Drilling Tiny Holes

[Rockytime]

When using very small blades like 2/0 or #1 I use a #68 drill. There are several ways to drill those small holes. Seco makes a drilling device. I have a Dremel plunge router as well as a 6" bench top drill with a chuck that holds those drills nicely. I've used the Dremel for a long time and the thing I'm not happy about is the drill bit has a tendency to wander at times while I'm trying to drill a critical hole. The other thing I do not like is the changing of the drill bit. The Dremel has a small button which needs to be pressed to lock the spindle so the chuck can be loosened. Access to the small button is awkward. I tighten the chuck with a pliers as it is awkward to use my fingers in the small space. My drill press works very nicely but since I smoked the motor and won't get the new one for a couple of weeks I can't use it. Also if the pattern board is beyond 12" I have to use the Dremel. A year ago or so I purchased a Stew Mac router attachment for the Dremel. Stew Mac makes a very nice plunge router which mine is not. It is called a router base selling for about $65. I just replaced a couple of springs from ACE hardware and 4 1'4-28 and it makes the perfect plunge drill.

[kmmcrafts]

I remember the old topic about the plunge router for the dremel and when this device was shown.. I have the site bookmarked.. The actual plunge router variation from the company you got this from is quite pricey if I recall correctly.. and I pondered on it for a long time before just going with the dremel plunge router.. The issue with the dremel set up is as it gets a little worn and probably a little sloppy right from the start but you have to be careful to lower it down straight.. as there is some slop from side to side on it.. The other issue is that plastic base gets dirty and hard to see through it.. I do however like the larger base of it for stability when drilling out near the edges of a project..

I like the Seyco scrollers drill.. however that is also pricey and it's not something that you could change the motor out if it were to go bad.. at least this device you can get another cheap dremel and still use your press..

I still use and use a lot my dremel plunge drill set up.. BUT.. I rarely use it for precise drilling unless I have to because of my project being to big for my small drill press.. which isn't often.. I keep my smallest bit in my drill press because I typically use it for drilling holes for small veining type lines I need to cut.. which I do quite a lot of veining cuts for body lines on the car clocks etc that I cut.. Then I use a bit larger bit in the dremel set up.. not very much larger though.. Think I run a #56 in my dremel and a #60 in my drill press.. the #56 is the smallest that a pegas MG #5 will go through and the #60 is the smallest the #3 goes through.. Those are the main blades I use..

Thanks for showing how you modified that fixed base router to be a plunge router... I might have to look into buying one of those better set-ups..

BTW.. this is the link to the items that was in the original topic last year..

Plunge Router Base

https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/types-of-tools/routers-and-bits/routers/stewmac-plunge-router-base.html

Fixed Base Router As Shown By Les

https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/tools-by-job/precision-router-base.html

This is another option that I ran across the other day at Home Depot

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Wolfcraft-Portable-Multi-Angle-Drill-Guide-with-Drill-Chuck-4525404/303283380?MERCH=REC-_-PIPHorizontal2_rr-_-100349264-_-303283380-_-N

[OCtoolguy]

3 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

I remember the old topic about the plunge router for the dremel and when this device was shown.. I have the site bookmarked.. The actual plunge router variation from the company you got this from is quite pricey if I recall correctly.. and I pondered on it for a long time before just going with the dremel plunge router.. The issue with the dremel set up is as it gets a little worn and probably a little sloppy right from the start but you have to be careful to lower it down straight.. as there is some slop from side to side on it.. The other issue is that plastic base gets dirty and hard to see through it.. I do however like the larger base of it for stability when drilling out near the edges of a project..

I like the Seyco scrollers drill.. however that is also pricey and it's not something that you could change the motor out if it were to go bad.. at least this device you can get another cheap dremel and still use your press..

I still use and use a lot my dremel plunge drill set up.. BUT.. I rarely use it for precise drilling unless I have to because of my project being to big for my small drill press.. which isn't often.. I keep my smallest bit in my drill press because I typically use it for drilling holes for small veining type lines I need to cut.. which I do quite a lot of veining cuts for body lines on the car clocks etc that I cut.. Then I use a bit larger bit in the dremel set up.. not very much larger though.. Think I run a #56 in my dremel and a #60 in my drill press.. the #56 is the smallest that a pegas MG #5 will go through and the #60 is the smallest the #3 goes through.. Those are the main blades I use..

Thanks for showing how you modified that fixed base router to be a plunge router... I might have to look into buying one of those better set-ups..

BTW.. this is the link to the items that was in the original topic last year..

Plunge Router Base

https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/types-of-tools/routers-and-bits/routers/stewmac-plunge-router-base.html

Fixed Base Router As Shown By Les

https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/tools-by-job/precision-router-base.html

This is another option that I ran across the other day at Home Depot

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Wolfcraft-Portable-Multi-Angle-Drill-Guide-with-Drill-Chuck-4525404/303283380?MERCH=REC-_-PIPHorizontal2_rr-_-100349264-_-303283380-_-N

I've got a similar drill guide by General but it is pretty sloppy. I'd go with the one Les has if accuracy is primary. 

[heppnerguy]

I use a dremel brand, plastic one that I also got from Home Depot and I have not had any problems with it so far. I can see what I am doing, I do not believe I have miss drilled any holes with it yet, but anything is possible..  It seems to work really well for me and gets me into any part of and size board I need to drill a hole in. I like mind and the price was well below any of the ones above. 

Dick

heppnerguy