Old kit building question...

If I'm impatient and not willing to do the pin vise, it's my small variable speed drill press.  If my hands are steady I'll use my battery powered Dremel to drill holes.  Make sure your drill bits are good and sharp, and maybe even dip the tips in a bit of cutting oil just for good measure

I've been building through a rainy-day pile of these kits myself in the past 18 months...guess why?

Frankly, drilling the grab/nail holes in the ends/roof has not been a problem.  For the kits having aluminum ends/roof, it takes me less than a minute to drill a hole using a pin vise.  Earlier brass parts, maybe twice that time per hole.   It's part of the "relaxation" of kit-building for me.  I'm in no hurry.  Under the circumstances, what's the hurry...IMHO, of course.

But there are a few things I do to ensure ease and accuracy in drilling these small holes.

As Martin suggests, be sure you have sharp drill bits.  Dull ones take much longer to do their job, and are far more prone to snapping when your half the way through the hole...definitely a PITA!

Secondly, also as Martin suggests, I dip the bit in a drop of light oil...usually from among the light LaBelle oils handy on the workbench.  It definitely helps the 'boring process' (pun intended!).

As important, though, is finding a comfortable, controllable pin vise design.  Here your own manual dexterity figures into the selection.  Xuron has a nice selection of pin vises to choose from.  This is a TEHO process.  Don't simply accept and put up with what you have if it adds to the aggravation.  Try a different tool design...easier if you have a well-stocked LHS handy.

Another thing I do is to mark the drill spot with an awl and enough pressure to create a defined point for starting the bore where you want it.  Otherwise, unless you are precise on holding the pin vise square to the work piece, the bit will wander until it establishes it's own 'bite'...sometimes frustratingly off the mark.

I have a variable speed, battery-powered Dremel tool.  I've used it on a very low speed setting to bore 61-80 dia. holes in plastic...even wood..., but I'm not comfortable using a powered driver for holes that small into thicker, heavier metal...especially castings.  I need to 'feel' the ongoing bite of the bit, know when to back off, clear the chips, etc.  But that's a different story.  Again, it's a TEHO issue.

Soft music, a sipping libation, even a back rub from a loving spouse now and then....they all help too.

FWIW, always...

KD

I have found an old fashioned battery screwdriver with a chuck added works for the a lot of this stuff.    I don't  use it down to 80, but I do to 70 or so in most cases.    These revolve very slowly and to me work better for small bits than a dremel which seems too fast.     The drawback is that it is much heavier than a pin vise, so holding it steady is a bit more of a chore.    The advantage is you only have to hold it, not twist it.

Micro Mark sells all kinds of small chucks with variable jaws or collets that have Hex shanks that slide right into the tip of driver.

@prrjim posted:

I have found an old fashioned battery screwdriver with a chuck added works for the a lot of this stuff.    I don't  use it down to 80, but I do to 70 or so in most cases.    These revolve very slowly and to me work better for small bits than a dremel which seems too fast.     The drawback is that it is much heavier than a pin vise, so holding it steady is a bit more of a chore.    The advantage is you only have to hold it, not twist it.

The variable speed battery Dremel that I use has a rather speed that I like to use and it's close to supplanting my use of pin vises. I also tend not to use smaller than #75 bits in general,

@mwb posted:

If I'm impatient and not willing to do the pin vise, it's my small variable speed drill press.  If my hands are steady I'll use my battery powered Dremel to drill holes.  Make sure your drill bits are good and sharp, and maybe even dip the tips in a bit of cutting oil just for good measure

The cutting oil is "da bomb". Im amazed how adding cutting oil to a drill bit improves cutting into metal both the cut and speed

Thanks for the replies. A small awl would definitely help. So far a new drill bit and some oil has been working pretty well. Wood kits are pretty easy. These aluminum kits are a more difficult, but they are fun. 

Sometimes I will start a hole with a pin vise by hand then put the pin vise in a drill motor. Just don’t push hard. As mentioned oil and sharp drill are a must.

Pete