Pin Drill for Repairs (1 Viewer)

[Spitfrnd]

What would be recommended for a pin drill and bit (including size) to repair a broken K&C sword or rifle? I suppose it doesn't matter what manufacturer but the broken ones I have at the moment are K&C. Thanks for any help.

 

[Wraith]

Bill,

I use a set of micro drill bits + small 'standard' drill bits, so anything ranging from about 0.8mm to 2mm (sorry - too late in the night to try and convert that to zillionths of an inch ), depending on what I'm trying to pin, and the diameter of the thing I'm using as the pin.

I've got a range of different guage piano wire (sprung steel).

For the real small stuff, I just use the drill bit in my fingers, as I get more control that way, but I also use a cheap clamp type vise for larger bits.

That said, I've still got a 0.8mm hole in my left index finger from a week or two back, when I was drilling out either side of a WWII stick grenade and slipped. . Avoid that if you can, cause it kinda smarts a bit.

Simon

 

[Njja]

You fellows are real craftsmen! I now have 4 different dremel tools, I started

buying them in the 1960's first one was a #281 Set I believe. I have the tiny

drill bits, and a few small vices. However the eyes go, and now I find I can't

see items that small anymore! So enjoy doing this while you can!

 

[Wraith]

I have the tiny

drill bits, and a few small vices. However the eyes go, and now I find I can't

see items that small anymore! So enjoy doing this while you can!

John,

Just follow my lead and store the small drill bits in your index finger. You'll always be able to find them that way.

 

[Njja]

Isn't that the truth! I still think I have a tiny bit of #4 lead pencil in the

knuckle of one of my fingers from High School!

I also can't count the tiny pieces of wire I have picked out of fingers & feet

from my years of grinding the rust off Lionel Train wheels and such with my

trusty Dremel!

I wonder if there is such a thing as Dremel Collectors? You really can't wear

them out! I still use my #281 in its gray case with accessories. My fancy new

ones with all the attachments & accessories (are to nice to use) Ha! Some of

them are 10 years old......and never saw power!

 

[Spitfrnd]

Bill,

I use a set of micro drill bits + small 'standard' drill bits, so anything ranging from about 0.8mm to 2mm (sorry - too late in the night to try and convert that to zillionths of an inch ), depending on what I'm trying to pin, and the diameter of the thing I'm using as the pin.

I've got a range of different guage piano wire (sprung steel).

For the real small stuff, I just use the drill bit in my fingers, as I get more control that way, but I also use a cheap clamp type vise for larger bits.

That said, I've still got a 0.8mm hole in my left index finger from a week or two back, when I was drilling out either side of a WWII stick grenade and slipped. . Avoid that if you can, cause it kinda smarts a bit.

Simon

Thanks Simon. .8mm is about 1/32 or .03125" according to a chart I found. Is that as small as you would need to replace a sword, I noticed the bits go down to about .35mm but the sword is about 1.4mm? Since I know nothing about this, is there anything special to look for in a bit to do this?

So you need piano wire for the insert. Number 12 is .029" which seems close to what you would use for that. Do you have to buy a full roll or is there somewhere to find small lengths in different sizes?

Thanks again.

P.S. I'm not sure I can see well enough to do this either so I may be looking at a magnifier of some type. Pretty soon I will exceed the value of the figure with the tools to fix it.

 

[Wraith]

Thanks Simon. .8mm is about 1/32 or .03125" according to a chart I found. Is that as small as you would need to replace a sword, I noticed the bits go down to about .35mm but the sword is about 1.4mm? Since I know nothing about this, is there anything special to look for in a bit to do this?

So you need piano wire for the insert. Number 12 is .029" which seems close to what you would use for that. Do you have to buy a full roll or is there somewhere to find small lengths in different sizes?

Thanks again.

P.S. I'm not sure I can see well enough to do this either so I may be looking at a magnifier of some type. Pretty soon I will exceed the value of the figure with the tools to fix it.

Bill,
I've got drill bits that are smaller than the 0.8mm I mentioned. I think it's each case to it's merits, in terms of what size to use. On the fiddlier pin repairs I've done, I've offered up the bits to the piece to try and get an appropriate size, but with things like bayonets and swords, you heven't got a lot to play with! My best advice re the sword being just 1.4mm, would be to go as thin as you can in terms of wire / pin and ensure that the bit is marginally bigger.

I got my piano wire in 1 metre lengths from a model / hobby shop, but just about anything could be used for the pin, as long as it's fairly rigid.

The other thing I would suggest, especially when dealing with very small fixes like this, is keep the pin pretty short in length. It doesn't need to be inserted in to the sword blade very much, and the least amount of drilling you have to do, the better. I would suggest 2 or 3mm would be more than sufficient in the actual broken blade part.

With regards to the drill bits themselves, there is nothing specific to look out for, as they are drilling in to soft metal, any standard metal bit should work fine. I just hold it between my thumb and finger and gently roll it back and forth, taking it slowly.

You might want to have a couple of them mind, in case they break. If one does break, and there's a bit left sticking out, you could consider using that as the pin.

Once done, a quick spot of CA glue on the 2 parts and pin, and chuck it all together, probably followed up by a quick touch up with paint if necessary.

Let us know which finger you skewer.

Simon

 

[theBaron]

I use a double-ended pin vise, that is, each end is threaded and colleted to receive and hold fine drill bits. Right now, I get by with 3 sizes of bit: #52 .064", #62 .038" and #72 .025" (I think those numbers are standard size numbers, but I'd have to confirm that). I use the .064 bit for drilling holes in stock to use brass rod to pin joints, the .038 bit for holes to accept strips of metal, like a 54mm bayonet, and the .025" bit for holes for fine wire, like adding an aiglette out of copper wire to a 54mm figure.

I gave up on using the Dremel with drill bits chucked in it to do any free-hand drilling, because I could not keep the bit still and centered enough not to risk having it snap. I put the Dremel into its drill press now, if I need to put a motor behind the drill. But usually, for work with figures, hand power is sufficient.

Sometimes I will start the hole by making a mark with the tip of a sewing needle or straight pin; I've found that the bit is more likely to slip, if I try to drill on a flat surface on a narrow piece of metal (like the end of a 54mm musket).

Hope that helps!

Prost!
Brad

 

[bromhead]

Absolutly,,unpacking my scale items in spite of extreme protective measures ,I find the usual losses in things especially 1/700 ships ,1/72 armor etc best repaired w the pin drill, despair enough to lose masts,radars,guns and such without the best ways to salvage things.

 

[Spitfrnd]

Thanks much to all of you; all this helps quite a bit. I think I am ready to get one now.

 

[blaster]

Just saw this. If you are experiencing some problems with drilling, try dipping the drill bit in turpentine. It lubricates the drill bit and prevents the metal parts from overheating or the drill bit from snapping.

Rgds
Victor

 

[Spitfrnd]

Thank you Victor, good tip.