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General Category => General Scroll Saw Talk => Topic started by: yyyyyguy on April 17, 2013, 08:34:00 am

Title: drilling small holes
Post by: yyyyyguy on April 17, 2013, 08:34:00 am
So what do you guys use to drill the really small holes for inside cuts? The small bits are too small for my drill press. I'm using my hand drill and doing pretty good most of the time, it's those other than "most" times that are infuriating  :-\
Title: Re: drilling small holes
Post by: old wormy on April 17, 2013, 08:39:34 am
I use a small chuck designed to hold tiny bits that fits in my drill press. I got mine at Sloan's Woodshop.
Title: Re: drilling small holes
Post by: EIEIO on April 17, 2013, 08:41:00 am
I have a Proxxon rotary tool (like a Dremmel) with a drill press stand.
 http://www.amazon.com/Proxxon-28606-MICROMOT-Drill-Stand/dp/B000209ZAE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1366202339&sr=8-4&keywords=proxxon (http://www.amazon.com/Proxxon-28606-MICROMOT-Drill-Stand/dp/B000209ZAE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1366202339&sr=8-4&keywords=proxxon).
I use 1/32" pilot holes for bowl cutting to reduce the sanding needed to remove the drill hole. I made a few wedges for the drill press table for drilling angle holes for bowl making.
Title: Re: drilling small holes
Post by: GrayBeard on April 17, 2013, 10:45:22 am
Hey Pete...you can get one of those 'tiny bit chuck's' from Mike the next time you order blades!

How is the DW788 working for you now?

~~~GB~~~
Title: Re: drilling small holes
Post by: dgman on April 17, 2013, 10:47:04 am
I use a small chuck designed to hold tiny bits that fits in my drill press. I got mine at Sloan's Woodshop.
Ditto. In fact I have two loaded with two different size bits.
Title: Re: drilling small holes
Post by: yyyyyguy on April 17, 2013, 11:17:05 am
Hey Pete...you can get one of those 'tiny bit chuck's' from Mike the next time you order blades!

How is the DW788 working for you now?

~~~GB~~~
Darn and I just ordered some.  The new saw is working great but I still can't find the "redo" button to fix mistakes  ::)
Title: Re: drilling small holes
Post by: crupiea on April 17, 2013, 11:19:04 am
I use a jewelers drill.

If needed i trim the butt end of the bit to where ut just barely extends beyond the thickness of the wood.  Otherwise they will break very easily.

The biggest one i use is a #68 and that is not too often.

usually i use a #72 or 73.
Title: Re: drilling small holes
Post by: Marcellarius on April 17, 2013, 01:07:20 pm
I use the chuck from FD Mike (http://www.mikesworkshop.com/newprod.htm) also

(http://www.mikesworkshop.com/drillchuck2.jpg)

Title: Re: drilling small holes
Post by: scotti158 on April 17, 2013, 05:56:11 pm
I started out with the mini chuck others have used but didn't like the run out. I ended up switching to the Dremel drill press.

http://www.amazon.com/Dremel-220-01-Rotary-Tool-Station/dp/B00068P48O (http://www.amazon.com/Dremel-220-01-Rotary-Tool-Station/dp/B00068P48O)
Title: Re: drilling small holes
Post by: IBMer on April 18, 2013, 09:40:16 pm
I have 2 Dremel tools.   I keep one mounted in a Dremel drill press mount, and the other I keep free.      Once I drill all the holes possible (reachable) with the press, I switch to the hand held dremel tool to get to any that the press can't reach.    My dremel tools are both equipped with the quick change chucks, and they seem to hold the drill bits just fine. 

By the way, you can buy a 10 pack of 1/16" bits from Harbor Freight.  They are on sale for Sale: $1.79     Not a bad deal..     I find that I tend to break anything smaller than this when hand holding the dremel tool.
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=1%2F16+drill+bits (http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=1%2F16+drill+bits)
Title: Re: drilling small holes
Post by: Becky on April 18, 2013, 09:47:18 pm
For the really small holes, I use a Dremel with the plunge router attachment.  It specifically says not to use it for drilling holes but I haven't had any problems.  Just don't turn it up to full speed or you'll burn the wood. 

I have one of FD Mike's mini chucks around here someplace but I could never get it to work right.
Title: Re: drilling small holes
Post by: jscott2 on April 18, 2013, 10:11:13 pm
I have not had any luck with the mini chucks but I found a Lee Valley chuck that works just fine.  For a while, Lee valley had it in stock but it seems to be no longer available.  It holds down to #70 with no run out and no slipping.  I made a stub shaft for it and chuck it in the drill press.

Works like a charm.
Jim
Title: Re: drilling small holes
Post by: ChuckD on April 20, 2013, 10:51:58 pm
I have the one Milke sells.  In fact I have two, thought I lost one and as soon as the new one came I found the old one.

There is a trick I use for the wobble on any mini-drill chuck.  I have a foot switch on my floor drill press.  Push down, it starts, let up it stops.  I touch the bit to the wood where I want it, push down on foot and drill the hole.  Right where I want it.  Try it, you will like it.  :):):)
Title: Re: drilling small holes
Post by: Jim Finn on April 22, 2013, 05:52:50 pm
I use a hand held black and decker rotary tool (Dremel type tool) with a small bit and it works well for me.  I use it for starting holes in doing double bevel inlay and have the tool hanging from a hook I installed on the side of my saw base.
Title: Re: drilling small holes
Post by: Danny on April 23, 2013, 06:32:13 am
I purchased the Small Chuck from Mike years ago.  It did not work in my drill press
which is a table top model.  It wobbled just a TINY bit which would not let me drill\
the EXACT area I wanted.  I use the .068 mini drill bit in my drill press and make
sure the bit is up into the chuck as far as it can go and only have enough drill to
go thru the wood blank.  This works GREAT for me....  Danny  :+}
Title: Re: drilling small holes
Post by: Graywolf on April 24, 2013, 09:43:06 am
I have been using Mike's FD blades for a while, and my scrolling has really gotten better. the last time I ordered blades, Ialso ordered drill bits (#63). They work great. But my problem is the bits are the same size as the blades. I am cutting a 3 stack of 1/4" Red Oak. Trying to get the blades to feed from the bottom of the stack is hard. I bend the blades before I can get them through the stack most times. I think I should use a size or two bigger bit. But I am not sure how the sizes run on the bits (ex. is a #71 bigger than a #63)? I need to call Mike methinks.
Title: Re: drilling small holes
Post by: Rapid Roger on April 24, 2013, 05:42:15 pm
I have been using Mike's FD blades for a while, and my scrolling has really gotten better. the last time I ordered blades, Ialso ordered drill bits (#63). They work great. But my problem is the bits are the same size as the blades. I am cutting a 3 stack of 1/4" Red Oak. Trying to get the blades to feed from the bottom of the stack is hard. I bend the blades before I can get them through the stack most times. I think I should use a size or two bigger bit. But I am not sure how the sizes run on the bits (ex. is a #71 bigger than a #63)? I need to call Mike methinks.

NO! A #71 is smaller than a #63. You need a #50 something to go larger. Numbered bits go from #1 (the largest) to #80 (the smallest)

Rog
Title: Re: drilling small holes
Post by: cdrover(Clyde) on April 24, 2013, 07:32:20 pm
I seem to remember that Mike has a cross reference chart that matches the blade and the bit size. I have been using Mike's mini chuck for several years not with no problems what so ever.
Title: Re: drilling small holes
Post by: Graywolf on April 25, 2013, 03:49:30 pm

thanks, Rog. I did call Mike and we talked for quite a while. What a great guy. He strighten me out. I have only been scrolling for a couple of years and blades drove me crazey (size etc.). He was really a great help. I orderd blades from him, again. Should be here tomorrow.  :)  :)  :)