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Post by rockjunquie on May 30, 2019 15:34:30 GMT -5
I have forgotten who it was that posted that they use diamond twist bits instead of hollow core bits. If you see this will you link me again? I can't find the original post. THANX!
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Post by Rockindad on May 30, 2019 16:08:47 GMT -5
Here you go: May 27, 2019 at 12:46pm rockjunquie likes this Quote Edit like Post Options Post by rockindad on May 27, 2019 at 12:46pm rockjunquie Avatar May 27, 2019 at 12:24pm rockjunquie said: I'm not doing so great. Broke 2 bits off in the preform and ruined them. Learning... Not sure what the chuck capacities are for your Foredom but we have had a lot of success with these bits. I know they also have single size packs for at least some of the sizes as well. We had one 1.5mm bit that did 35 holes in mostly agates/jaspers before we retired it because it was getting dull for the harder stuff. Could still use it on the softer materials. Al www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BRMPPUA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1Read more: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/87529/drilling-holes-cabs#ixzz5pRcajIIN
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Post by vegasjames on May 30, 2019 17:39:40 GMT -5
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Post by grumpybill on May 30, 2019 17:51:33 GMT -5
Diamond Twist BitsNot the link you were looking for, but this is my preferred supplier for wire bits, though I've used their twist bits.
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Post by HankRocks on May 30, 2019 17:52:45 GMT -5
It's always puzzled me why so much diamond material is on the bit past the tip as that's were all the drilling of stone is done. I realize that some of the diamond past the tip does do a bit of grinding as it's works it's way into the drill hole. Once the diamond on the tip is gone, game over, get a new bit. There must be bout 80 to 100 bits in my used bag that all have lots of diamond down the shank but none on the tip.
Do the twist bits last longer, maybe more initial cutting area than the non-twist.
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Post by rockjunquie on May 30, 2019 19:35:20 GMT -5
Here you go: May 27, 2019 at 12:46pm rockjunquie likes this Quote Edit like Post Options Post by rockindad on May 27, 2019 at 12:46pm rockjunquie Avatar May 27, 2019 at 12:24pm rockjunquie said: I'm not doing so great. Broke 2 bits off in the preform and ruined them. Learning... Not sure what the chuck capacities are for your Foredom but we have had a lot of success with these bits. I know they also have single size packs for at least some of the sizes as well. We had one 1.5mm bit that did 35 holes in mostly agates/jaspers before we retired it because it was getting dull for the harder stuff. Could still use it on the softer materials. Al www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BRMPPUA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1Read more: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/87529/drilling-holes-cabs#ixzz5pRcajIINThank you, I just could not find it! It's been a rough week- I feel frazzled.
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Post by Rockindad on May 30, 2019 19:46:52 GMT -5
Here you go: May 27, 2019 at 12:46pm rockjunquie likes this Quote Edit like Post Options Post by rockindad on May 27, 2019 at 12:46pm rockjunquie Avatar May 27, 2019 at 12:24pm rockjunquie said: I'm not doing so great. Broke 2 bits off in the preform and ruined them. Learning... Not sure what the chuck capacities are for your Foredom but we have had a lot of success with these bits. I know they also have single size packs for at least some of the sizes as well. We had one 1.5mm bit that did 35 holes in mostly agates/jaspers before we retired it because it was getting dull for the harder stuff. Could still use it on the softer materials. Al www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BRMPPUA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1Read more: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/87529/drilling-holes-cabs#ixzz5pRcajIINThank you, I just could not find it! It's been a rough week- I feel frazzled. No problem, been a couple of crappy weeks here as well. Glad to have this diversion! Al
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Post by rockjunquie on May 30, 2019 19:51:53 GMT -5
Thanks Rockindad- I went ahead and ordered an assortment. If I can remember what I have bought and from where, I intend to do some comparisons. I already know I will never order the Chinese ones from RIO. OMG they were awful! I'm waiting for some from Amazon and I got the small set from rockshed. Although, I don't think I will be doing up eyes, but ya never know. How long did it take for you to get yours?
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Post by Rockindad on May 30, 2019 20:05:13 GMT -5
It's always puzzled me why so much diamond material is on the bit past the tip as that's were all the drilling of stone is done. I realize that some of the diamond past the tip does do a bit of grinding as it's works it's way into the drill hole. Once the diamond on the tip is gone, game over, get a new bit. There must be bout 80 to 100 bits in my used bag that all have lots of diamond down the shank but none on the tip. Do the twist bits last longer, maybe more initial cutting area than the non-twist. Wondered about the seemingly excessive amount of diamonds as well. Actually, I am more surprised than anything, as my first thought was why a manufacturer of these bits wouldn't try to get away with using a lot less. In the past month or so we drilled about 120-130 holes in pendants and slab scraps (mostly agates and jaspers) to run our own little test. The twist drills clearly worked the best for us, followed by core bits, then wire bits. Not claiming it is conclusive as we only compared the single brand of twist bits from my link with two manufacturers of core bits and two of wire bits. Also, we used my full size drill press while I'm sure many here use one of the rotary tools for drilling. Not sure if it would make a significant difference. I will say that the drill press (at 3400 rpm's) did so well I was not even tempted to break out my Dremels, though I'm sure I'll do this soon just to do a side by side comparison. Al
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Post by Rockindad on May 30, 2019 20:13:07 GMT -5
Thanks Rockindad - I went ahead and ordered an assortment. If I can remember what I have bought and from where, I intend to do some comparisons. I already know I will never order the Chinese ones from RIO. OMG they were awful! I'm waiting for some from Amazon and I got the small set from rockshed. Although, I don't think I will be doing up eyes, but ya never know. How long did it take for you to get yours? The bits from Amazon were in stock and only took a couple of days with Prime. Just about every order I have made with The Rock Shed (and it is getting to be a large number, expecting another tomorrow) has been about a week, not bad for South Dakota to New York but it is never fast enough is it . Al
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Post by rockjunquie on May 30, 2019 20:16:05 GMT -5
Diamond Twist BitsNot the link you were looking for, but this is my preferred supplier for wire bits, though I've used their twist bits. I ordered some from them, too. Thanks!
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Post by rockjunquie on May 30, 2019 20:17:40 GMT -5
Thanks Rockindad - I went ahead and ordered an assortment. If I can remember what I have bought and from where, I intend to do some comparisons. I already know I will never order the Chinese ones from RIO. OMG they were awful! I'm waiting for some from Amazon and I got the small set from rockshed. Although, I don't think I will be doing up eyes, but ya never know. How long did it take for you to get yours? The bits from Amazon were in stock and only took a couple of days with Prime. Just about every order I have made with The Rock Shed (and it is getting to be a large number, expecting another tomorrow) has been about a week, not bad for South Dakota to New York but it is never fast enough is it . Al Out of stock. Oh well, I won't have to wait too long. Yes, being on the East Coast with so many suppliers on the West Coast can be time challenging- not to mention cost challenging.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 4, 2019 16:14:53 GMT -5
Rockindad, so far the twist bits I have tried are better than the hollow core. Boy, do I despise using those hollow core! Ugh. I have tried a variety of vendors. (I still have one order out). Not liking any of them.
I don't know if I am doing something wrong (I don't THINK I am) or what, but nothing is lasting a damn. A few things took 2 bits! I used the 3mm twist bits and the 2mm twist with not much trouble, but the 2.5mm were terrible! What the world? I dunno. I never thought drilling holes would be such a chore.
The core bits were so shallow, I had to stop, stick an awl in the hole and break off the core to continue- OR the core would get stuck in the bit. Various manufacturers had various issues. One of them, the hole for drilling was only about 2.5mm deep, if that. I was wondering why it stopped less than half way.
Is it usual to go through a lot of bits? This could get expensive. Though, now that I know they are all pretty crappy, I won't pay much for any.
I am using plenty of water, not too much pressure and I am using the pecking motion. I don't know what I could be doing wrong.
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Post by Rockindad on Jun 4, 2019 18:17:24 GMT -5
Rockindad , so far the twist bits I have tried are better than the hollow core. Boy, do I despise using those hollow core! Ugh. I have tried a variety of vendors. (I still have one order out). Not liking any of them.
I don't know if I am doing something wrong (I don't THINK I am) or what, but nothing is lasting a damn. A few things took 2 bits! I used the 3mm twist bits and the 2mm twist with not much trouble, but the 2.5mm were terrible! What the world? I dunno. I never thought drilling holes would be such a chore.
The core bits were so shallow, I had to stop, stick an awl in the hole and break off the core to continue- OR the core would get stuck in the bit. Various manufacturers had various issues. One of them, the hole for drilling was only about 2.5mm deep, if that. I was wondering why it stopped less than half way.
Is it usual to go through a lot of bits? This could get expensive. Though, now that I know they are all pretty crappy, I won't pay much for any.
I am using plenty of water, not too much pressure and I am using the pecking motion. I don't know what I could be doing wrong. Hmmm.....the first thing that comes to my mind is speed. Is your Foredom variable speed, and if it is, have you tried it at different speeds? Generally speaking, when it comes to drilling, speed is not your friend when it comes to a lot of materials. My woodworking drill press, which spins at a fraction of the RPM's of most rotary tools, still seems to get a typical agate slab/pendant/cab drilled in under a minute. To grossly oversimplify: Speed=Heat and Heat=Short Drill Bit Life. You are probably not damaging the diamonds themselves, but instead loosening their bond to the bit. Have you noticed any shiny glitter in your water? Also, I know you were using plastic to form a reservoir, not sure if you changed from this. I use an old 4" x 4" tupperware dish that is about 2" deep. Even with a piece of plywood in there as a backer there is a lot of water to help keep things cool and is deep enough that even when lifting the bit out of the stone a good 1/2" of the bit is still in the water. Al
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 4, 2019 21:38:25 GMT -5
Thanks, Rockindad. I have been using a slow speed and not a lot of pressure on the drill. I'm not using the plastic well anymore. I have a little dish that I put a piece of wood in and hold the precab. When the bit, either hollow or twist, is fresh, it goes through pretty quickly. The trouble is they are wearing out so fast.
No, I'm seeing a any diamond slough.
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Post by Rockindad on Jun 5, 2019 9:20:44 GMT -5
Does your new press seem pretty stable? Any play/wobble will wreak havoc with bits. Some people on the forum have mentioned getting only 1 or 2 holes per bit so you may not be doing anything wrong. I may have an "unfair" advantage with the full size press I use as I spent a lot of time years ago truing it up as I was using it for business.
Al
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 5, 2019 14:03:23 GMT -5
Does your new press seem pretty stable? Any play/wobble will wreak havoc with bits. Some people on the forum have mentioned getting only 1 or 2 holes per bit so you may not be doing anything wrong. I may have an "unfair" advantage with the full size press I use as I spent a lot of time years ago truing it up as I was using it for business. Al Yes, my press is quite stable. I run it a second after I install a bit to make sure I chucked it ok and it they all run true, too. I'll keep trying. Maybe I can tighten up my technique.
I found a guy who had diamond 3mm twist bits for less than .50 pc. That I can handle. If they cut only one hole, it's not any worse than the more expensive ones.
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Post by Rockindad on Jun 5, 2019 14:27:28 GMT -5
I would I know a guy who would drill yours for "free", problem is he has seen a lot of your work and would probably skim a few for himself Al
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 5, 2019 14:35:31 GMT -5
I would I know a guy who would drill yours for "free", problem is he has seen a lot of your work and would probably skim a few for himself Al Tell him thanks. ... I think.
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cosmetal
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since September 2018
Posts: 115
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Post by cosmetal on Jun 5, 2019 15:36:43 GMT -5
rockjunquieWhat motor does your Foredom rotary tool have? If it's a SR series motor, it will run up to 18,000 RPM. Most of the RPM drilling data I have found for drilling small holes using diamond drill bits states to run within a RPM range between 7,000 to 10,000 RPM depending upon the hole size. I would try an RPM in this range and see what happens instead of going "slow". Have you considered getting a Foredom C.EM-1 Speed Controller?
If full-on is 18,000 RPM - dial to 1/2 and you know you have 9,000 RPM. Or adjust to the speed you want and mark the dial plate for any re-start.
James
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