How to drill very small holes?

[BQuicksilver]

I purchased a nice routed wood travel map of the USA for my wife to pin our trips on. Problem is, you can't exactly push a pin into hardwood.

So of course you just pre-drill a super tiny bit. Well, my M12 Milwaukee won't chuck a bit that small.

So how would you pre-drill for small push pins?

 

[paranoid56]

i would push the push pin in harder lol
or something like this
https://amzn.to/36kWsjZ

 

[samss]

Dremel has a 1/32" drill bit. Would that be close enough? Of course that means you have to get another tool.

 

[BQuicksilver]

Thanks! Micro hand drill on the way.

 

[Legion Prime]

Also known as a pin vise for future reference.

 

[dadsEH]

Tip......
Wrap the drill bit tightly with several layers of masking tape and then chuck it up.
The tape compresses to hold tight in the chuck.

 

[Don1357]

Nailing a small nail would make a small hole.

 

[matt_i]

Also known as a pin vise for future reference.

https://www.starrett.com/category/1...isplayMode=grid&itemsPerPage=12&sortBy=wp/asc

 

[Chucktin]

I tried that tape on a very small drill bit _one_ time - abject fail!

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

 

[MushCreek]

Can you get a smaller insert chuck to put in it? They have small chucks with a 1/4" hex shank meant to be used in a driver, but I don't know how small they will chuck.

Semi-related- I have an Albrecht precision drill chuck designed to be used in a milling machine with a hand-feed spindle. The biggest drill it will take is 1/16". At work, I've used .008" diameter drills in it. I could chuck it in a 1/2" drill. Of course, the price of it would likely make you faint.

 

[JAYoung]

I always use an old eggbeater drill on smaller bits. Seems to work without breaking them.

 

[jonshonda]

https://www.starrett.com/category/1...isplayMode=grid&itemsPerPage=12&sortBy=wp/asc

I've got one of these in my tool box, and now know what it is!! Thanks

 

[RTM]

Can you get a smaller insert chuck to put in it? They have small chucks with a 1/4" hex shank meant to be used in a driver, but I don't know how small they will chuck.

I have one of these that will close to zero, a great thing, but I don't think I would use it with a power drill with the tiny bits. But you can put it in your hex driver, and hand spin the chuck like a large pin vise.

Pin vises are available around here, and no one knows what they are. I think I have 6 Starretts, and a couple of no names.

Insider tip, some X-Acto knives can be used as a pin vise. The larger diameter ones turn a bit easier.

 

[Skiff Builder]

Just take one of the push pins and snip a very little bit of the end off.
It will leave a small burr.
Chuck the pin in your drill and make the hole.
Renew as needed.
Works well with any size nail also ( if you don't have a drill bit on the job.

 

[iSpark]

Hammer the push pin in.

 

[techieman33]

With something like this.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007TCHKXW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

A hand drill


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[mikegt4]

My Dad was a model railroader, I have his tools some of which are very small drills much smaller than a push pin. The drills are used with a pin vise that is about the size of a pencil. They would work perfectly for the OP's task.

Here is an example:
https://www.megahobby.com/products/mini-pin-vise-w-12-assorted-drills-excel-tools.html

 

[C lectric]

THere are specialty vises for very small drill bits called pin vises.
Starret make some as do may others.

They use different collets for a range of bits down to a #80 which to my memory is about 0.0135"

They do best in a drill press but for wood with a light and carefull hand in an electric drill should work fine. Keep the revs up and a slow feed.

Note that some are made for hand use, some are really for machine use and some can be used both ways.

 

[Mikea57]

Yankee drill?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/4016479011...Ya5ILTDazZyFQQFuBDUCEceiN_bKt04RoCw9oQAvD_BwE

 

[RTM]

I was going to say Yankee drill bits don’t go that small, and I wouldn’t file mine down. But that little Archimedes drill and bits is a sweet thing. Do you have one? Well made? But for $8, not a huge gamble even if not. Thanks.

 

[WAS Jr]

Be careful. Even in wood, drilling tiny holes by hand is the most efficient destroyer of drill bits ever invented.
Bill S

 

[Jland]

A second on the pin vise... I have also heard thim called finger drills.. thats a #80 bit chucked up in the pic.. the jig saw blade is for size reference

 

[beelsr]

tape is unreliable for this because it won't compress uniformly and the drill will no longer be concentric to the chuck and the resulting wobble means new drill bits in your new future.

Instead, if you need more girth for your drill... wrap the drill with some stranded wire or even thermostat wire (a little too big really, but it works) - something gauged in the 20's works better.

drilling the nail works, too. the burr acts like a spade bit.

 

[mark#3]

How about an ice pick/awl to create your hole?I have a map of the US which I pushed in pins marking areas I wonder why if the wood is hard?Maybe it was pine.I'll try it on some oak wood as this has me curious

 

[kblee27]

I would look for a pcb drill.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075SZZN4J/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Mogana]

It would have be nice if a video resource is attached for better understanding