Hi guys, I was wondering what size drills for use in a pin vise are appropriate for 1/72 scale main gun barrels. Would #50 (.070) through #80 (.0135) drill sizes be the correct ones? I’m looking at the mini pin vise set from scalehobbyist.
Thanks.
A set with #60-80 should cover all your needs. I find myself using mainly #70s-#80 for most things. Or .2 to 1mm.
The 60 - 80 set is the right size range. However, a few things to watch. First of all, not all pin vises (in fact, very few, will chuck up the smallest drills (say 75-80). I had to buy a seperate one just for that size range. Second, the smaller sizes (say, 70 - 80) are very fragile. If you don’t hold the pin vise at a uniform angle while drilling they break oh-so-easily. So figure small drills are a supply item that will need replenishment periodically. I bought a set with a nice plastic case, and when I have too many vacant cavities in the set I buy another set with a cheap case and just use it as a supply to replentish the ones missing in the nice case.
Another thing. Unless you have a good mike or accurate caliper, you cannot identify the size very easily, so when you take a drill out of the case, take only one at a time out, and replace it before you take the next one out. Otherwise you’ll have them mis-assorted.
And put a grip:
Com’on Tom. You don’t want that exacto rolling off the bench and stabbing you in the foot??!!
Edit: P.S. Don- Tamiya makes a pin vise with two different sized chucks. Nice tool.
Awesome. Thank you for the advice.
To keep costs down I figured out that guitar strings can be cut about 2 to 3 inches long and then cut the end at a 45 % angle. This is a great way to make your own small drill bits. Different gauge guitar strings for different drill sizes. This makes the bits cost about 20 cents each. Guitar strings cost around $4 each and can be cut into 20 bits or more.