yepx
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2019
Posts: 22 
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Post by yepx on Aug 5, 2020 0:18:49 GMT -5
I am looking for help on how to drill holes in rocks for jewelry making. I made a similar post a while back as seen here but the Dremel, Drill press and diamond drill bit attachment wasn't enough. After an hour I only managed to get about a millimeter deep as seen on the photo. I can't be drilling for days to get through my rocks, is there a faster and more powerful tool I can use? Putting price aside for the moment, I just want to get more feedback on how to move forward.   |
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Post by knave on Aug 5, 2020 3:56:35 GMT -5
Hello. I see you have some moss agate there. This is a notoriously hard variety of rock.
The linked flip bit is a spiral diamond bit. May be suited best for masonry or tile? I have good success with the small diamond coated points that dentists use. Working under a steady water drip, I start the indent with the side of the burr tip. Then in a pulsing action, to let the water clear away the grime, I hand feed the tapered burr through the rock. The taper helps to prevent blowouts on the back side.
The bits are $.30/ea on eBay. Search for diamond dentist bits.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Aug 5, 2020 9:02:08 GMT -5
The only other way I know of besides using diamond bits to manually drill holes in stone is with an Ultrasonic Drilling Machine. They are extremely pricey.
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Post by Pat on Aug 5, 2020 11:18:12 GMT -5
I use core drills. They come in many sizes. Do all this under a little bit of water, or under a drip. You don't have to have a drill press. You can do it with your Dremel or Foredom. Put something inside your container of water, so when the core drill hits rock bottom, it won't go through the container. I use a layer of cardboard, or piece of wood. You will feel the difference. Good luck!
Drilling a hole in the rock you show should take about a two minutes. Literally.
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yepx
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2019
Posts: 22
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Post by yepx on Aug 6, 2020 4:10:23 GMT -5
The only other way I know of besides using diamond bits to manually drill holes in stone is with an Ultrasonic Drilling Machine. They are extremely pricey.
President of my local rock club has one but he's elderly and in permanent quarantine, I can't go seem him to borrow it. |
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Post by orrum on Aug 6, 2020 9:19:38 GMT -5
Pat what size core bits do you use and how do you get the core out of the bit? I have use hole saws to cut holes on wood before and getting the wood out of the hole saw is a pain. Thanks, Bill
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