Drilling small holes - advice on what tool/method

[Ken Frohnert]

I want to make a couple pieces of wood jewelry using my lathe and I need to drill some small holes for the fine brass wire eyes that go to the chain/etc. Maybe a 1/4" deep or a bit more. I have an old floor standing craftsman drill press but I strongly suspect that is no were near accurate enough for such fine work. I looked around for some ideas - someone building HO train stuff was using a pin drill (I don't know what the heck that even is), someone else was trying their dremel. Would a smaller benchtop drill press give me this kind of accuracy I see them occasionally on CL? Or are drill presses just never going to give me the kind of accuracy I need? what do you folk use for fine accurate drilling?

[phil harold]

If you only have a few to do,
pin vices will help you hold small drill bits and let you spin them by hand
pretty easy process
http://www.micromark.com/drills-and-pin-vises.html

[Rich Engelhardt]

what do you folk use for fine accurate drilling?
This:
http://www.toolbarn.com/dremel-220-01.html?ref=base&gclid=CM6xxcGkq7MCFfBcMgodbksATA

However - I'm "at war" with Dremel right now.
I've never been so disappointed with any line of anything as I am right now w/Dremel.
Sad - Dremel used to be a decent name. Now there as bad, if not worse, than Craftsman.

[matt stott]

Hi Ken,

I make small holes all the time for wristwatch parts- almost always use the pin vise/drill bit/spin -by-hand combo mentioned by Phil. Spin the pin vise with your fingers and the holes are drilled pretty quickly (even in metal)- those small bits don't take a lot to bore a hole.

The Rolls Royce of pin vises: http://www.ofrei.com/page249.html (no connection to seller)

Matt

[Richard Coers]

Accurate drills or drill presses really aren't needed with really fine drills. Feed speeds are what makes a good hole. Wood grain will take the drill bit where it wants to if you don't take your time, bring the drill out of the wood a lot to clear the flutes, and start into the wood like you are taking a nap. Yup, start the hole by just letting the bit rotate on the surface of the wood for a short time to start the hole. Bring it in too quickly, and the bit can slip into softer grain. Center punching the wood will help with starting the drill. Some chucks will not accept really fine drills because of chamfered jaws. You need a chuck that will go to 0".

[Rian de Bruyn]

google for proxxon tools they make hobby tools that are very accurare and for are made for small projects

[Rian de Bruyn]

this is that you looking for http://www.proxxontools.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=20&idproduct=61
it is VERY expensive for a DP that have a1/10 hp motor and stand at 8" high but it is a VERY NICE DP

[Sam Murdoch]

Here is a very nice hand drill http://www.riogrande.com/Product/Hand-Drill/117016

If you decide that you like jewelry work this company has nearly everything you might ever need including a variety of flex shafts and small drill machines as seen on this page http://www.riogrande.com/Category/Tools-and-Equipment/120/Flexshafts-and-Rotary/312

Overkill for now, I'm guessing, but I have one of these Foredom motors with flex shaft and it proves to be a very useful tool more often than I would have imagined.

[glenn bradley]

I use these. For under $20 they have met my needs many, many times. http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10701&site=ROCKLER I just put the little chuck in a cordless drill.

[Ken Frohnert]

It seems like a pin vise may be the way to start out - minimal expense - unless I go to Phil's Rolls Royce

Rich E I have that exact dremel - I have used if for a couple of projects - I don't have the press for it. That might be a good investment at $35.00 down the road if the pin vise does not do the job. I like those Foredom flex tools but I had better wear my dremel out before I could explain that purchase to the wife.

Richard C - While all those things seem like common sense - reading you post really helped me think about it. that is probably good advice in a lot of drilling situations.

Proxon - Funny I just read a review of their mini-band saw this AM. I guess quality mini tools are there thing.

Thanks all