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So here is the story.

I pin everything, Have for the last 5 years or so (even did my plastic kits from GW when I still bought and played that game). I have pretty much always used P3 and Army Builiders pinning stuff and never really had an issue with the drill bits or the brass rods.

All that being said, I was at my FLGS and needed more rods for a new set of IFPK from PP they are white metal and have pikes that need to be replaced so its a pain but its worth it when they are done.
All my FLGS had were the GF9 stuff and I figured "Hey I use their hobby knife, green stuff, tweezers ect so why not" Well I got home, and the large drill bit was dull to the point of not drilling, and the small drill bit snapped in two after two turns!

I emailed GF9's customer care and after a month I received a replacement today. Well the larger drill bit works fine. But again the small drill bit broke after a few turns.

Sorry rant over.....Now to go spend money on quality stuff!

Do you know if they have a batch number on the drills or anything?

took a look at the packaging and didnt see anything like that

Huh. The one that I have (with the original drill bit) has lasted 3 years. My roommate has one that is still intact after a year or so too.

Maybe just a bad drill bit?

Also, I snapped a fresh xacto blade the other night after about three cuts. That doesn't mean that xacto blades are worse quality than anything else. GF9 doesn't make their own drill bits. Neither does any of the other companies that offer pinning kits. Just food for thought, but I'm willing to bet it could have happened with any manufacturer, to any customer. These things just happen.

 daedalus wrote:
Huh. The one that I have (with the original drill bit) has lasted 3 years. My roommate has one that is still intact after a year or so too.

Maybe just a bad drill bit?

Also, I snapped a fresh xacto blade the other night after about three cuts. That doesn't mean that xacto blades are worse quality than anything else. GF9 doesn't make their own drill bits. Neither does any of the other companies that offer pinning kits. Just food for thought, but I'm willing to bet it could have happened with any manufacturer, to any customer. These things just happen.

Things happen. I just needed to vent.

I admire the tenacity and modelling honour of pinning plastic kits. Truly!

 Davylove21 wrote:
I admire the tenacity and modelling honour of pinning plastic kits. Truly!

Pinning means it doesn't fall apart.....

Plastic glue, also means plastic models don't fall apart.

To be more helpful, you can buy small HSS (High Speed Steel) drill bits at your local Home Depot or Lowe's as well. Much cheaper and much higher quality.

 Todosi wrote:
Plastic glue, also means plastic models don't fall apart.

To be more helpful, you can buy small HSS (High Speed Steel) drill bits at your local Home Depot or Lowe's as well. Much cheaper and much higher quality.

This has intrigued me.....

 Todosi wrote:
Plastic glue, also means plastic models don't fall apart.

Tell that to the models and bastion that are laying in pieces on my desk.

Interesting... I clicked on your thread because I recently bought the P3 1.25mm kit and also found the bits to be incredibly dull and nearly unusable. I've gone back to using my old larger bit with the slightly smaller rods from the new p3 kit. Maybe I will contact them!

sparkywtf wrote:
Tell that to the models and bastion that are laying in pieces on my desk.

If you used GW plastic glue, that doesn't count. It's more akin to water than actual plastic glue...

 insaniak wrote:

sparkywtf wrote:
Tell that to the models and bastion that are laying in pieces on my desk.

If you used GW plastic glue, that doesn't count. It's more akin to water than actual plastic glue...

I could have sworn I used Army Painter on a few of them. I think the bastion was actually GW glue, which makes sense.

I have since moved to Model Master, best money I have spent yet (besides a p3 pinning kit for the metal and resin models)

I went WAY cheap on a pin vise kit that has very small bits.
Never had a problem, or broken bit, yet. Might try a local, cheap
hardware store / discount tool store.

 alarmingrick wrote:
I went WAY cheap on a pin vise kit that has very small bits.
Never had a problem, or broken bit, yet. Might try a local, cheap
hardware store / discount tool store.

My Army Painter pin vice was only like $9 or so. Its been great. The drill bits have been by and large good and the first few sets lasted a while. What sucks the m.ost if I now have 2 pike arms with small drill bits broken off in them and no clue how on earth to get them out so I can finish drilling through....

I've never used GF9s bits.

I've got one of their pin vices, and it works fine.

My HSS bits (down to .3mm) all work fine in it. Yes, the sub-1mm bits have a habit of snapping if you apply too much force to the job whilst drilling (because you are actually bowing the bit, not keeping it straight) but they would do that in a drill press also.

You know, I had pretty much the same experience as the OP, only it was with the Privateer Press pinning kit. And naturally when the bit snapped, guess where that jagged bit of pointy metal went. I'm glad it didn't hit a nerve in my thumb though. That wouldn't have been very good.