Il some cases (especially for reaming) it is useful to install reinforced-shank drill bits in the chuck of a flexible shaft, keeping the shaft in one hand, and slowly rotating the chuck with the other hand. Useful to have a 2-operator setup, one checking the alignment, the other doing the manual part or the operation.

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I see hobbyists using either a small hand drill or a pin vice. Which works best for you? And, what particular make and model works best in your opinion?

Aug 27, 2021 — Kurt Repsher walks you through our recommendations for drilling hardened or stainless steels, mild or carbon steels, and aluminum.

The Guhring bits are quite costly, so it's nice to have a friend or two to split the 10 unit minimum. They are sharp and I have not had one break in either hand pin vice or my motorized version as of yet. The sharp part is a big deal. They drill quickly and accurately.

Notice, it has a #80 drill installed.  It can be reconfigured for much larger drills also.  I enjoy my father’s set of Starrett pin vices my dad, a tool and die maker, left me too.

I've got the PIN vise in Nicks picture, or one just like it and have used it for years.  I found when I tried to use tiny bits in a dremel, they were hard to control.

So, yes, you do want both. And you'll never regret either. In fact, buy two pin vices so you don't have to keep changing drills.

In this article, we'll take a look at the four main factors that cause end mills to perform differently: the grade or quality of the carbide they're made from.

One thing that doesn't get mentioned here is a Dremel (or similar) Roto tool. They can accept very small bits and have other uses as well.

I think it has to do with rotating the pin vise. In my hands the act of rotation tends to make the pin vise wobble and that breaks the bits. With the slow speed powered option all I have to concentrate on is holding the drill steady.

The other day I was trying to drill out an HO brass stanchion and could not find the right tool to hold the tiny part firmly but not destructively while rotating the twist drill in my other hand.

Personally, for working on  models- freight cars, locomotives, buildings, etc I prefer a Pin Vise.  If you are working on something larger and need bigger bits, then a hand-drill is probably the way to go.  I like the precision and control that a Pin Vise offers, and I like the ones that are single ended rather than the type that have chucks at both ends.  Here's a link to one on Amazon that looks similar to what I use and like:

What I am finding is that I need something to hold a very small part while drilling. The other day I was trying to drill out an HO brass stanchion and could not find the right tool to hold the tiny part firmly but not destructively while rotating the twist drill in my other hand.

I still use a pin vise for certain things but since I started using the General drill setup that Joe Fugate wrote about the number of broken bits has gone way down. I am talking about bits in the 78-80 range.

For the very tiny bits like #80 I usually use a pin vise . For the slightly larger ones, say #60 and up  I usually use a small cordless drill. My cordless drill chuck can hold the tiny bits and it has variable speed so is good for many different materials. If the hole needs to be very precise or is in harder material I have a micro drill press. The press can handle  carbide drills which are much better for hard material but are too brittle to use in a hand held drill or pin vise. Some pin vises are better than others, look for a chuck that can hold a #80 bit without it slipping when you apply drilling pressure, I've had some that failed this test so could only be used for larger bits... ...DaveB

We use a pin vise to drill/ream small diameter holes in plastic or soft metal parts. For any more "serious" drilling/reaming, we use a Dremel and flexible shaft.

Pull stud clamps and stud gripper systems are designed to securely hold industrial parts in active machining environments.

7pcs/set Metric Cap Screw Counterbore Set,3mm up to 12mm, part# 510-MM. Add to cart. View · 3/4" Carbide Tipped Boring Bar 12pcs/set,For General Machining #.

Sounds like you missed my December Running Extra article ... the solution you are looking for is a block of wood and some good double-stick masking tape.

2024729 — What Is Work Hardening and Why Do You Want It in a Wear Steel? ... Work hardened wear steel is a type of steel that becomes harder and more wear ...

I have both the General Drill tool and 5-6 different pin vises.  The General Drill doesn't work for me in small drill sizes higher than #65.  A very small manual rotary like the Fiskers only 1/3 the size and some way to mount it in a drill press type holder would be wonderful tool to have.  I once tore apart a Fiskers drill to try and create such a tool as the angle of the Fiskers plastic housing resisted mounting in a drill press but it didn't work.

For very fine work nothing beats a pin vice. When you have to do a lot of holes a low speed drill with a microchuck (like you guys were talking about above) is perfect. You'll have to decide which suits your particular project.

The Boone County Courthouse is thought to be the only public building in the world that is bisected by a principal meridian line. The second principal meridian ...

I would suggest both.  I personally use both pin vises and hand drills( see the MRH thread ion powered pin vise) https://forum.mrhmag.com/magazine-feedback-was-ezines-891776.  This is a Running Extra article so it is a subscription but well worth the cost.

I've done it, so I know it can be done. But if the tape won't hold it, then it's time for the Panavise. The soft plastic jaws will hold detail parts without damage if you're careful.

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But, whenever the shape of the piece renders it possible, we use our Proxxon precision milling machine and reinforced-shank drill bits. The results is always better than the best hand positioning.

can you cut or carve out a slot in the wood then tape the part into it?  For things like stanchions I usually just hold them flat on some scrap wood and drill them with a drill press or cordless drill if the bit is a little larger. Some things will clamp in a Panavise between the plastic jaws then can be drilled with a pin vise or cordless drill.....DaveB

Use these Free Tools to Calculate Cutting Speeds, Feeds and material removal rates for your machining and manufacturing needs.

The process to convert mm to inches is quite simple. To convert mm to inches, you must multiply the unit by 0.039.

Laboratory mills are unit operations designed to break solid materials into smaller particles. Laboratory mills use particle size reduction to homogenize or ...

I prefer a pin vise with a ball handle.  The ball fits in the palm of my hand and gives me pretty good control.  Zona currently makes one with a wood ball.  Others have a plastic ball.

Each issue of Running Extra has lots of tips like this. This one tip will save you buying some expensive tool and pay for a several year subscription, I wager.

Harvey Tool, 974262-C3, Undercutting End Mill, Center Cut, 0.0625 in Diameter Cutter, 1-1/2 in Overall Length, 0.0529 in Length of Cut, 2 Flutes, ...

I haven't run across that vendor with just the right tools at any train show here in the SF Bay area. I have scoured Otto Frei's (jewelers supply) website and not found the right tools in a price range I could afford (professional jewelry makers may lay our several thousand dollars for the right equipment.)

I would love to find a small rotary hand drill with collet that can handle down to an #80 dill bit. About 1/2 to 1/3 size of Fiskers manual rotary drill. I have tried to miniaturize a Fiskers drill but had no success. While I have Joe's electric screw driver aha solution, I don't find it as practical or controllable as what want. A mini manual drill press solution would work well.