Should I buy a pin vise?

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Tools
1

Hi everyone. I would like to know if I should buy a pin vise. If yes, what model would you suggest?

Thanks for your help

2

I think yes. I use mine more than I would have expected.

I used cheap pin vises, whatever I found at hobby stores or HobbyLobby for several years. Then I bought a Tamiya pin vise. They are not cheap but I haven’t broken a drill bit since.

I now have a total of 3, and use them all.

The chucks are precision machined which keep the drill bits on center. If we break a bit with a Tamiya pin vise, it’s operator error. Can’t say that for the cheap ones with the off-center chucks.

[2cnts]

3

Short answer, Yes! You can do so much with a pin vice besides drilling holes. I got mine for $7 at hobby lobby it was in the bead jewelry section. But any pin vice that looks good to you should work. No need to break the bank on this type of tool

4

I couldn’t live without one.

My Xacto pin vise is over 50 years old. My only recommendations are that you buy a good quality tool and that the end of the tool is enlarged so that it fits comfortably against your palm.

5

Thanks guys.

Do you have a link fot the one you are using? I just don’t want to waste my money buying a cheap one.

6

https://www.tamiyausa.com/shop/tools/fine-pin-vise-d-r-01-32mm/

Here’s a link for the one I use. Its bigger and heavier than most pin vises out there, but as it turns out, the size and weight actually make it easier to do more precise work.

7

Should you; yes, absolutely. There is so much that can be done with it, from hand drilling clean, precise holes, to holding PE shafts for painting or detailing. Like Eaglecash, I prefer a slightly heavier one. Mine has four tips in two chucks, so it is very adaptable.

Now, something that can help in the mean time is if you have a four jaw knife handle such as the below photo. Those can be used for really, really little drills, but make sure that the drill will center. If you look closely at the one pictured, you will see that this one will not center as the slots are offset slightly. So, going back to the original question; yes, get one when you can. They are worth it.

8

Like the other guys here have said, yes, buy one. Or two or three. They are very handy to have on occasion. I can’t recommend any particular type or brand.

9

Sure,they come in handy

10

Hi;

There are quite a few different ones out there. I got my best one from Micro-Mark. Why? Well it has a nice wooden swivel ball on the palm end. Perfect for drilling comfort. I have a metal one with the metal swivel head, but with old hands it irritates the old Nerves in the palm. I still have my " Flip-Flop" one from the sixties. That’s with a different sized chuck on either end. Still a good tool.

I have a " Birdball" on that one that elicits a lot of laughs , but, it still works too. It is the Flip -Flop With a smallish Wiffle-Ball ( Bird -sized) That I taped up all the holes but one and slip it over the end of the Flip Flop and drill away and it swivels nicely.

I got the last after watching My Indian Ring Necked Parakeet playing with his while he sings. He sings and swivels the ball in his beak into which he’s inserted the top part or " Hook " of his bill and then swivels it on his beak with his tongue! Smart bird there!

So in Closing -Definitely buy a Pin Vise-You won’t regret it !

11

Make sure you buy a vise, though.

We’re born with vices enough, that you should pay to acquire a new one.

[:D]

12

Absolutely, they are incredibly useful. I also recomment a set of PCB drill bits as well. I a generic package off Amazon with the vise, a set of regular bits, and a set of PCB bits as well.

13

Second the recommendation, it’s definitely worth it to have one, or more, if you like.

I have the double-ended style that HooYah showed in his post, though mine has just the two sizes of clamps. I got it years ago at a HobbyTown, but I can’t remember the brand-might have been Squadron’s. But you can find them easily enough. And you don’t have to spend a lot of money; even the cheaper ones are pretty well-made.

I do all of my fine drilling, on styrene, resin, or metal, with a pine vise. It takes me longer than if I were to chuck a bit into my Dremel or a power drill, but I like the control I have in using the pin vise. In my own experience, the power tools use too much power, too much speed-even if you run them through a rheostat-and are more prone to slipping or other damage, than hand power.

14

With anything smaller than a #65 or smaller, even in a pinvise there is a danger of braking the bit. Dremel and chuck on those small ones is certain disaster.