unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on May 3, 2014 10:33:17 GMT -5
I just got a Foredom flex tool and a Foredom drill press. I want to be able to drill holes in rocks and cabs. I am not sure which drill to use, diamond step drill or diamond twist drill. I have one rock that I want to drill a 1.5" hole so my wife can string it on a cord, so I think the shank of the drill will have to be the same diameter as the drill tip. I see some drills are numbered by wire gauge size and others by shank size and others by head diameter size. Which drill should I use for this type of project? I am TOTALLY CONFUSED.
Thanks Stu
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aimeesrockworks
spending too much on rocks
I really do look like my avatar... it kinda freaks me out.
Member since December 2010
Posts: 458
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Post by aimeesrockworks on May 3, 2014 12:51:09 GMT -5
I have used a twist drill before on my Dremel for tiny holes and had really good luck (even with me just holding the rock in a little dish of water!). I did have to use a smaller collet since the bit was so thin. Someday I'm going to step up to the Foredom, that's for darn sure.
But did you really mean 1.5 inches?? For that size hole I use my big ole drill press and a core bit.
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Post by Rockoonz on May 3, 2014 13:21:55 GMT -5
I assume you want 1.5mm Our favorite drills are core drills, but for a hole that small you will either use a solid wire type drill or a twist drill. Jadecarver and lau*** are the two ebay sellers we buy drills from. We drill underwater right now but we plan to switch to a drip tube eventually.
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Post by Rockoonz on May 3, 2014 13:27:04 GMT -5
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blackout5783
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 248
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Post by blackout5783 on May 3, 2014 14:33:42 GMT -5
I would recommend a pack of cheap wire drills and a round or conical burr for starting the hole. I have been using the "generic" ones from Kingsley with the most luck. I tried tiny core bits, which were more rigid and less prone to drifting when drilling, but they were shot after only a couple holes. And forget about the "badger" sintered ones. I tried one of those at 1.0 mm, and it didn't make it through one stone. I can get 15+ out of one of the Kingsley wire bits and they're around a buck a pop.
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on May 3, 2014 16:42:30 GMT -5
Thanks for all of the help. I ordered some of tyhe wire diamond coated twist drills and I also ordered a few of the core drills. I saw some on Amazon but the rviews were not good. I called Kingsley yesterday but I had to leave a message. I see that Otto Frei has them also as does Foredom but the price at Foredom I imagine would be a lot higher. I just ordered the micro chuck from them so the drills will fit my handpiece. Stu
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Post by DirtCleaner on May 6, 2014 13:24:45 GMT -5
Let us know what success/otherwise you have with the drilling process. I am in the same situation.
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on May 7, 2014 15:35:39 GMT -5
Ijust recieved a package of twist drills and a micro chuck That I ordered from Foredom. I also ordered some core drills in various sizes from Otto Frie, however they have not arrived yet. Thats a whole other story to be posted in a different thread to be titled "Heads Up When Ordering From Otto Frei" I will post some pictures, links and progress report soon. Thanks for all of the help Stu
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Post by mohs on May 7, 2014 22:02:46 GMT -5
Thanks Ed
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