Small-bore boring!

Have you tried PCB drill bits. They all have the same diamete shaft so the drill grips them better. I switched to them after getting frustrated with similar problems to what your having.

Thanks, mate, sounds like just the thing - shopping pages, here I come!

I get mine off e-bay from China, a set of 10 of the same size costs a couple of quid. But things from over there are taking longer at the moment. You can get them in the UK but they are more pricey.

I use the X-acto pin vise for the really small bits.  I have a set of other pin vises, indeed the smallest one does not hold the smallest- smaller than about 72 or 73.  I also like the X-acto one because it has a swivel knob on top which is easier on the palm of my hand.

Only thing I do not like about the X-acto one is that the chuck has a threaded aluminum cap running on the threaded threaded body, and I know that aluminum threads running against other aluminum threads will eventually cause problems.

I have issues with my pinvice and some of the bits.  When I have that issue I often turn to picking up an old drill chuck that my Grandfather had salvaged somewhere.  It is not as easy as a pinvise to balance or see around, but you can hold it easily.  I don't knot that it can use the smallest bits. It is not quite your typical chuck, being of a smaller than typical size, but not super small.

I do though have the "pcb" machining bits, that are wide on the base, and a narrow bit on the end.  I don't use them that much.

The modern chucks I think of are the Dremel Keyless Chuck.  Which I have on one of my Dremels and on a Walmart rechargable Dremel.  They close down nearly completely.  You can buy similar ones that end in a 1/4" adapter, which could be held again with likely being a bit more difficult to balance in a way than a pin vice.  Then again you could also but it into one of the 1/4" screwdriver handles.

Thanks, Don, and Markeno - I jumped onto the internet & bought a new set of PCB bits, which come with a new pin vice & 20 or so ordinary bits in small sizes.  Some of these will duplicate ones I already have, but for £10.99 I'm not complaining.  The pin vice itself is made of aluminium and has a 3-jaw chuck, which seems better than the steel one I had the problem with.  But, Don, I think you're right about the screw mechanism - we'll see how long it lasts.

Thanks again, everyone, hopefully my problem is now solved.

Stay safe,

             Hutch.

Pin vice quality matters. All I use these days are the Tamiya ones, which are the best I've found so far. But they are not cheap.

This topic is boring. 

And yet, to the point.

I am tired of buying those junk ones with the blue and transparent plastic case.  I have been shopping for others.  Has anyone tried the set that comes in a circular case, drills arrayed in a circle, with a clear plastic cover dome?  I think the brand may be Gyro.

Don Stauffer

Has anyone tried the set that comes in a circular case, drills arrayed in a circle, with a clear plastic cover dome?

Yes, I have had that set for years, but have never opened it because my drills don't break. My guess is they are junk too. "How does that help?", thinks Don? It doesn't, but hopefully this will.

https://www.micromark.com/20-piece-Micro-Size-Drill-Bit-Set-with-Index-61-80

I've had mine for so long I'm not going to tell you becuase nobody will believe it. I think, but am not sure if this set from Micromark is the same. I got mine from an industrial supply cutting tools supply house back in the day when you and I were still in the biz. I noticed the same-looking set at MicroMark and recently bought another for a backup with a recent Micromark order. I haven't tried a bit yet, but everything looks identical to the old reliable set.

Space Ranger

This topic is boring. 

 

Took long enough, but this and the "to the point" response finally kicked in. Ha!

Hey, I haven't had even one sip of coffee yet, ok? Brain is still at idle.

He's to be commended for trying to overcome his vices.

 Space Ranger

This topic is boring. 

That's about the hole point of this drill.

Greg

 

 

Don Stauffer

Has anyone tried the set that comes in a circular case, drills arrayed in a circle, with a clear plastic cover dome?

 

 

Yes, I have had that set for years, but have never opened it because my drills don't break. My guess is they are junk too. "How does that help?", thinks Don? It doesn't, but hopefully this will.

https://www.micromark.com/20-piece-Micro-Size-Drill-Bit-Set-with-Index-61-80

I've had mine for so long I'm not going to tell you becuase nobody will believe it. I think, but am not sure if this set from Micromark is the same. I got mine from an industrial supply cutting tools supply house back in the day when you and I were still in the biz. I noticed the same-looking set at MicroMark and recently bought another for a backup with a recent Micromark order. I haven't tried a bit yet, but everything looks identical to the old reliable set.

 

 

 

Greg

 

 

Don Stauffer

Has anyone tried the set that comes in a circular case, drills arrayed in a circle, with a clear plastic cover dome?

 

 

Yes, I have had that set for years, but have never opened it because my drills don't break. My guess is they are junk too. "How does that help?", thinks Don? It doesn't, but hopefully this will.

https://www.micromark.com/20-piece-Micro-Size-Drill-Bit-Set-with-Index-61-80

I've had mine for so long I'm not going to tell you becuase nobody will believe it. I think, but am not sure if this set from Micromark is the same. I got mine from an industrial supply cutting tools supply house back in the day when you and I were still in the biz. I noticed the same-looking set at MicroMark and recently bought another for a backup with a recent Micromark order. I haven't tried a bit yet, but everything looks identical to the old reliable set.

 

 

 

Maybe I will try those again.  Bought a set many years ago and the points were okay, but they did break easily.  I have learned tricks to reduce breaking now.  Problem I am having with the blue box set is crappy points.  The point is not concentric, and different angles on the side of the flute.

Don Stauffer

I am tired of buying those junk ones with the blue and transparent plastic case.  I have been shopping for others.  Has anyone tried the set that comes in a circular case, drills arrayed in a circle, with a clear plastic cover dome?  I think the brand may be Gyro.

 

 

JohnnyK

 

 

Don Stauffer

I am tired of buying those junk ones with the blue and transparent plastic case.  I have been shopping for others.  Has anyone tried the set that comes in a circular case, drills arrayed in a circle, with a clear plastic cover dome?  I think the brand may be Gyro.

 

 

 

 

 

Keep in mind that these are inexpensive drill bits and their quality is not that good. . It is really easy to break the smaller diameter bits. All the bits tend to dull quickly. 

 

 

Where do I get high quality ones?  I have been thinking of MaMaster Carr- any other suggestions?

Yes, a machine tool supplier would be your safest bet, as I alluded to, but not very clearly.

McMaster Carr, yes. Or Grainger

https://www.grainger.com/search/machining/drilling-and-holemaking/drill-bits/metalworking-drill-bits/micro-drill-bits/metalworking-micro-drill-bits#WP11525565

Or a trip to your local machine tool supplier, if you have one.

The index box set I have was purchased by a tooling buyer a long, long time ago. That's why I can't say which place it came from as I never knew to begin with. I wish I did.

Don Stauffer

I am tired of buying those junk ones with the blue and transparent plastic case.  I have been shopping for others.  Has anyone tried the set that comes in a circular case, drills arrayed in a circle, with a clear plastic cover dome?  I think the brand may be Gyro.

Yes indeed. Well sharpened and when I emailed that one was missing they mailed out a package of two the next day.

I got one of the cheap sets from amazon. Promptly broke two bits using them by hand withou a vice. Trying to drill a/c exhaust ports.  Plan to check out some of the more expensive ones mentioned here. YGWYPF

https://www.amazon.com/10Pcs-Print-Circuit-Board-Carbide/dp/B00IMXHXGG

Bish

Have you tried PCB drill bits

I used these (one of them, anyway) today, for the first time.  The 5mm shank sat square & true in the pin vice, and the bit worked beautifully.  Beats faffing about with tiny shanks that won't sit straight & let themselves be gripped properly - recommended!

Hutch6390

 

 

Bish

Have you tried PCB drill bits

 

 

I used these (one of them, anyway) today, for the first time.  The 5mm shank sat square & true in the pin vice, and the bit worked beautifully.  Beats faffing about with tiny shanks that won't sit straight & let themselves be gripped properly - recommended!

 

The problem I had is that they are very brittle and kept breaking where they necked down.  Broke even easier than the regular small drills.  I suspect they are most useful in a small drill press with flat objects that can fit on press table.

Don Stauffer

they are very brittle and kept breaking where they necked down

Thanks for the tip, Don - having already broken some of the very small "normal" bits, I'll take more care with these.

Also, I got this pinvise set:

https://www.micromark.com/Pin-Vise-French-Type-Set

The smallest chuck closes completely.  They are my goto pinvises now.

Dave

One of the things I like in a pinvise is a knob with a bearing opposite the chunk, so it doesn't wear on the palm of your hand if you are using it a lot.  I have six pinvises, and only one has that feature.

Don Stauffer

One of the things I like in a pinvise is a knob with a bearing opposite the chunk, so it doesn't wear on the palm of your hand if you are using it a lot.  I have six pinvises, and only one has that feature.

Check Hobby Lobby or Michael's for round wood knobs. They come in several different sizes. I bought some to put on the ends of pinvises like those you describe. They don't have bearings so don't rotate, but they are much easier on the palm than an unmodified vise. And I'll wager that they could be modified with a bearing if a suitable one could be found.

Space Ranger

 

Don Stauffer

One of the things I like in a pinvise is a knob with a bearing opposite the chunk, so it doesn't wear on the palm of your hand if you are using it a lot.  I have six pinvises, and only one has that feature. 

Check Hobby Lobby or Michael's for round wood knobs. They come in several different sizes. I bought some to put on the ends of pinvises like those you describe. They don't have bearings so don't rotate, but they are much easier on the palm than an unmodified vise. And I'll wager that they could be modified with a bearing if a suitable one could be found.

the Baron

 

 

Space Ranger

 

Don Stauffer

One of the things I like in a pinvise is a knob with a bearing opposite the chunk, so it doesn't wear on the palm of your hand if you are using it a lot.  I have six pinvises, and only one has that feature. 

Check Hobby Lobby or Michael's for round wood knobs. They come in several different sizes. I bought some to put on the ends of pinvises like those you describe. They don't have bearings so don't rotate, but they are much easier on the palm than an unmodified vise. And I'll wager that they could be modified with a bearing if a suitable one could be found.

 

 

 

 

Do mean the kind of knobs used as drawer pulls or knobs?  I've gotten some at hardware stores, too.

 

The problem is not the knob itself, but the bearing that holds the knob in place, but still allows the knob to stay still while you turn the pinvise.  With most pinvises, the diameter of the main body means that unit would have to be quite compact.

the Baron

 

 

Space Ranger

 

Don Stauffer

One of the things I like in a pinvise is a knob with a bearing opposite the chunk, so it doesn't wear on the palm of your hand if you are using it a lot.  I have six pinvises, and only one has that feature. 

Check Hobby Lobby or Michael's for round wood knobs. They come in several different sizes. I bought some to put on the ends of pinvises like those you describe. They don't have bearings so don't rotate, but they are much easier on the palm than an unmodified vise. And I'll wager that they could be modified with a bearing if a suitable one could be found.

 

 

 

 

Do mean the kind of knobs used as drawer pulls or knobs?  I've gotten some at hardware stores, too.

 

Nope. Just round unfinished smooth wood balls of various sizes.