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Is there a better pin vise?

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  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 2, 2006 3:52 PM
I've got one I picked up at a model show nearly ten years ago. It has a worm gear and you push down on the top half, which spins the bottom half. It comes with several collets, like a Dremel tool, and will hold any micro-drill size, and a few of the smaller standard drill sizes. It's been a constant tool box companion, without fail for years.

 I got it from some tool supplier who had a vendor table at the show, and I have no clue who they were or who made the tool, but I'm sure a little research can turn it, or a similar product up.

  • Member since
    May 2005
Posted by Ron Smith on Sunday, April 2, 2006 1:01 PM
 Triarius wrote:
You are welcome, Mike!

Ron, I didn't mention Starrett for that very reason—expensive. OTOH, you get what you pay for! And most of their tools come with an excellent one year warranty.


Well I have about 10 Starrett pinvises, most of which are over 20 years old and were part of my personal toolkit for work. I've had 15 or so hobby grade pinvises and only the three largest are still around, the rest were either too far off center to be really useful or their collets cracked after a couple of years. I'd rather pay the extra for the precision and long life.
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Peoples Socialist Democratic Republic of Illinois
Posted by Triarius on Saturday, April 1, 2006 2:46 PM
You are welcome, Mike!

Ron, I didn't mention Starrett for that very reason—expensive. OTOH, you get what you pay for! And most of their tools come with an excellent one year warranty.

Ross Martinek A little strangeness, now and then, is a good thing… Wink

  • Member since
    May 2005
Posted by Ron Smith on Saturday, April 1, 2006 1:27 PM
Starrett, twice as expensive but many times better than any hobby grade pin vise. You want the ones with the knured steel shank not the ones with the hexagonal plastic shank (the plastic is molded over the knurled steel but it makes them clunky). www.msc-direct.com
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Hayward, CA
Posted by MikeV on Friday, March 31, 2006 12:59 PM
 Triarius wrote:
In addition to the usual suspect (Micromark) you can try any jewelers supply store. There are also the following:

MicroTools


Thanks for that link. Micro Tools has some really good stuff and I didn't even know they are only an hour drive from me so shipping would be fast.

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: White Mountains, NH
Posted by jhande on Friday, March 31, 2006 12:24 AM
 smokinguns3 wrote:

 jhande wrote:
Steve, did you get a pin vise with 2 different double ended collets?

Similar to this - zon37-140

 Thats the one i have and the collets dont line up evenly maybe i'll have to get a biffrent one.



Oh Oh, thanks for letting us know. I was thinking about that one myself. Guess I'll look for a different brand myself.

Thanks  Wink [;)]

-- Jim --
"Put the pedal down & shake the ground!"

  • Member since
    June 2005
  • From: San Tan Valley,AZ
Posted by smokinguns3 on Thursday, March 30, 2006 10:48 PM

 jhande wrote:
Steve, did you get a pin vise with 2 different double ended collets?

Similar to this - zon37-140

 

Thats the one i have and the collets dont line up evenly maybe i'll have to get a biffrent one.

Rob I think i can I think i can
  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: White Mountains, NH
Posted by jhande on Thursday, March 30, 2006 5:16 PM
Steve, did you get a pin vise with 2 different double ended collets?

Similar to this - zon37-140

I ordered a pin vise without the collets and it only holds drill bits #75 - #80 even though the company claimed it would work for all (#61 - #80).  Sad [:(]

This one I ordered - squ10804




-- Jim --
"Put the pedal down & shake the ground!"

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Peoples Socialist Democratic Republic of Illinois
Posted by Triarius on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 6:50 PM
In addition to the usual suspect (Micromark) you can try any jewelers supply store. There are also the following:

Brownells

McMaster Carr

Small Parts

model tool


Shore International

Gyros Tools

MicroTools





Ross Martinek A little strangeness, now and then, is a good thing… Wink

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Dillwyn, VA
Is there a better pin vise?
Posted by In The Woods on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 5:10 PM
    Is there a better pin vise than seems to be available for general purchase?  The one I have (can't remember the brand name) just *doesn't* do a good job of holding the tiny drills size 76 and up.  If I shim the bits to get a grip, they're out of round.  Any suggestions?

Thanks to all.

With best regards,

Steve Mack
Never put temptation in the way of a weak soul. Mrs. Dinkins' First Precept
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