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Hi, in my hobby adventures I find that I magnetize a lot of components on my 40k models. The problem is, sitting there and drilling the magnet hole with my pin vice using my largest bit which is still too small. So I have to use my hobby knife as an auger to ream out the drilled hole and this often makes a darn mess larger than it needs to be, a cone shaped hole to be precise. so I end up green stuffing the area afterwards.

Can anyone recommend a good "large" pin vice or preferably a Dremel for a hobbyist living in Canada?
I did a search on the forums and found this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TU0XFU/ref=s9_hps_bw_g60_ir05/180-2934148-1189115?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-4&pf_rd_r=1W3KME56JV34FZB2WS3P&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1280133382&pf_rd_i=229122

It would be great if the item was at a local DIY or Hardware Store. Either way i'll look around.
Thanks.

PS: High speed dremelling will MELT the plastic! Don't dremel RESIN w/out a mask! thanks.

For anything over 1mm, I use my cordless drill and a bit of tape on the bit for depth control.

The dremel gets used purely for sanding, grinding and cutting of certain thicker materials.

If I'm drilling in plastic or white metal I use my Bosch cordless electric screwdriver. It's really light and handy compared to a real drill or even a Dremel.

You can't use it for precision drilling, though, because there isn't a proper chuck so the bit can "wobble" slightly.

I have a set of Dewalt 18 volt cordless tools, so I regularly use my DCD951 Heavy Duty XRP 1/2" hammer drill. A little overkill, yes, I don't need the power it has, but anything with a high speed (1500 -2000 rpms is very good) will work to achieve very clean drilled holes. If you have $300 sitting around and want a reliable set of cordless tools, I highly recommend them, you can get a set of skill saw, sawsall, a hammerdrill and impact driver for around that price online, if you look; the benefit is many more applications than simply modelilng. I would almost recommend a drill that is smaller and lighter for modelling, as a large drill with a big 18 volt battery can be hard to use accurately and tire your arm quickly. Be weary of off-brand cordless tools, though; batteries are known to last 6 months before failing.

Note I primarily use this on plastic Eldar Heavy Weapons or infantry unit torsos for magnetizing arms; metal is very dangerous to attack with a high speed drill unless you can properly vice it (and not mar the metal in the process), a pinning vice might be a better choice for metal to start it. I also start with a very small drill bit and slowly work larger (like 1/32 each change, or whatever my drill bit set changes on increments with), this allows me to be more accurate in shaping the drilled hole and not destroy the model I'm working on. A large bit will want to rip the model out of your hand if you don't start small. I've also used it on Finecast, and it pretty much drills like plastic, just fine.

In any case, I highly recommending wearing protective gloves and/or being VERY CAUTIOUS you will not pierce or hand or fingers with the drill bit. I speak from experience here, I just went through 100 magnets with my Marine/Eldar armies, waiting on my next 100 to finish my skimmer weapons, & I admit to poking 1 or 2 fingers with the drill (no serious damage, but dangerous nonetheless).

Thanks for the replies, guys. Very useful info and worth getting a small cordless drill or dremel. LOL at the hammer drill! I use one of these at work for drilling holes into cement flooring for steel door pegs. (cell door prone to kicking by miscreants!)

I can hear the Eldar screaming as this giant drill bit looms in...

evildrspock wrote:
In any case, I highly recommending wearing protective gloves and/or being VERY CAUTIOUS you will not pierce or hand or fingers with the drill bit. I speak from experience here, I just went through 100 magnets with my Marine/Eldar armies, waiting on my next 100 to finish my skimmer weapons, & I admit to poking 1 or 2 fingers with the drill (no serious damage, but dangerous nonetheless).

I know this from experience also, it totally sucks when it happens.. lol..

Tamiya hobby drill. It's a good little kit and the most handy hobby tool out there.

RedSarge wrote:Thanks for the replies, guys. Very useful info and worth getting a small cordless drill or dremel. LOL at the hammer drill! I use one of these at work for drilling holes into cement flooring for steel door pegs. (cell door prone to kicking by miscreants!)

I can hear the Eldar screaming as this giant drill bit looms in...

HA! Noooo, nooo, of the bloody handed god!

Nah, you can actually have some finesse, I usually just set the drill flat and hold the model to it to be precise.

you may also use a shaft collar for less fluffy depth control if you are a stickler.

notprop wrote:Tamiya hobby drill. It's a good little kit and the most handy hobby tool out there.

I second this. Makes drilling barrels quick and easy, no melting issues, easy to control.

notprop wrote:Tamiya hobby drill. It's a good little kit and the most handy hobby tool out there.

The Tamiya hobby drill is amazing! I cant recommend it enough. It can be hard to get hold of tho unfortunately.

The Dremel Stylus may be just what you need or this.


http://www.amazon.com/Drill-Press-Bench-Jeweler-3-speeds/dp/B001UOG4TG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1338268679&sr=8-2