Micro Drill Bits, Pin Vise

[Sky Sharkster]

Anyone besides me have trouble finding tiny drill bits? Most tool supply vendors sell down to 1/16", if you're lucky you might find 1/32" but that's about the smallest. During one of my stops at "Radio Shack" I found the "Kronus Precision Miniature Drill Set" # 64-2963. It's a pin vise with a hollow handle, tube in handle contains 14 (!!) bits, starting at 1/32" and smaller. One is just right for 1/64" M.W. pushrods (new DuBro "Park" pushrods) others are even thinner, smaller than a sewing needle. The chuck and collet aren't the most well-made but if you have another pin vise with hardened collet they work fine. Cost about $ 13.00. Ron

[flypaper 2]

People who sell machine shop equipment should sell them too I have a drill index down to .0135 made by Huot. contains 20 drills up to .039. But then I used to run a small motor shop and needed them to drill out carb. jets.

[Turbojoe]

Thanks Ron. I've got an old pin vise I bought off the Snap-On truck probably 15 years ago. As you can imagine most of the bits are either lost, dull or broken. I still have the .053 bit that I use most but it is sooo dull. I have a RS less than a mile away. I'll run over there today and finally pick up a new one that I should have bought a LONG time ago.


Joe

[Twmaster]

I've also got a good pin vise from ages ago. It's one of my most used tools on the build table.

I see them on FeeBay now and then but cannot vouch for the quality of the bits and vise. As was pointed out places that sell machinists goodies will have the bits. You can also check companies like www.micromark.com and www.msc.com

[giflyrc]

You can also use the same size music wire as the push rod to drill the holes in control horns,

Perfect fit every time and flexible enough to not break.

Roger aka GIFLYRC

[ForestCam]

Picked up a pin vice at the LHS for $6 a few months back but they wanted $36 for the bit set so I only got the size I needed at the time.

Too bad I was just AT Rat Shack yesterday. Sky Sharkster needs to be more timely with his posts.:p

[flypaper 2]

Joe:
I sharpen mine on the side of a dremel cut off wheel. Sometimes it takes a couple of tries with my tired eyes but it works. just needs a touch.

[Turbojoe]

I don't remember what I paid for my Snap-Off pin vise but you can bet it was much more than I just paid for the one from RS and this one is much higer quality. I'm pretty happy.


Joe

[tashley]

Find a welding supply store in your area and ask for a torch tip drill set. You'll get about fifteen drill bits housed in a pen vise from .0625 (1/16th) down to super small for about seven or eight bucks and they are very high quality.

[pfatz]

We Welders call them Tip Cleaners and you get a better made version at the welding or industrial supply.