electricface
starting to spend too much on rocks
First fish of the day
Member since August 2012
Posts: 211
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Post by electricface on Aug 19, 2012 9:46:16 GMT -5
I'm wandering cause I've heard both good and bad, I have a dremel and was thinking about buying a drill press for it to drill stones. Is it even worth it to buy one?
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Aug 19, 2012 9:53:59 GMT -5
How many stones would you like to drill? Dremel plus the Dremel drill press does work. If it's just a few, it's definitely the way to go for price. I have posted some of my drilled pendants in, I think, the creations forum. While it isn't ideal, the more expensive experiment we tried ruins a lot of drill bits too, so for just a few items once in awhile, yyou might as well go cheap in my opinion.
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Aug 19, 2012 9:55:35 GMT -5
Wait. It was in the rock tumbler photo section. I'm doing stuff like this:
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electricface
starting to spend too much on rocks
First fish of the day
Member since August 2012
Posts: 211
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Post by electricface on Aug 19, 2012 10:04:45 GMT -5
I am going to tumble a batch in a lortone 3a and want to drill the good stones for pendant nechlaces. While the next batch turns want to drill stones. So i'm not going to do a lot of stones but to me it seems like alot. I'll try the dremel press. thanx. Is there a such thing as one drill bit company is better than the other?
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Post by deb193redux on Aug 19, 2012 10:57:19 GMT -5
I found that the $50'ish dremel press had a little more play in it than I wanted. Core drills were OK, but wire drills like to walk on smooth domes, and thr play in ther dremel press amplified that.
I would sell mine cheap if you are interested.
I also got an inexpensive benchtop drill press, and if I did it again I would get a better one with more machine precision in its movements and with laser indicator..
I don't drill a lot, but just my opinions on how I could be betters set up for just about 20% more than I spend on the cheap.
Also I started drilling in a pan of water, but it does cloud. I like having a stream of water. This is also better for not refracting the laser light.
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Minnesota Daniel
freely admits to licking rocks
A COUPLE LAKERS
Member since August 2011
Posts: 891
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Post by Minnesota Daniel on Aug 19, 2012 13:11:33 GMT -5
I have a Dremel drill press and still use it occasionally. I can't add anything to deb193redux's comments. My experience with it has been exactly the same as his.
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Post by johnjsgems on Aug 19, 2012 15:55:08 GMT -5
I routinely hear the Dremel drill press is too sloppy to be much use for tiny drills. I think you could drill a few holes with just the Dremel. You may break more drills though.
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Post by Pat on Aug 19, 2012 16:38:51 GMT -5
I always drill stones in water. It's my understanding that it prolongs the life of the drill, and cools the stone so it doesn't break. Been using core drills lately, and drilling with a small bouncing motion on a brick. Bouncing allows water to enter the hole continually.
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electricface
starting to spend too much on rocks
First fish of the day
Member since August 2012
Posts: 211
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Post by electricface on Aug 19, 2012 20:43:53 GMT -5
I looked at some drills at harbor freight and unfortunatly even though I could save the money for a decent one I dont have the space. Sucks to hear that about the dremmel press. I would have the room for that. Hrm......Must think harder on this.
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Post by deb193redux on Aug 19, 2012 21:04:38 GMT -5
there are small gem drills the size of a shoe box that are very precise, but will cost $150 to $250. More for a pump and water supply.
your best bet may be to and hold the dremel and be very careful
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Aug 19, 2012 21:25:57 GMT -5
Some years ago we bought a drill press called "Pro Hobby" at Home Depot, the Dremel tool fit in it perfectly, and we have drilled lots of rocks with it. The drill press is made in France. Having never used a Dremel stand, I can't make a "sloppyness" comparison, but ours seems quite tight. I don't know if they are still around, but worth looking for.
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jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
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Post by jspencer on Aug 19, 2012 21:51:11 GMT -5
I use a Dremel press with core bits in water with the bouncing motion too. But I drill my holes when I first slab the stone not after polishing a dome on it. If your going to wait till it`s polished you need to take a small burr and make a divot in the spot you wish to drill. Kinda the same principal of center punching metal before starting the drill bit on it. It stops the wobble of the bit. Also leave only the required length of the bit exposed outside the chuck. This helps the shaft of the bit remain more solid and again less wobble which means you use less bits.
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electricface
starting to spend too much on rocks
First fish of the day
Member since August 2012
Posts: 211
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Post by electricface on Aug 19, 2012 22:04:39 GMT -5
I have heard someone else say to chuck it up. I have used dremel for years on wood plastic and metal. It may turn out bad but due to space issues I think I'm going to try the dremel press. Sigh...........Wish me luck.
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electricface
starting to spend too much on rocks
First fish of the day
Member since August 2012
Posts: 211
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Post by electricface on Aug 19, 2012 22:08:37 GMT -5
Actually I do have another question. I heard you need a diamond bit and about 20,000 to 30,000 rpm to drill stones. Surely this isn't true as most of you are useing regular drill presses. I have to admit that is confusing to me. Can someone clear this up for me?
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Post by johnjsgems on Aug 20, 2012 13:14:07 GMT -5
You must use diamond for any hard stone. Speed isn't as important as light pressure and using a "pecking motion" to allow water to flush the hole. Good American drills and the cheapest Chinese drills are "bonded". That is a nice way of saying the diamond is glued on. If the rock powder packs around the drill blocking contact with the water the drill overheats and off comes the diamond. There are nice mini drill presses that take up slightly more space than a Dremel drill press in the $80 range (Kingsley North and myself) to $100 or so (Ameritool and others).
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electricface
starting to spend too much on rocks
First fish of the day
Member since August 2012
Posts: 211
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Post by electricface on Aug 20, 2012 13:42:37 GMT -5
thank everyone for the info. I will look into the mini drill presses before I trot off and buy a dremel press. I will be around so expect lots more questions for a while. lol thanks again
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jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
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Post by jspencer on Aug 20, 2012 15:55:28 GMT -5
The Dremel press itself is about $45 then you attach your rotary tool of whatever brand. I use diamond core bits and if I remember correctly 20,000 is the top recommended speed. I run at about 15,000 and make sure to peck at it which keeps the heat down and the bit clear of debris. I sit the slice on top of a wooden base so I don`t penetrate my water container when the bit goes through the rock and the solid backing keeps the stone from blowing out the backside when the bit punches through. Good luck with yours. Going too fast will mushroom the head of the bit really quick and it`s no more good. Starting the hole I use my slowest rpm setting until I get a good start and can see the bit is not going to walk on me. Then speed it up after that.
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