Tamiya Handy Drill???

I know it's a bit too late, but if you can get a hold of one of these little gems, the Micro-Detailer, you will have about the only drilling tool you will ever need (for plastic, anyway)--perfect for nearly everything, and Michigan Toy Soldiers also sells the bits for it.  It was originally produced and sold by the now-defunct WWIIModelmaker website, and is great for delicate work--the RPMs aren't sufficient to melt plastic, and it is so easy to handle.  At $24, the price isn't bad, either.  Perfect for stanchion drilling....if the Tamiya drill doesn't work out, you might think about it.

http://www.michtoy.com/MTSCnewSite/supplies_folder/cutting_drilling/md1001_micro.html

 I'm sure it's available from other distributors--this one just had the best description.

Just in case any is curious, I ordered one of these Tamiya Handy Drills for about $14.00.  I'll let you know what I think about it when it comes.  I got a project coming up that will require about 200 stanchions to be drilled out.  I would of used my dremel, but it's a little heavy and I don't like using the flex shaft.

Jesse

With Christmas approaching you might want to keep an eye open at your local hardware store for small battery operated drills. In the store I managed we would get a variety of them each year which sold anywhere from $9-$30. Most ran on AA batteries others were rechargeable. Nearly all had a selection of smaller sized bits. Or could be adapted to accept them. These were 'disposable' goods, there were no recourse for repairs or parts, they rarely were available again. China made.

Ever considered a dental setup. I once considered buying a dental setup that used a small air line to power the tiny little drill head. It could have been run off the compressor from my airbrush setup. 

cardshark_14 wrote:

I don't like it because it uses LEDs and its not bright enough!

Ha, good one.  On some kits I might be drilling 40-50 hours and I get tired of turning a pin vise.  A good example would be drilling out portholes.  I have a single speed dremel with a dremel speed control (the old school one), but the dremel can be heavy and cumbersome.  Even the flex shaft can get annoying. I wonder if this Tamiya drill has variable speed, ie. the harder you squeeze the trigger, the faster it goes like a real drill.  Maybe I'll just have to buy one.

Jesse

Unless youre going to be drilling thousands of holes all you really need is a setup like this:

A pin vise and a set of bits. Or another route is to visit your hardware or welding supply house to get a torch tip cleaning tool. Essentially a pin vise with the bits included inside the handle. Rarely have I had the need to find a bit smaller than those included in the set.

Anything that needs batteries will probably not work when you need it the most. The pin vise works everywhere when you need it. Exacting as your fingers are at guiding it. You control the speed and the pressure. IMHO there is no other way to go. 

I don't like it because it uses LEDs and its not bright enough!

Just kidding, seriously though, I've been wondering about this too.