Just wanted to get some advice on piercing metal to make inside cut outs. I am wondering what some of you are using to drill very small holes in your sheet metal? I was looking at getting a pin vice, as I need to make some very small holes, and a drill press or even a dremel doesnt seem like the thing to use for this as the small bits are going to be fragile. These thing work well for larger holes, but this has to be a very small hole. Any help would be appreciated.

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May God Bless you, as He has me
Mike Pardue
www.parduesilversmith.com

Mike,
I use a flex shaft and either a #72 or #74 bit when I have to make small holes. These little bits seem to last longer if you put a lubricant like burr life on them and don't run them real fast. Harbor freight has a cheap flex shaft. I know it's not as good as a Foredam but the one I've got has held up real well.

Stewart

I like to use a #61 drill bit if I can. The bits are going to break most just as they are going to break through the material. Just back off on the pressure and reset 2 or 3 times until you break through. Buy bits by the dozen if you can.

Depending on what kind of metal you are using and the thickness you might be able to punch a hole with a sharp pointed awl or center punch. Punch your sheet metal on a piece of copper or brass. When the point just breaks through flip the sheet over and punch from the back side. this should give you a very small hole.

Larry

I hope you are kidding Larry. It does not get any easier than drilling.

Haraga
Have you tried it?

Larry

I guess you are serious Larry. I would try it under special circumstances. I would first have to run out of drill bits. Then I would have to be working with some pretty thin metal. How thin would that metal have to be? Bottom line I would have to be desperate to say the least. I will repeat, there is nothing easier than drilling. I will argue that until hell freezes over. If it works for you, hair on you.

If you look back in history you can find alot of finely pierced metal work on bits, spurs, armor, jewerly, etc. Alot of this was accomplished with punchs and chisels. Some of these old methods may not work for you but if you ever run out of drill bits and need to make a quick hole to keep going on a project you might want to remember this. The bottom line I think is that a good craftsman/metalsmith uses alot of different methods to get their work finished or to achieve a unique look to their work.

The thinkness of the material doesn't really matter if you have the right tool. If you have ever watched someone make a handforged horseshoe they are darn fast with a hole punch and chisel. Drilling may be easy but it isn't the only way to put a hole through somethng. Heck you can grab a 22 and shoot abunch of holes through a tincan easier than drilling and have more fun doing it.

Larry

Larry

Don't pull the history card Larry. It does not hold water. Have you ever looked at a can after it is shot with a .22? It looks like a lot of distortion and tearing doesn't it? Why would you want to distort and tear the metal that you are trying to build something out of?

Thanks for the input everyone.
Larry, you are right on. I was using a small spring loaded punch with a very sharp tip, but I have worn it out. I cant seem to find another one of good quaility, but will be on the look out. I have used bits, dremels, drills, and presses, I hate breaking bits all the time. That made me want to ask and see what others were doing.
Yes punching holes does make a small distortion in the metal, but is easily took care of with a light tap of the hammer. However, it works VERY well. Most of the metal I punch small holes in is 22 guage, so its light. Like I said I am just looking to see what others do.
I was wondering if anyone has used a pin vice, and how that worked.

Larry I have seen your work on your web site, and its very plain, you are someone to listen to. Heck if your down this way, lets go punch some holes with the rifles.
Bottom line, I appreciate the input, and will give all of these a try, and see what seems to work for me. Thanks guys

_________________
May God Bless you, as He has me
Mike Pardue
www.parduesilversmith.com

Let's go to the top on this one. Let's ask Greg what he uses. I'll bet I know the answer. Drill bits are going to break. I broke 3 of the in 5 minutes last week. What was frustrating about that is that it was my fault. Operator error. The best part of punching holes in sheet is that you can take that method, along with $1.50, and buy a cup of coffee at pretty much any coffee shop. Time is money and you are losing it by jacking around punching holes. Buy a good Foredom flex shaft off of ebay. $100.00 will buy the best one on there. Buy a good one though.

Your also wasting time changing out bits every little bit. I would be interested to see what Greg as well as everyone uses.
I am just looking for input, and what other guys use.

_________________
May God Bless you, as He has me
Mike Pardue
www.parduesilversmith.com

Mike,

I've used a small pin vise[chuck] in a small drill press with good results. I always centerpunch for each hole, use a little lub and only have a little length of the bit extending out of the pin vise so it doesn't flex. This helps to prevent the bit from sliding around and braking.

It sure would be fun to get together and punch a few holes in those wild Texas cans.

Larry

Back in the day, before all these fancy newfangled danged drill bits and motorized toys and cordless wonders etc, etc, ad nauseum, we used to just rub them holes in there. I had a rig I made from and ol' willer branch and some sinew, and a hip socket out of coyote, and a jack rabbit thigh bone that I'd fashion into a bow lookin' drill type thing. I'd whittle that bone down to a very small point and put some pumice down on the silver and get to turnin' on it, and after a while, you'd get that hole you wanted in it. It was just perty as a peach. Now if you wore panties, you might do it some other way, but that's the way we did it.

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www.ottocarter.com
Abilene, Texas

HOW SKINNY WAS THE RABBIT OTTO?