MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Sept 29, 2004 12:38:45 GMT -5
Hey Kim, when I'm drilling with my .75 mm drill, it takes about 5 minutes to go through rocks of 7 hardness like Quartz or Agate. The biggest problem with doing it hand held without a drill press is the risk of breaking the drills. They don't take a side load very well.
Drilling through into the tile is just a way to prevent the drill from breaking out the back side of the rock and knocking out a rough chip. You can use anything that convenient to hold the rocks in place. I have used dop wax, I just found it too time consuming and bothersome to use. I have something else in mind to try, I'll let you know if it works.
Ron
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Post by hermatite on Sept 29, 2004 12:47:24 GMT -5
That's so lovely! It's really inspiring. One question, when you hold the dremel by hand how do you manage to keep it from skipping around and scratching the rock before you have a hole established. Maybe I'm doing something wrong or maybe I just have shakey hands, but any tips would be welcome. Please don't say get a drillpress...it's not in the budget.
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Post by rockyraccoon on Sept 29, 2004 13:24:15 GMT -5
5 minutes ron! well me thinks that justifies the cost of the drill press attachment because mine are surely taking lots longer than that! going now to order the attachment. then i'm going to the "junktique" store to find me a work table.
kim
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Oct 1, 2004 20:12:06 GMT -5
Hey Kim, what speed are you running your Dremel? Speeds and feeds are very critical in drilling rock.
Ron
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Post by rockyraccoon on Oct 1, 2004 21:09:47 GMT -5
ron mine runs from 5000 - 35000 but on the dremel it says 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 with some dashes in between those numbers. i've been running it on 8 mostly but moved it up a few times but couldn't really tell a difference. and what exactly is "feeds"  how many rocks do you usually get drilled with each diamond drill? kim |
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Post by cookie3rocks on Oct 1, 2004 22:07:32 GMT -5
I run my Dremel (like thing) at about 6 most of the time. The higher speeds scare me, I'm afraid it's going to get away from me and do something, well, not good. I also use cheap diamond bits I order from Ebay. With a good bit, what can you expect? I usually go through a bit per stone (at around 7 MOH) in about 1/2 an hour. I broke a really nice piece I was working on a while back and it put me off drilling holes.
cookie
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Post by Cher on Oct 1, 2004 22:26:03 GMT -5
I haven't gotten any "drill bits" although there might be something in the box of variety bits that I got that will work as drill bits. Anyway, my point is, I got #40 grit on the diamond bits and so far, I've used the same bit on several rocks and it's still good for more. As it gets worn down, I can see it takes a little longer to do the work but I'll definitely by this grit again. They do make the stone "rough" but a day in the coarse grit fixes it right up. [glow=red,2,300] ~ Cher ~[/glow] ![]() pages.prodigy.net/bestsmileys1/signs/RockOn.gif [/img] |
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Oct 1, 2004 22:57:58 GMT -5
With all this talk of dremels, bits, drill presses and rocks, I have been inspired to get my drill press out of the box and set it up. Or at least partially set it up. Have to secure it to the table, find my drill bits and organize everything I will need, the I will make my first attempt to drill a hole. If I do as good on my first try as ya'll did, I am gonna be one happy camper!
llana
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Oct 2, 2004 7:19:02 GMT -5
Hey Kim, "feeds" refers to the rate the you are pushing the drill into the hole that you are drilling. Not to get too technical, but the important item here is actually the surface speed of face of the diamond drill. With a .75 mm (.030 inch) drill, you have to run very high speeds to get any kind of surface speed. Generally, when running these micro-drills, you should run them as fast as you can. The feed rate is another story though. The diamond dust on the drill can only remove extremely small amounts of rock at a time and since there are no flutes to allow the debris to escape, the drill becomes clogged and ceases to cut. That is why when you use your drill press, you need to feed the drill using a pulsating feed with very frequent removal of the drill from the hole to allow it to completely flush. The more you do this, the better you will get at it and the longer your drills will last. You will develop a "feel" for how much pressure to put on each feed pulse. You want to see that little burst of rock dust come from the hole on each feed stroke. You will also find that, with practice, you can make those feed stokes in very rapid succession without overloading or overheating your drill. This is what will greatly reduce your drilling time without killing your drill. I always get at least 6 rocks per drill. When I do lose a drill, it's usually because I got careless and wasn't paying close enough attention to what I was doing.
Ron
ps.
I used to be a Manufacturing Engineer before my illness forced an early retirement.
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Oct 2, 2004 11:15:47 GMT -5
Thanks, Ron, for this little lesson on drilling rocks! Glad I read it before I start trying to drill anything. It will probably save me from breaking/ruining all my bits without ever actually getting a hole drilled.
You are a wealth of great info and I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge with us so we can avoid alot of screw ups!
llana
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Post by rockyraccoon on Oct 2, 2004 15:44:22 GMT -5
thanks ron - my drill press should be here next week and i think this will be much easier. i'm afraid if i push very hard i'll snap the drill because of the side pressure like you said. how far in the chuck should i be putting the drill?
kim
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Post by Cher on Oct 2, 2004 16:05:51 GMT -5
I took a shot at it today and actually managed to drill a hole ... patting myself on the back. lol I had a piece of wood that I held the rock against and just kept dipping the rock into water. Took awhile to get it done and it was a pretty thin piece. Definitely need to check into one of those drill press units for the dremel, I think it would be much easier than trying to hold them by hand. Going to check around for the prices of those things.
Cher
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Post by rockyraccoon on Oct 2, 2004 17:02:54 GMT -5
alright cher! try micro-mark www.micromark.com/ john (sands) gave me this link and it was a better price than the other places i looked. kim |
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Post by krazydiamond on Oct 3, 2004 18:01:16 GMT -5
micro mark was where i got my drill press, they have a great selection of tools and machines and general stuff.
hey rocky, i, um...borrowed your idea today of putting the bead over the wire, i will post some jewelry soon, just remember imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!
KD
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Post by rockyraccoon on Oct 3, 2004 18:28:24 GMT -5
i'm glad you feel that way because i sure want mine to look like yours.
kim
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Post by rockyraccoon on Oct 5, 2004 12:14:43 GMT -5
ron i was using the 1 mm drill and changed over to the .75 drill since you said that's what you were using and man that made all the difference in the world. the thing just zipped on through and then i put the 1mm drill back on and made the hole bigger for the eye pin to go through. i did 4 holes in no time flat with the same drill. i thought my drill press had made it yesterday when the ups man came and can you believe it he had work related deliveries. the very nerve!!
kim
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Post by hermatite on Oct 5, 2004 12:51:38 GMT -5
Work...it's the curse of the rockhounding classes.
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Post by rockyraccoon on Oct 10, 2004 14:43:57 GMT -5
what do you do when the drill breaks off inside the hole you're drilling? i broke another drill trying to drill it on through and a magnet won't get it out. any ideas?
kim
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Post by cookie3rocks on Oct 10, 2004 16:33:07 GMT -5
I did the same thing and broke a pretty pink quartz heart I was making fo my step daughter  Got the bit out, though. cookie |
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Post by rockyraccoon on Oct 10, 2004 16:40:37 GMT -5
is my stone a goner once this happens??
kim
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