Is there a trick by which you can use mini wire drill bits in a std. 3/8" drill

[Don Morris]

I have a carburetor on my snow thrower which has a plugged brass jet. I have twisted mini wires that fit into the gap which is much less than 1/16". Can't twist or push the twisted wires into the opening of the jet. Will need to be drilled out. If there is no solution to this problem, I've got to buy a special drill that will accommodate mini micro bits. But it came to me sometimes someone out there has run in to this problem and might have come up with a functional workaround. Any solutions is welcome, or other work around before I lay out $$$ for a mini micro drill and drill bits. Thanks in advance.

[Bryan Cramer]

There is an adapter chuck for small bits.
https://www.amazon.com/LABEA

[Doug Garson]

Bryan's link comes back as "Can't find that page" for me. How about this keyless chuck in a Dremel? I just ordered one so I don't know how good it is yet but says it goes down to 1/32". https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0000302ZV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

[Thomas McCurnin]

In a pinch, I insert the drill bit into a section of rubber wire insulation, the outside portion of any piece of wire, like 14ga lamp cord. Tighten with chuck key

[James Pallas]

I do own a small chuck for my mini mill for accuracy. If I need to do something like you described I just chuck a pin vice in the drill. Works fine.
Jim

[Bruce Page]

Invest in a pin vise. I have a 40 year old version of the linked pin vise. I can’t tell you how many times it has paid for itself.

https://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-93-Adjustable-Vise/dp/B000COYPG4/ref=sr_1_4_sspa?crid=23V9QE9MWAXSV&keywords=pin+vise&qid=1702840963&sprefix=pin+vise%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-4-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

[Zachary Hoyt]

I bought a mini chuck off eBay. I need to drill 1/32" holes regularly in ebony, jatoba, and other hard woods. Mine was about $9 several years ago, no brand name that I had heard of. It has worked great. It goes from 1/32" to 1/4" and has a 1/4" hex shaft to go in a power screwdriver. Mine looks a lot like these ones at the link, but I don't recall having size choices back then.

ebay item 395034369552

[Don Morris]

Thanks people, I looked for the adapter tool and also found that page doesn't exist anymore. Tried placing the bit in lamp cord outer plastic...couldn't tighten it enough to prevent bit from sliding back into the cord. I have the pin vise on order from
Amazon. It should come Tuesday. However, there is a Toro repair place not too far from me. If by the greatest piece of luck they have this small piece of rubber with very small inserted Brass Jet, I'll probably buy one, It's only 3/4" long with a diameter of 5-7mm. It couldn't be more than $5.00 and probably less.

[Bill Howatt]

I have a pin chuck similar to this one. Just install the correct jaw size, put it in your drill or press, put in the little bit and drill away (carefully).

https://www.amazon.com/Piece-Pin-Chuck-Set-Capacity-Small/dp/B07JZN1F4Z/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=pin+chuck&qid=1702843035&sr=8-3

[Jerome Stanek]

Can you use a welding tip cleaner

[Richard Coers]

Do you have a Dremel? The chucks for them are cheap and will work with tiny drill bits. But I really like the oxy/acetelyne tip cleaner idea. Less than $3 https://www.walmart.com/ip/13-in-1-Metal-Shell-Welding-Torch-Nozzle-Tip-Cleaner-For-Welder-Tool-I9T0-Y6K1/1885512239?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=101241679&adid=222222222271885512239_101241679_141412546465_ 18497457021&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=625812790206&wl4=pla-1807966999187&wl5=9022096&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=659639140&wl11=online&wl12=1885512239_101241679&veh=sem&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA1fqrBhA1EiwAMU5m_6z0OyqomReHOzMJPQrY iX8SZttMLbopYcgBkJBSkFSfUROnSvB1XBoCwTIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Bruce Wrenn]

Can you use a welding tip cleanerA winner, we have a winner!

[Don Morris]

How didI miss the pin vise recommended by Bill Howett. That goes from 0" up. Can put it in any of my 3 drills. Looks solid. Fortunately the stuff I ordered is FREE shipping & returns.

Tried welding once, with no supervision and cheap equipment. I do have a set of thin twisted wire rods from very small to almost 1/8". Looks like what I saw advertised as welding tip cleaners. Tried to put the smallest size in the orifice of the jet. It just bent as I tried to push it in farther. Even used a set of pliers to hold it close to the opening so I could put some force behind it...just bent. Conclusion: it needs to be drilled out, manually or with some sort of drill.

[Bruce Page]

How didI miss the pin vise recommended by Bill Howett. That goes from 0" up. Can put it in any of my 3 drills. Looks solid. Fortunately the stuff I ordered is FREE shipping & returns.

I can't speak to the one Bill linked to but I was looking for a miniature chuck like that for my cnc. I went through 1/2 dozen before I found one that ran true.. sort of.

[George Yetka]

If you are buying.
https://www.amazon.com/Herain-Carburetor-Cleaning-Carburetors-Sprinklers/dp/B09B3T85BM/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1K07Z1HE9095V&keywords=torch%2Btip%2Bcleaner&qid=1702904365&sprefix=torch%2Btip%2Caps%2C79&sr=8-6&th=1

These are very cheap. I think your mainly paying for shipping. You can get 10 for 10

[Don Morris]

The wire brushes referred to just above look similar to the Liyyoo brand carburetor cleaning tools I have. If welding brushes are similar in size but made from a stiffer (higher quality) material that might be an answer. But since the price indicates there probably isn't much difference ,my thinking is still to drill the jet out with a powered or mechanical device. Local stores do not carry the part to the carburetor separately. I'd have to buy a new carburetor to get a new part. I'll probably have to do that if I ruin the part drilling through the clogged jet. We'll see how well I perform tomorrow if the pin vices arrive on time. If all goes well, I'll perform all the recommended maintenance procedures as we're supposed to have a difficult winter. Thanks everyone for your time to give me the benefit of your experiences!

[George Yetka]

The wire brushes referred to just above look similar to the Liyyoo brand carburetor cleaning tools I have. If welding brushes are similar in size but made from a stiffer (higher quality) material that might be an answer. But since the price indicates there probably isn't much difference ,my thinking is still to drill the jet out with a powered or mechanical device. Local stores do not carry the part to the carburetor separately. I'd have to buy a new carburetor to get a new part. I'll probably have to do that if I ruin the part drilling through the clogged jet. We'll see how well I perform tomorrow if the pin vices arrive on time. If all goes well, I'll perform all the recommended maintenance procedures as we're supposed to have a difficult winter. Thanks everyone for your time to give me the benefit of your experiences!

The torch tip cleaner/Carb port cleaner is a wire with ridges that make it a file so you start with whichever can get in the tip and run it in and out half dozen times and then move up to the next until you reach desired diameter

[John C Bush]

Hi Don,
I retired from my GP DDS practice and have boxes of endodontic(root canal) files that are perfect to "obterate" plugged canals. Some SS, some nickel/titanium.
Let me know if interested in trying them. ??Stocking stuffer??

[Derek Meyer]

Micro Mark sells chucks for mini drill bits that have a standard 1/4" shank. They have one that holds bits from 1/16" to 1/8" and one that holds bits from #61 to #80.

https://www.micromark.com/search?keywords=drill%20chuck

Derek

[Don Stephan]

Bought a pin vice years ago. Had to wrap drill bit shank with blue tape, then clamp in the pin vice. Have to replace the tape rather often.

[Randall J Cox]

I had the same issue with the carb on my Kawasaki Mule. Such a tiny idle circuit hole. Not even a pin or needle would fit in. Used one of those small drills just between my fingers to clean out the hole. I think any kind of motorized unit would have broken the drill bit. It kept plugging up, even with new fuel filters. Finally gave up, bought a new carb from China and now it runs right. It was a real pain getting the carb off to get to the jets.... Good luck. Randy

[Jimmy Harris]

Wrap the bit in thin copper wire. If you need to, use stranded wire and separate a few strands. The copper should compress and hold the bit in place.

[Don Morris]

Got the pin vise Bill Howett recommended. Goes from 0" to almost 1/8". Thus it held the .8mm mini micro bit just fine. Drilled the clogged part out and can see a little light through now. Engine runs much better, a little sputtering but not enough to stop me from using the snow thrower. Thanks to all!