I have a few Proto 2000 locomotives with all the fancy accessories like fake ditchlights and sunshades but there are no holes on the locomotive body. This might be a dumb question, but can anyone recommend a drill that can do really small holes for these accessories?
BNSF,
I know for grabirons you generally use a #79 drill bit. So you may want to try that size first then move up from there. Use the drill bit in a pin vise and drill it out by hand.
I bought a #61-#80 wire drill set a few months so that I could have all the tiny drill bits I need at hand, in one place. In addition to that, I stocked up on additional #77-#79 bits; the ones most used and the ones that break most easily. I also keep scrap pieces of styrene around to test to see whether the hole size recommended for something is actually the right size.
Tom
HOly smoke, Tom, you really are into this stuff. [:P] [:D]
-Crandell
For years I have been trying to find a drill bit small enough to drill out the spout in an N-Scale oil can.
Crandell,
Machining is one of the many hats that I wear in my job at work. So, I am somewhat familiar and comfortable with drill bits in this range. When one drill bit OD is only a mil or two different from the one next to it, it sure is handy having them all in one location…and labeled. [:)]
Tom
There is a fellow on ebay from New Brunswick Canada who goes by the name of “Speedypete” who sells excellent bits made by Tycom on ebay, a mixed 50 bit set for $25.00 US and they come in a neat case. The set I bought has 7-#65, 7-#66, 7-#67, 4- #71, 11-#77, 7-#79, 7-#80. Excellent buy!
The device you are looking for is called a pin vice - you turn it with your fingers. There are countless small bits available as noted above.