Hi All, I have some N scale passenger cars that I need to enlarge the bolster holes to 5/32" or .156". I'm not able to find a pin vice to accomadate a bit of that size. Would anyone know if a Dremel tool can take that size of bit? Mine is lost somewhere in a black hole. If it will I would invest in a drill press adapter. Any help, any suggestion are most welcome.
I use a 1/4" drill chuck. Off the drill. Either threaded on or with 1/4" hex drive quick disconnect. There are pin vises available for that size.
And you don't have to go to eBay for a laugh: https://www.amazon.com/Starrett-S16...e&qid=1639927348&sprefix=pin+,aps,118&sr=8-18
Another type of drilling device in confined spaces is a Pork chop used in the aircraft industry. It has 5 gears that don't change the speed of drill just offset the direction of rotation 3.380 inches.. The input shaft goes in the drill and a drill bit goes in the output chuck. I used it to match drill bolt holes in the module end plates. Two 1/4 inch bolts hold the modules together at each end. Joe
I bought a chuck from Micromark that slides into a cordless screwdriver.........more power than a pin vice, and much better speed than a dremel or regular drill.
Yep. Starrett = $$$$ and I have to admit Mititoyo makes good instruments. Unlike in the distant past, Japanese no longer = cheaply made. As an aside, in 1974, I bought new Starret mikes, 0-3" for abouit the same price as that set of pin vises. Times change.
I started in '73 with Starret 0-4" OD, depth and ID mics. Then in '79 a new employer were I needed up to 12" including calipers and indicators that were Mity's. A total of $1500. The pin vises came later for work and play. Of course that was just the beginning. Alone with school. Rich
Wish I had just a fraction of the machinist knowledge you guys have. If your drilling in plastic. This little Tamiya drill is a must have. If you make a rudimentary spacer it will accept Dremel collets and easily hold bits down to a #79. With a little Emery cloth work you can get the close collet to accept #80 bits, will fit up to #31/.120 bit, a little small for what you are looking for. The old Dremel collets and chucks I have go up to about a .125, which is well short of what the OP was asking. Glad you found the tool you were looking for. A cool thing about the Tamiya drill is it turns slow enough (2 AA batteries) so as not melt the plastic, easily held straight, light, works like a champ. https://www.kimerlyjes.com/products...handy-drill-tam74041?variant=1000007528430208
Having worked with metal isn't the same as plastics. So it does take a bit of learning. I do need the right kind of drill instead of just a pin vise. So, I say thanks for the suggestion. I did look at another in that price but know just looking. Hope you are having a nice holy day. Rich
Had Sister call me a couple of years ago: "Get over here to this YARD/ESTATE Sale. Bunch of Starret instruments, gauges, and stuff. You might want to take a look?" She didn't really know what everything was, but knew that I might be interested in the tools. Before He pasted away, the Man had been an INDUSTRIAL Supply Salesman. Had a WHOLE CASE of Starret Instruments. The Family didn't really know, or care what they were for, just wanted them them GONE!! I made them a CASH offer, and it was accepted. I still use them, to this day.
