pcb drill bits? locally?

[jimbob]

I need some bits but cant seem to find any anywhere locally. Home depot the bits are too big- I also didnt see any at walmart . I cant wait to order them.

Anyone in the US know of any major stores that carry small enough bits? Im in Kansas City, Mo.

[Hal]

I went crazy looking for them before I gave up and ordered from mouser.

I think I actually found one that _might_ have been ok, Home Depot - made by Dremmel, I think it was 1/32", but it came in a $8 multipack.

[jimbob]

Hal- thats funny cause I seen the same thing at Walmart for 7.00$$ and decided against it. I have to order wire anyway so Ill just get it then. Might kill time etching some more boards.

[ninoman123]

My local hobby shop has a pack of like 5 1/32" bits (the perfect size for PCBS) for like 5 bucks! Its like a buck a bit! Not too shabby. Call up some hobby shops. The railroad dudes love to use small bits like that.

[nosamiam]

I actually picked up an engraving bit at Home Depot.  Works like a charm.  It's designed for a Dremel, but I use mine in my regular drill.  It has a tapering shaft with a little ball on the end.  Hard to describe, but you'd know it if you saw it.  (It would say "engraving bit" on the package, IIRC.)

[DavidS]

I found a place here in town (Eugene, OR, USA) called Eugene Fastener that carries HSS wire-guage bits for about a dollar a bit (this place is a little pricey). I'd imagine that any decent-sized town has a source for these, try some industrial supply place. If the first one you call doesn't have them, ask for suggestions. Places like this often know what similar buisnesses have and can send you in the right direction.

[jimbob]

Great ideas! 1/32..Ill giv it a try. I know theres some hobby shops in my area Ill try.

[thumposaurus]

Try and find a little mom and pop hardware store that's where I useally end up finding the 1/32" bits I've been useing.

[TryingToDo613]

a good ace hardware will have a wooden box with wire sizes down to 62 I think.

[dv8]

Don't forget you'll also need different size collets for your dremel.  The 1/32 bit doesn't fit in the same collet as sanding wheels for example.

A collet is the metal piece that holds the bit.

-brian

[ninoman123]

I bought the chuck for the dremel. Makes everything fit and is much easier.

[Hal]

a good ace hardware will have a wooden box with wire sizes down to 62 I think.

im impressed.  I gotta go to ace to check that out!

[formerMember1]

What about the drill bits from smallbear, i just sent my order to mouser, and am sending my order to smallbear now, but first i was wondering if anybody ever used smallbears drill bits for pc boards?  He has a lot of realy small sizes.  Would i need one size or would a ariel fx halo inductor take a different size then a 1/4 watt resistor or normal cap size? I am building my own boards for the Axis Face and a Vox CLyde Mccoy wah from fuzzcentral.

here is a link to smallbear bits.

http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=376

So anybody ever use smallbears bits? What size/s is good?
I guess i should order ten since they are cheaper that way, and also in case i break some.  I am using a $110 drill press i bought a few weeks back.
thanks alot dudes



I couldn't find any bits in my area either, and mojotron reminded me a while ago to get them online.

[sir_modulus]

Three words...industry, fleet, and supply. For all us canadians, we have a place called acklands grainger that sells any sort of tool immaginable. The cheap HSS bits are of the same as the small bear ones, and are really quite good (AG sells em for about 87 cents each). I've been using the same drill bit for months now (Cobalt/titanium bit from AG that's been discontinued) and I find that if you use a drill press, these things can last a really really long time.

Cheers,

Nish

[Hal]

whatever is too fat for the wire gauge drill bits I have, i ususallt just use a 1/16" bit.

[jimbob]

I buy my wire from Mouser so I just ordered these DES Tools          
        #60 HS DRILL BIT .04

Chk out this wire some time-- great stuff in all colors.

   602-3050-100-02             Alpha Wire Hook-Up W
        24AWG UL1007 BLK

[Hal]

i prefer free wire.

[RedHouse]

We have Grainger in the states too.

I'd second the "Hobby Shop" notion if you have any local hobby shops (the kind that do RC airplanes) they have them in number sizes so you can get the size just right for you PCB, and at my local hobby shop they were like 50¢ each.

I think the ones I bought were like #65 or something like that.

[sir_modulus]

The other bit size you want (in fractional inches) is 1/32 for small things, and 1/16 or smaller for the big ones.

Cheers,

Nish