Are there any Drill Bits with thicker bases?

[Craig V]

I acquired a drill press, and the only problem is my 1/16" drill bit's chuck is too small.  It looks like I'll need something a bit bigger, just at the base.  Are there any bits like this?

Thanks.

[Bill_F]

There are drill bits that I believe are called "reduced shank". It's what I use to drill my PCB boards. The part that goes into the chuck is larger than the actual drilling part of the bit.

[keninverse]

I know this isn't the best way to deal with this but I use heat shrink on the ends of PCB bits.  You have to take special care that you heat the heat shrink evenly so the drill won't wobble...but for the most part it works!

[sfr]

I believe the drill bits I ordered from Small Bear had the regular-sized base.

[Scott M]

These Items at http://www.micromark.com/ should be usefull for very small bits:

Search by the five digit item numbers below:

60301 (MICRO DRILL CHUCK)

82541 (PRECISION MICRO CHUCK FOR CORDLESS SCREWDRIVER)

81852 (MINI CHUCK FOR CORDLESS SCREWDRIVER)

81631 (MICROLUX 3-SPEED STANDARD DUTY DRILL PRESS) This is interesting. A "jewler's" drill press with a 9x5 inch foot print. Sounds nice for drilling PCBs.

I have not done business with micro-mark so I am not vouching for their quality.

[Craig V]

Thanks for the replies.

I have been looking at Micromark's products, and the first one you listed looks like exactly what I would need.  My drill press is a rotary tool very much like a Dremel.  I'm going to try and find a Micro Drill Chuck locally, but I might end up ordering.

Are collets made small enough?  I can drill using a 1/16" if needed, although I prefer smaller bits.

Thanks.

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

Are collets made small enough?  I can drill using a 1/16" if needed, although I prefer smaller bits.
Thanks.

..yeah, collets are made right down to 'cant see the bloody thing"!

[Craig V]

Damn... can't find any collets at Sears or Home Depot.

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

I have seen secondhand (surplus) carbide PCB drill bits that have a quite thick stem. The machines that do automatic drilling for PCB manufacturers use these. But remember, carbide bits have to be used in a drill press because if you push sideways, they snap.
Sorry, cant remember where I saw them..

[Bill_F]

I have seen secondhand (surplus) carbide PCB drill bits that have a quite thick stem. The machines that do automatic drilling for PCB manufacturers use these. But remember, carbide bits have to be used in a drill press because if you push sideways, they snap.
Sorry, cant remember where I saw them..

Those are what I use. Even with a drill press they seem to snap every two or three boards.    I get mine at Rapid Electronics here in the UK.

Bill

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

Wow, they aren't cheap!! not in Colchester, anyway! good pic here so people know what it is:
http://www.rapidelectronics.co.uk/best_86-2600.htm

they shouldn't break in a drill press, unless it is a large drill press & wobbles a bit..

[gez]

ESR in the UK also do these type of drill bits.  I think even Maplin do!

[RobB]

I wrapped a strip of thin copper sheeting around a 0.8mm drill bit so the chuck could hold it.  It was a bit wobbly at first but then straightened it self out after a few holes were drilled.  I'm hoping that when the bit breaks, I'll be able to slide the next drill bit straight into this copper sleeve.

[Bill_F]

Wow, they aren't cheap!! not in Colchester, anyway! good pic here so people know what it is:
http://www.rapidelectronics.co.uk/best_86-2600.htm

They have some that are cheaper. I think they've been used before and resharpened.

http://www.rapidelectronics.co.uk/best_85-0451.htm

they shouldn't break in a drill press, unless it is a large drill press & wobbles a bit

I have a Dremel drill press and there is a bit of play in it. I was wondering if that might be part of my problem. I'll have to sort that one out.

Bill

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

Yeah, any play is fatal to carbide drills, also I suspect a dremel is going to be running so fact that when the drill comes in contact with the pcb it will get quite a jolt.

[Mark Hammer]

The first batch of wide-shank small-gauge drill bits I bought I purchased at a lapidary (gemstone) show in Dallas.  I wasn't especially interested in the show or hobby, but it was in the convention hall next to the hotel I was staying at, and I figured I was visiting one foreign country, what the hell, may as well visit another.

I mention this to note that if there is a lapidary supply shop in your region they may well have some.  I gather folks who create jewellery out of stones need the torque and higher speeds available from full-size drill presses, but they also need the teeny-weeny holes for aesthetic reasons.  Hence the use of small gauge bits with fat asses.

I recently purchased a "variety pack" of carbide drill bits with wide shanks from Lee Valley Tools for around $25 Cdn.  On a per bit basis, they were cheap, but I find many of the gauges in the box (whose selection may vary) were much larger and much smaller than I need.  Some were clearly in the jewellery and watchmaker zone.

[EdJ]

My local electronicsshop sells them quite cheap.
If you want i can get them for you and send them to your home.
Just give me an e-mail.
Greetings,Ed

[Bill_F]

Yeah, any play is fatal to carbide drills, also I suspect a dremel is going to be running so fact that when the drill comes in contact with the pcb it will get quite a jolt.

Would you suggest running the Dremel at the slowest speed?

[Sonny ReVerb]

I buy all my PCB bits from Drill Bit City:

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/drillcity/index.html  or  http://www.drillbitcity.com/

I usually buy the "resharps":

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/drillcity/restool.html

They seem to be a  good deal at around $8 per 10 bits. Like Paul said, each bit only lasts around 2-3 boards anyway. I use a dremel fitted into a drill press attachment.

http://www.mytoolstore.com/dremel/drillprs.html

It works pretty well for PCB work. If the center of your pads are etched, you just hold the board with light pressure as you lower the bit and the board will "center" under the bit as it makes contact. As always, RG has an excellent article on making PCB's over at GEOFEX:

http://www.geofex.com/

Click on "FX skills / How-To's" in the left menu. Then click on "How to build GEO effects (pdf)" in the right column.

[Craig V]

Thanks for the replies everybody.  

Has anyone found a collet set at Sears?  The manual for my rotary tool says there is a 4 piece set, but no mention of a product number or anything.