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Hi all,

I've got a metal hive tyrant I've finally got round to building, only to get to the annoying stage and realise that it needs pinning.

Does anyone have a modelling drill they would recommend for pinning/magnetising? GW tends to be expensive, so looking for other brands.

Thanks for any response.

I've been using a set of Dremel drill bits for almost...7...8 years now? Still work perfectly.

Dremel Drill Bits

As for the pin vise, I've never really had to experiment yet :/ I'm still using GW's original pin vise from about 20 years ago and it's still going strong.

GW's brown-handle pin vice is quite good. I only have the older black-handle ones to compare against, and they are still being used after 6 years.
The only other one I had tried is a push-to-screw one I got from Antics, and it was horrible. The screw mechanism bent pretty quickly, so I assume it was the way I was using it.

I'd compare against the GW ones, especially the swivel top ones, as you will be pressing in hard.
If you can get metal bits to put in it, use one of them.
This is what I would order if buying another: https://www.scalemodelshop.co.uk/product/fine-pin-vise-d-r-0-1-3-2mm-tamiya-74112

Thanks both ^_^

Army Painter and GF9 make cheaper alternatives. Never used them though, so can't comment on quality. I myself am using x2 drills. One is a no name cheapo from ebay. I really like that one because it has x2 two sided bits to set drills in, while GW one only has one bit.

I use the army painter one. Works just fine.

2x double sided collets for a range of sizes. Doesn’t go quite as large as I’d like, but that’s just for larger magnets which I rarely use. It’s fine for the 2mms that are my staples and for drilling gun barrels.

As a bit of a tangent but what do people recommend for bits? I have a really bad habit of snapping them! (mostly due to applying too much pressure of course).

 ingtaer wrote:
As a bit of a tangent but what do people recommend for bits? I have a really bad habit of snapping them! (mostly due to applying too much pressure of course).

I’m still using the bits that came with my Army Painter drill.

I also have a box of Craftsman bits from Sears, of which I use the smaller ones for hobby projects. I sometimes use a no-name metric set of bits I got second hand.

It’s been a while since I snapped a bit. But that was a cheep one I picked up and was drilling wire thin holes in metal minis.

I only work in metal at the moment, been using 2.0mm bits and have snapped 4 I think.

Snapping a 2mm takes effort. Maybe sharpen them, but I don't do metal much, myself.

I would have said to use a pack of DIY ones, but 2mm is going some

I have this one (or one very like it):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Model-Craft-PPV2237-variants-miniatures/dp/B001AEB6EE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1547126127&sr=8-4&keywords=pin+vice

No Idea if this is still relevant but I just go this set off amazon. seems good value for money. Will let you know if its worthless... lol.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01N0XQ8V0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Guess what you can use a normal drill, works perfectly fine. Just pin a dot then drill slowly

 Argive wrote:
No Idea if this is still relevant but I just go this set off amazon. seems good value for money. Will let you know if its worthless... lol.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01N0XQ8V0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Looks a good set.
It has a vice (I don't use mine, after having tried it a bit).
More files are always handy.

Guess what you can use a normal drill, works perfectly fine. Just pin a dot then drill slowly

I got a Dremel to do just that, but it doesn't work well with plastic. Friction on the bit melts the model and it regularly gunks up. That is at the slowest usable speed.

WHat size bit do you think drilling las gun barrels I would need I can't find anything small enough?

I don't, as las-weapons do not fire projectiles.
So, I paint the end the colour of the laser I want them to fire.

Otherwise, 1mm for small weapons and 1.5 for heavy bolter, etc.
If it looks like it should need more, keep going.
I've used ~0.7mm for small pistols and such.

 Skinnereal wrote:

 Argive wrote:
No Idea if this is still relevant but I just go this set off amazon. seems good value for money. Will let you know if its worthless... lol.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01N0XQ8V0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Looks a good set.
It has a vice (I don't use mine, after having tried it a bit).
More files are always handy.

Guess what you can use a normal drill, works perfectly fine. Just pin a dot then drill slowly

I got a Dremel to do just that, but it doesn't work well with plastic. Friction on the bit melts the model and it regularly gunks up. That is at the slowest usable speed.

Ecellent value for money. The vice is a bit shoddy by the looks of it. The reviews said so but the files and drill are top notch and also the case is a nice touch. great value.