Pin Vise Size

To keep costs down I figured out that guitar strings can be cut about 2 to 3 inches long and then cut the end at a 45 % angle. This is a great way to make your own small drill bits. Different gauge guitar strings for different drill sizes. This makes the bits cost about 20 cents each. Guitar strings cost around $4 each and can be cut into 20 bits or more.

Awesome. Thank you for the advice.

Com'on Tom. You don't want that exacto rolling off the bench and stabbing you in the foot??!!

Edit: P.S. Don- Tamiya makes a pin vise with two different sized chucks. Nice tool.

And put a grip:

The 60 - 80 set is the right size range.  However, a few things to watch.  First of all, not all pin vises (in fact, very few, will chuck up the smallest drills (say 75-80). I had to buy a seperate one just for that size range.  Second, the smaller sizes (say, 70 - 80) are very fragile.  If you don't hold the pin vise at a uniform angle while drilling they break oh-so-easily.  So figure small drills are a supply item that will need replenishment periodically.  I bought a set with a nice plastic case, and when I have too many vacant cavities in the set I buy another set with a cheap case and just use it as a supply to replentish the ones missing in the nice case.

Another thing.  Unless you have a good mike or accurate caliper, you cannot identify the size very easily, so when you take a drill out of the case, take only one at a time out, and replace it before you take the next one out.  Otherwise you'll have them mis-assorted.

A set with #60-80 should cover all your needs. I find myself using mainly #70s-#80 for most things. Or .2 to 1mm.