Cheap easy to find drills.

This is ludacris

Some people are actually  modelling on a very strict budget and can not afford any expensive items, this is directed towards those showing you can make do, without having to break the bank. So stop being such a pompous braggart and accept that others need different ideas to help them along.

modelmaker66

This is ludacris

 

Not *ludicrous* at all. I think it would be rare to find a modeler who hasn‘t repurposed a tool at some point. 

Graham Green

Dont suppose anybody on here uses a set of those el-cheapo Jewellers Screw Driver sets as drills ? I have had a set of these for 30yrs now and still use them even today. Cheap to acquire and real easy to sharpen them if you ever blunten them. They can be used on Polystyrene, Brass, Aluminium and Wood,  or anything that is softer than the steel that they are made from.

Very easy to find these sets on Ebay and real cheap as well, if you look hard enough you will find that there are two different sets, which have different sized shanks in them.

Very easy to make a drill out of the flat head screwdrivers, as shown bel

 

Thanks for the information and pictures.

I find that those drill bits do not represent a major item in my modeling budget.  I try to keep a set in reserve, and when I break a bit in my current set I replace it from the reserve set.  I find I go several years before having to buy a new set, and at 10-15 bucks a set, my yearly expenditure for drill bits is small.  I also found ways to minimize breaking bits.  A good pin vise helps.  Also, reduce how far out from the vise the bit is chucked.  If you only need a shallow hole, chuck up so that only that amount protrudes.  Take great care not to bend bit while you are drilling.

That said, I do like to fabricate or repurpose tools whenever I can.  I made my own PE bending tool, I make tools for applying small amounts of CA glue, and similar tools for applying the accelerator.  I make my own small awls.  I made my own modeler's drill press but replaced it when Model Expo had a really great closeout sale on a decent one.

Plan on building a miniature table saw using one of those cheap modeler's chop saws.  I think commercial miniature table saws are way overpriced.  Also find useful modelers tools from places like Harbor Freight far cheaper than buying them from Micro Mark or other modeling supply vendors.

Don Stauffer

Plan on building a miniature table saw using one of those cheap modeler's chop saws.  I think commercial miniature table saws are way overpriced.  Also find useful modelers tools from places like Harbor Freight far cheaper than buying them from Micro Mark or other modeling supply vendors.