Source for tiny drill bits?

[peteski]

I was inspired to order some bits from DrillCity.  I'll let you know how they work out for me.  Frankly, I have broken so many high speed bits (in sizes under #70) that I am worried the carbide will not finish a single hole, based on some of the comments above.  I take it I should use these with a high speed tool and/or drill press, and leave the pin vice in the toolbox?

How exactly do you break those HSS bits smaller than #70?  Are you holding them in a pin vise, Dremel orr drill press?  Are you pressing to hard or slip while drilling? Shaky hands?

I would also agree that if you are regularly breaking HSS bits, then tungsten carbide bits will likely not last you a long time.  Drill press (and holding the drilled item very steady) is the preferred drilling method. And gentle pressure.

[thomasjmdavis]

How exactly do you break those HSS bits smaller than #70?  Are you holding them in a pin vise, Dremel orr drill press?  Are you pressing to hard or slip while drilling? Shaky hands?

I would also agree that if you are regularly breaking HSS bits, then tungsten carbide bits will likely not last you a long time.  Drill press (and holding the drilled item very steady) is the preferred drilling method. And gentle pressure.

Most of my issues with small drill bits are the various things that come with not being as young as I used to be (the hand-eye coordination required to get a #80 bit exactly centered in a 4 jaw micro chuck is, well, not quite so precise as it once was).  That and I am usually impatient with those projects where you need to drill 100 holes and push a little too hard. 
Some experiment with the new bits this afternoon (even in a Dremel) demonstrates that the 1/8" shaft solves several of the problems for me. 

[peteski]

Most of my issues with small drill bits are the various things that come with not being as young as I used to be (the hand-eye coordination required to get a #80 bit exactly centered in a 4 jaw micro chuck is, well, not quite so precise as it once was).  That and I am usually impatient with those projects where you need to drill 100 holes and push a little too hard. 
Some experiment with the new bits this afternoon (even in a Dremel) demonstrates that the 1/8" shaft solves several of the problems for me.

That is a good sign!  I agree that the 1/8" shaft is a very convenient feature.  I love those bits! Another great thing is that these are super sharp, so they will go through most materials like through the proverbial butter.  The split point works so much better than the regular point on the HSS bits.

And patience is pretty much a requirement for this type of a task. 

[peteski]

I can be considered as being addicted to those PC Board bits.  Here are my drill indexes:

[Chris333]

I can play too 



See all of those empty holes?  Those are the ones I've broke so far.

[peteski]

I can play too 

See all of those empty holes?  Those are the ones I've broke so far.

The handwritten numbers in my indexes show how many spares I have for each size. "BOX" means a box of 50, and "LOTS" means multiple boxes of 50.   

[Chris333]

Yes but how many of them are broken? 

[peteski]

Yes but how many of them are broken? 

I do not track that number, but over 30+ years of me using those bits it is *MUCH* higher than yours!    

TIP: some (but not all) of those bits are made from a solid rod of tungsten-carbide.  After the bit breaks, those 1/8" shanks can be used as weights for models.
But on many of them the shank is plain steel, with only the drill bit portion made from TC.  You can easily tell those, because the shank is clearly different color than the bit. 

[MK]

TC Bit Hoarders! 

[peteski]

TC Bit Hoarders! 

And *LOVING IT*!!

[ednadolski]

Here are my drill indexes:

What have you used the #95 on?  (I think I would break it if I just touched it)

Ed

[peteski]

What have you used the #95 on?  (I think I would break it if I just touched it)

Ed

I did break few already, just trying them out.  I will use it on the N scale Mercedes Sprinter to install a 0.002" wire antenna over the windshield. It is still quite a bit larger than the wire, but smaller than #85 (which is the one I used on my first model).  And you are right, you can break one just by touching it!  That is why I protected it with the stiff white plastic tube. But I also broke one bit while I was removing that tube!  I'm not sure if I'll buy any more of those bits.

[Maletrain]

Does anybody make #95 bits that are not carbide?  I would think they would be a little tougher.  Most of my drilling that diameter will be into plastic.

[Chris333]

Use steel wire as a drill bit.

[Maletrain]

Use steel wire as a drill bit.

I have done that, but it isn't really that straight nor self centering for drilling really small holes in plastic for N scale sized grabs and such.