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Post by thunderhawk on Sept 2, 2019 19:09:27 GMT -8
Looking for any suggestions on a good cordless or mini drill, handheld. I picked up some no name thing off Amazon as it appeared to be the only one available with low rpm but was misrepresented as being down to 500rpm. (Actually 7000) It, and everything else I'm finding, appears to be a rotary tool, not a slow speed drill.
I can make it work by stopping it with my finger, and somewhat control the rpm the same way, but I'm looking for a better solution. It also has a lot of wobble which seems to be the interchangable collet versus the entire tool being off.
An example of the bits I use would be #78's with an 1/8" shaft. I can go to standard 78's but prefer the large shaft as they are easier to handle. And not lose. On the flip side standard bits I could slide farther into the collet making them less likely to break.
Just looking for ideas here.
Probably should get a mini press but don't look forward to repositioning the shell 24 times.
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Post by Colin 't Hart on Sept 3, 2019 0:03:17 GMT -8
Tamiya makes a small drill in kit form. I recall seeing an article online about how to retrofit a better chuck onto it.
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Post by edgecrusher on Sept 3, 2019 7:37:45 GMT -8
If your looking for cordless I think your best bet will be a cordless screwdriver with a micro chuck in it. Most anything that's sold as a drill won't be geared right to do what you want. Something like this.
With this for a chuck.
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Post by Paul Cutler III on Sept 3, 2019 15:50:52 GMT -8
Back in yon olden days, I recall seeing a Model Power drill that used a locomotive 12vdc motor. You hooked the thing into a typical power pack, and used the throttle to regulate speed. I've never seen another one, but remember the thing had a Model Power sticker on it.
One could make the same thing themselves. Just get a can motor and press on a mini-chuck of some kind onto the motor shaft.
IMHO, any cordless screwdriver is too clumsy and awkward for #80 (and the like) drill work.
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Post by Christian on Sept 4, 2019 2:05:09 GMT -8
Looking for any suggestions on a good cordless or mini drill, handheld. My solution is now pricey. Not so much $$ a long time ago. But you can do some rooting around and find similar pieces. (The "no name" piece you bought from Amazon might work perfectly well with a auto-transformer.) The handpiece I bought from Woodcrafters is lightweight and just big enough for my hand. The brand in my photo is still available on Amazon, but now a bit expensive for what it is. I have a bunch of collets and found one that fit the handpiece and would close on a #80 bit. Finding a collet might prove to be the biggest hurdle. Mostly I use #78 bits even though #80 might be called out. Lots of collets will close on a #78 bit. The secret to this working is the Variac. Any AC variable auto-transformer will work with any AC motor. Do not use with a DC motor. Do not use a DC supply with an AC motor. I use mine at a bit under forty volts which is good for #76-#80 bits in plastic. Google for prices. Amazon is higher than many other suppliers. I also use this with my ancient Dremel when I need grinding and carving tools with oomph. I have drilled hundreds of holes with this rig (handheld) and have only broken bits when I've dropped the handpiece to the floor.   |
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Post by riogrande on Sept 4, 2019 2:51:31 GMT -8
Ah, look at that old Dremel on the left side. I have one just like it I bought in the early 1980's and still use it. I've got a newer model made about 15-20 or so years ago which I bought about 6 years ago still new in the box and it has a plastic shaft connect inside that is it's Achilles heal. When it breaks, you have to disassemble it and replace it. I ordered 3 because I expect it will break again.
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Post by thunderhawk on Sept 4, 2019 11:08:58 GMT -8
I found a variac on Amazon that is reasonable for experimentation. I figured there was something like that but didn't know the name.
I see micro mark has a flex shaft with a foot pedal for speed control. Has anyone tried one of those? I'm not finding a variac with foot control although I have seen mention of something like that being used by sculpters making vases on turntables.
I'm thinking a foot pedal might be preferable to the variac? As the bits/dimples are so small I don't like trying to hit the mark with it running.
Some regular #78's bits are on the way versus the style I have that are meant for a drill press. (I'm thinking they are for drilling PCB's.) The wobble in the collet is so bad a few bits have broken due to that. Which of course essentially ruins the shell as the bit is left in the hole, snapped off flush.
Thanks for the suggestions so far.
btw-In one of Rapido's videos they show a guy going to town drilling handgrab holes. Would like to know exactly what he is using. Looks like a regular rotary tool that is likely slowed down with a variac or foot pedal.
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Post by thunderhawk on Sept 4, 2019 11:13:44 GMT -8
I actually have one of those but the entire setup ends up being unwieldy for such small bits. |
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Post by edgecrusher on Sept 4, 2019 11:44:21 GMT -8
I was kinda thinking that. I use a small drill press myself, I don't know that I could hold any power tool steady enough with bits that small.
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Post by sd40dash2 on Sept 4, 2019 11:54:29 GMT -8
btw-In one of Rapido's videos they show a guy going to town drilling handgrab holes. Would like to know exactly what he is using. Looks like a regular rotary tool that is likely slowed down with a variac or foot pedal.
I wondered how the heck he could drill so many holes, so quickly in the plastic without gumming up or breaking the bit. Must be some skill/youth/dexterity involved.
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Post by thunderhawk on Sept 4, 2019 12:06:58 GMT -8
Back in yon olden days, I recall seeing a Model Power drill that used a locomotive 12vdc motor. You hooked the thing into a typical power pack, and used the throttle to regulate speed. I've never seen another one, but remember the thing had a Model Power sticker on it. One could make the same thing themselves. Just get a can motor and press on a mini-chuck of some kind onto the motor shaft. IMHO, any cordless screwdriver is too clumsy and awkward for #80 (and the like) drill work. This tool has an 18vDC converter. An old power pack would likely run it fine after cutting the cord. |
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Post by edwardsutorik on Sept 18, 2019 7:48:16 GMT -8
I see micro mark has a flex shaft with a foot pedal for speed control. Has anyone tried one of those? I'm not finding a variac with foot control although I have seen mention of something like that being used by sculpters making vases on turntables. I'm thinking a foot pedal might be preferable to the variac? As the bits/dimples are so small I don't like trying to hit the mark with it running. My resistance soldering rig uses a foot switch (on-off only). Since you typically need both hands, it's almost necessary. BUT. I have found that for ME (as opposed to anyone else), using my foot is a very clumsy kind of thing. So for ME, going to a variable-speed foot controller would be a bad idea. More recently, I bought a Foredom low speed flex-shaft, and chose a desk-top speed controller just because of that. So I have to set my speed before applying the tool. Which is working just fine. So far. I COULD add a foot on-off switch in series, I guess. A word of caution about the red Amazon variacs: They tend to put the on/off switch in the neutral, not the hot. So, if you have it plugged in, and you turn it off, the output is still live. Yes, I found out the hard way. So you MAY have to rewire the interior. Well, not HAVE to--do ya feel lucky? Other than that, the machine is a very good deal. I'll add that word may have gotten back to the factory, and the problem fixed. Ed |
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Post by Christian on Sept 21, 2019 0:53:05 GMT -8
btw-In one of Rapido's videos they show a guy going to town drilling handgrab holes. Would like to know exactly what he is using. Looks like a regular rotary tool that is likely slowed down with a variac or foot pedal.
I wondered how the heck he could drill so many holes, so quickly in the plastic without gumming up or breaking the bit. Must be some skill/youth/dexterity involved.
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