HSS ( high speed steel ) work fine on die cast. Different eras, different casting techniques, and of course, different continents the stuff is casted in, all make a difference. Drill with slow to medium speed, ….never go fast speed, all that does is cause a remelt, and when it cools, snap goes the bit. Drill short bursts, constantly clearing the hole AND the bit of chips. If you’re not making chips, you’re not drilling. Harbor Freight is a good source of small bits …..they have a 29 pc. small index with all the bits you’ll ever need for the work you’re asking about. Use pin vises for starting, or precise locating of delicate areas. Motor oil, or actual cutting fluid ( really overpriced mineral oil ) can be an aid on some jobs. Common tap sizes for our hobby are 2-56, 3-48, 4-40, & 6-32, along with some metrics, 2 & 3 mm most common …..insist on genuine Hanson taps when you can. Irwin tools packages Hanson taps with the Irwin label. These small taps are usually small money. Using a small add on jacobs Chuck to hold small taps, reduces the chances of snapping them off like a T handle would. Same deal as drilling. Start tap, work it in small turns, backing out frequently to clear chips, and clear the tap. If you learn how these die cast models react to tools, etc, you’ll find it’s like working with warm butter,….when drilling die cast for any kind of structure work, chassis mounting etc, thread count matters. The more threads per inch, the better, same holds true for 100’s of an inch …..variable speed drill press when you can, and variable speed hand drill is a must too, …..clutch brakes on hand drills are life savers,…..
Pat
