Drill bits/pin vise

RichardMahogany

If you have the tiny finger drill bits, is there any reason to still own a pen vice? I'm trying not to purchase redundant tools to start off my collection. 

 

I think both have their uses.  The pin vise allows me to get better alignment and more torque than finger drills on deeper holes.   If you are just opening a pre-marked hole, either one is fine.

If you have the tiny finger drill bits, is there any reason to still own a pen vice? I'm trying not to purchase redundant tools to start off my collection. 

I bought the three sets from Amazon that Eagle linked to.  All have a 1/8 shank on every bit.

I use an Xacto pin vise. It is probably 60 years old. It has two collets and will hold drills all the way from #80 (.0135) all the way up to 1/8". I like it because it has a big knob on the end that fits into the palm of my hand. A company called Gyros makes a similar tool for less that $10.00.

It's important to get a vice with the 1/8" shank size opening.

I have bought too many true diameter drills, a constant size shank really helps.

Bill

A four-section chuck with a short handle.  Hmmm...sounds like a pin vise.  

Eaglecash867

 

 

RacerToo

Hey guys, you know an Exacto knife will easily hold even the smallest bits. Right?

 

 

 

 

Sure, it will hold them.  But it won't hold them in the center of the axis of rotation.  It won't be perfectly aligned along that axis either.  

 

Depends on the quality of the handle. If it has a good four-section chuck  and you take care inserting and tightening the bit it works fairly well.  The handles are just too long to twirl with a drill bit, however.

Bakster

 

 

Greg

You're welcome, but I was really just seconding Eagle's recommendation.

 

 

Eagle gets a gold star. 

 

Heh.  Can I add a gold star to my sig?  LOL

RacerToo

Hey guys, you know an Exacto knife will easily hold even the smallest bits. Right?

Sure, it will hold them.  But it won't hold them in the center of the axis of rotation.  It won't be perfectly aligned along that axis either.  

Hey guys, you know an Exacto knife will easily hold even the smallest bits. Right?

Greg

You're welcome, but I was really just seconding Eagle's recommendation.

Eagle gets a gold star. 

goldhammer88

Thanks for reminding me I had bought the three sets of bits.  I set them aside a week before the world turned over.

In my build box now.

 

Yea! An unused bit is an unhappy bit. 

Thanks for reminding me I had bought the three sets of bits.  I set them aside a week before the world turned over.

In my build box now.

Eaglecash867

Glad it all worked so well for you, Bakster.  Those drill bits really came in handy the last couple of days.  Drilled some 0.3mm holes, dead-center in a couple of pieces of .047" styrene rod I had cut down, shaped, and painted to be O2 bottles on my 1/72 ACES II seats in the F/A-16B I'm almost done building.  I had the same experience, they start cutting right away instead of hopping around.

 

Yup. It was a pleasure to work with them. 

Glad it all worked so well for you, Bakster.  Those drill bits really came in handy the last couple of days.  Drilled some 0.3mm holes, dead-center in a couple of pieces of .047" styrene rod I had cut down, shaped, and painted to be O2 bottles on my 1/72 ACES II seats in the F/A-16B I'm almost done building.  I had the same experience, they start cutting right away instead of hopping around.

Glad you're happy with your purchase, Steve.

You're welcome, but I was really just seconding Eagle's recommendation.

Closing the loop:

1. I purchased the drill set that eagle linked to and I used them today for the first time. They are awesome. The bits are sharp and they are easy to start a hole with. That then translates to putting the hole exactly where you want it. With my old set, not so much. The bit would dance around until it catches and by then you are off in the woods somewhere.

2. They work with the Tamiya holder that Greg mentioned. I purchased that as well. It's a tight fit, but it works. And Greg, the holder is as you allude to, worth the price. I won't need to purchase any other. It's well made. 

It made quick work of things for me.

FYI.

Hi;

 I have a Tamiya Pin Vise that's all the way back from they first offered one with the Swivel Wood ball on top. I got Three Chucks and a whole Box of bits with it. Ya know what? I still got a whole box of bits. Over the years probably broke at least five. My Bad, Not the product. I got in a hurry. That's a No-No!

goldhammer

I like quality stuff too, guess it comes from a lifetime of wrenching on fullsize stuff.

Yup.  That's where mine comes from too.  Over the last 3 decades, I have found that the "cheap" tools actually cost you more in a very short amount of time due to lost productivity and schedule over-runs.  Time is money too.  A lot of people forget that.

At work, I'm sometimes referred to as The Wiha Man, due to my preference for Willi Hahn tools.  Can't really say that I'm a loyal, repeat customer though.  Any purchase I have made from them has lasted at least 20 years with heavy use, so I don't have to buy from them very often.

Greg

Strongly agree with Eagle. I haven't broken a bit since I used my first Tamiya pin vise, have since bought 2 more.

They have some interesting varieties, check them all out. I have 3, all different models.

That said, I'd recommend the one Eagle linked to, the 74112. It has two double ended chucks which is how it handles the wide diameter range of .1 - 3.2mm. Also, it is a really well-designed and machined tool. Had I bought this one first, I'm not sure I'd need the other two.

 

Hey Greg, thanks for the input. You guys have me sold. I will try them. 

goldhammer

I like quality stuff too, guess it comes from a lifetime of wrenching on fullsize stuff.

That being said, just watched a few bucks fly off like the last swallow that left the bird house yesterday.

 

Yeah sometimes quality counts. I have 4 pin vises and none of them are worth keeping. I easily spent double the price of a new Tamiya version

I have found some really nice pin vises, but I still break the smaller bits.  It may be due to my worsening manual dexterity.  I decided to try a more expensive set from a well known American machine tool company.  I'm breaking bits at the same rate.  I've come to regard as a supply item just like glue, paint, and paper towels!

I like quality stuff too, guess it comes from a lifetime of wrenching on fullsize stuff.

That being said, just watched a few bucks fly off like the last swallow that left the bird house yesterday.

Strongly agree with Eagle. I haven't broken a bit since I used my first Tamiya pin vise, have since bought 2 more.

They have some interesting varieties, check them all out. I have 3, all different models.

That said, I'd recommend the one Eagle linked to, the 74112. It has two double ended chucks which is how it handles the wide diameter range of .1 - 3.2mm. Also, it is a really well-designed and machined tool. Had I bought this one first, I'm not sure I'd need the other two.

GMorrison

Eagle, your tool suggestions are really helpful to me.

Bill

Eagle, your tool suggestions are really helpful to me.

Bill

Eaglecash867

 

 

Bakster

Oh man, those look good. Being Tamiya, the vise must be good. And those drill bits look really good. Maybe if I get those bits I won't need a pin vise, just do what you do. Thanks for the links. I will look into it more!

 

 

No problem, Bakster.  I had the same issues you have had with other pin vises, and the Tamiya made all of that go away.

 

Bakster

Oh man, those look good. Being Tamiya, the vise must be good. And those drill bits look really good. Maybe if I get those bits I won't need a pin vise, just do what you do. Thanks for the links. I will look into it more!

No problem, Bakster.  I had the same issues you have had with other pin vises, and the Tamiya made all of that go away.

Eaglecash867

This one is the last pin vise you'll ever need to buy.  Amazing quality, and its seemingly-unwieldy size and weight are actually very beneficial to control and precision.

https://www.amazon.com/Tamiya-Fine-Vise-0-1-3-2mm-74112/dp/B00EEOD03C/ref=pd_lpo_21_t_0/143-2198274-0825321?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00EEOD03C&pd_rd_r=a10c435a-2589-425c-a060-396023543d1d&pd_rd_w=4JtEG&pd_rd_wg=I7MJ7&pf_rd_p=fb1e266d-b690-4b4f-b71c-bd35e5395976&pf_rd_r=6CEH01475AHRQ4GEJV1C&psc=1&refRID=6CEH01475AHRQ4GEJV1C

Recently bought a set of these and have been using them happily for drilling tiny holes in styrene.  Not sure if they fit in a pin vise though.  I usually just use my index finger as the pivot point for the back of the bit and slowly spin them with my adjacent finger and thumb.  They were indispensable for drilling the tiny holes I needed for the styrene "cables" on my scratchbuilt F-16 JHMCS MTU.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C5S3FM2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Oh man, those look good. Being Tamiya, the vise must be good. And those drill bits look really good. Maybe if I get those bits I won't need a pin vise, just do what you do.

Thanks for the links. I will look into it more!