touch. I purchased a set of tungsten carbide tipped drill, which had thick shafts. So much better, drilled through what I needed in an instant, and with the thick shafts, so much more robust.

Do you have a link to those? My small drills are forever snapping.

[dgsselkirk]

Those hand drills are great when you need to go slow but most of the time I use this little beast. It is light weight and comes with lots of bits. Not top quality but they work for me...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/381008422307?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

[jarndice]

ROB Hi, A pin vise is one of those rare tools that make you wonder how you managed without,
Absolutely essential,
There is always going to be a need for the versatility of the Dremel but a Pin vise is totally controllable and when you need a hole bigger than the pin vise can give but you fear using a Dremel or the Black and Decker, Using a pin vise to make a pilot hole allows the bigger drill to be used with much less risk although I have recently bought a TAMIYA pin vise which allows the use of a much larger chuck to drill by hand.
I agree that Tungsten Carbide Drills are far better than what you will get with your new pin vise .
shaun.

[silversurfer1947]

When I bought my pin drill, it came with a load of drill bits included. To be honest, they were pretty rubbish. Not sharp and the thin ones broke with my not too delicate touch. I purchased a set of tungsten carbide tipped drill, which had thick shafts. So much better, drilled through what I needed in an instant, and with the thick shafts, so much more robust.

Do you have a link to those? My small drills are forever snapping.

They came from Amazon - description "Tenflyer Pack of 10 Carbide Micro Drill Bits CNC PCB Dremel (0.3-1.2mm)" No idea whether they are a good price, but I think to a degree you get what you pay for.

[RobW]

Typical - the others look better! Will let you know how I get on with the ones I listed.

[Max-U52]

Having been a machinist since 1979 I've learned a thing or two about drill bits. The first thing I learned is to always get quality bits. I only buy bits made in the USA. Not that I'm an isolationist or anything, I've just had too many Chinese or Indian bits snap on contact, and the ones from Pakistan are seriously horrible. Carbide tipped is OK, but that's really made for hard material spinning at high speed. High Speed Steel is very good, but I always buy cobalt bits. If you want quality tools you have to go to a place that carries them, so don't go shopping for good bits at Harbor Freight. Use MSC Direct or Production Tool Supply. They cost more that way, but would you rather spend $10 for a good bit and have it last forever, or get a bit for $5 and have to buy three of them to finish a single job? Hertel is a very good brand of drill bits.

[jarndice]

ROB I bought exactly what AMAZON is selling and it is an excellent bit of kit
BUT
It comes without instructions,
The bottom part unscrews to let you tighten and loosen allowing you to fit smaller and larger drill bits it also means it comes apart so you can take out the core and turn it and you will see it allows another range of bits to fit,
ALSO
the upper section undoes and inside is another double ended core which give you more scope for other size bits,
A lot of people have complained to AMAZON because they were not aware the top section unscrewed and because there are no instructions and they did not know that, they thought they had been cheated.
shaun.