I’m planning to drill small holes for rivets in my Hanging Bridge project. I have plastic rivets from tichy train group. I think the mounting posts are .015"
Is it possible to get these small drills for the dremel? Or is it better to drill the holes in another way?
A whole lot better to drill them with a “pin vice”, a small hand tool that holds the small drill bits. Do a search on the Walthers or Micro Mark web sites for some examples. Dremel tools even at their slowest RPMs are way to fast and hard to control with the small bits. They won’t last long.
Dremel makes a small bit set, 7 drills that range in size from 1/32" to 1/8". It sounds like you need a 1/64th" however, and I am not sure if they come in that small a size.
Electro,
Although it might be a herculean task with the amount of holes you need to drill, I would just use a pin vise. Unless your Dremel can run at VERY low speeds (<100 RPM), you’re likely to either melt holes in styrene or break them in metal with a drill bit that small. A steady handy will be a must, for sure.
And buy the sizes you need by the dozen…
Tom
I agree: drill 'em by hand, using a pin vise and a #79 (.0145") or #80 (.0135") bit. By drilling the holes slightly undersize, a touch of solvent cement on both the hole and the mounting posts will give you a good, tight fit. Drilling any larger will result in a sloppy fit, poor bond, and, possibly, a crooked line of rivets. I’m just curious, though, why you didn’t emboss the rivet heads into the plastic before assembly.
Wayne
A pin vise would be the way to go. The only way you be able to make the holes with a machine would be a small drill press. Dremel makes one but you wouldn’t be able to get it to run slow enough to avoid melting plastic.
Your going to go insane drilling that many holes by hand with a pin vise. These bits are made to go in a drill motor for drilling circuit boards. They are stronger than hobby bits and available in all the sizes you might need. They have a 1/8" shank so they will work in your Dremel collet without having to spend $20 for the Dremel adjustable drill chuck.
http://drillbitcity.com/catalogue/10_piece.asp
I would buy a bunch of the one size you need for your rivets. Just go as slow as your Dremel will allow. I doubt that you will melt the plastic.
I have used the tiny drill bits in my Dremel. To get a snug fit I slip very small wire insulation onto the drill bit prior to slipping into the Dremel. I have a separate rheostat to control current to the Dremel and I can run it as slow as i want. I also have the drill press attachment to hold the Dremel.
That said, I also use a pin vise.
In either case, I can be clumsy and break those tiny bits.
You too, eh?
I have a light-duty rechargeable electric screwdriver, one with the interchangeable bits with a hexagonal cross-section. I’ve got a small drill-bit chuck that fits the screwdriver, so I can use small bits and drill very, very slowly with the screwdriver.
Whenever I have used my dremel with small bits I wrap tape around the end of the bit until it is big enough to fit the dremel hole. This also stop the drill bit from breaking as well. If too much pressure is applied then the bit just twirls around in the tape.
I also use the flexible extension when I use tiny bits and the lowest speed as well.
if you don’t want to do that though then use a pin vise.
i hope that helps. 
I too. 
. Works quite well but do use lowest speed.
I use these bits (they are great for drilling holes in brass car sides). First off, I would HIGHLY advise using a press with these bits. They are very brittle and will shatter with the smallest bit of side play(be careful taking them out of and putting them back into the case). On that note, be absolutely sure you use goggles or safety glasses with them. They are very sharp, and will cut into about anything. I tried using them with my Dremel to drill out some styrene (lowest setting) and they did melt the styrene.
A middle ground between the speed of a Dremel and the accuracy of a pin vise is a hand drill. The one I have is all plastic and will hold down to a #80 drill; although I generally go with a pin vise for the smallest size drills. I can not find my drill listed any more, but this one from Cir-Kit Concepts is similar:
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/206-201
MicroMark has a Spiral Push Drill, similar to a Yankee Screwdriver, they refer to it as a jewelers drill
http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=26101
and a Micro Hand Drill that holds #61 to #80 drills
http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=60348
Interesting. Dremels must go a lot faster on their lowest setting than the generic tool that I have. I like the idea someone mentioned about the rechargeable screw driver with a chuck in it. I’ve got one of those and I’ve seen that chuck at Micro Mark.
It was a real mess. There was melted styrene stuck on the bit that I had to carefully remove so I wouldn’t break the bit.
I have used them just twisting them by hand, and as sharp as they are they cut through styrene like a hot knife through butter.
The cordless screwdriver seems like a great idea. Everytime I have used them, I noticed how low/slow the speed or gearing is. I might have to give that a shot some time.&nbs
Go to http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=26101 . This a spiral push drill for small bits. It is a lot faster than a pin vise, but still slow enough to keep you from breaking bits or melting plastic. [:)]
One of the problems with small drill breakage is applying too much pressure and/or drilling at an angle. Dremel has a drill press work station that will hold the tool perpindicular to the work.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/250-220
MicroMark sells a Microlux 1/4" drill that could work. 140 RPM to 1500 RPM, fits drills 1/16" to 1/4" so one of those mini bit drill holders would be needed also. The problem could be the cost; the drill runs on 12VDV, so a transformer would be needed (could a power pack be used???)
Drill $59.80 on sale until September; $82.35 list
http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=82822
Heavy duty transformer 4 amp continous, 10 amp peak $91.55 sale; $123.55 list
http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=60507
Drill press to hold the drill, $47.35 list, no sale price mentioned
http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=15223
Precision microchuck, #60 to #80 drills $8.45 sale; $10.55 list. Walthers probably has something like this as well
http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=82541
I checked my latest catalog, and MicroMark is including this free with an order if you mention the sale catalog code number
Using my dremel I was able to drill over 500 holes accurately for my trestle I built. It made it easy. If I had to do that by hand I could not have done it in the short time I was able t do it in. About 2 hours I think If that. The next day I did more.
I think I did a total of well over 2,000 holes [closer to 3,000] for both bridges. With pin vise It would have tajen me way too long. I hope that helps you out.