Hefty
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2022
Posts: 80 
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Post by Hefty on Dec 3, 2022 7:09:02 GMT -5
I have a ryobi drill press, was under $200 which I think is a good price for a drill press.
I have a dremel too but the slowest speed is 10k rpm. Main difference with drill press is you can slow it down significantly to under 1000 rpm. The harder the material the slower you want to go, dremel is way too fast even at 10k, burns up bits
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Post by liveoak on Dec 3, 2022 7:34:40 GMT -5
I thought I'd give another plug for the drill press , I have the exact one Rockoonz mentioned. Here's a copy of it cheaper on Amazon.
I have 4 other drill presses in my studio, but purchased that one specifically for wet drilling rocks, cabs, etc.
The one problem I found was the belt - I had to replace it.
Good tip on the ball bur for starting a hole. Thanks Lee.
Patty
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2022
Posts: 1,314
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Post by rockbrain on Dec 4, 2022 10:26:50 GMT -5
I have used a Dremel for some necklaces. It works but the issue I run into when the bit punches thru the stone, the force of you pushing tends to smack the tool against the top side and I've left small scratches on most. I'm opting for some kind of drill press setup in the future. I drill with a handpiece, learned a few tricks. I don't use diamond drills, they like to skitter away when starting a hole and blow out the back at the end. I use ball end carving burrs, you still need to use a little care to start, but once there's the slightest little dent in the surface it stays put easily. if you have both you can also just kind of center punch for the drill press with it, I've done that with Elizabeth when doing mass production before. Drilling through by hand is a little slower, but better results at least for me. When drilling I dunk the stone in water frequently, do the peck and clear routine, and hold the stone so my finger is at the exit point for the burr/drill. When I feel it tickle my finger I flip it over and carefully finish from the back. Switch to a 1 or 2 size larger ball bit to smooth the edge of the hole and it's ready to sand and polish or tumble. I chuckled when I saw this. I researched drilling earlier, saw this and modified the method. I did everything the same but didn't get the 'tickle'. I drilled until I felt a sudden sharp pain and saw blood.  I was able to drill from the other side afterword and got a nice clean hole! I've again modified my method slightly. |
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Post by Rockoonz on Dec 4, 2022 12:32:02 GMT -5
I researched drilling earlier, saw this and modified the method. I did everything the same but didn't get the 'tickle'. I drilled until I felt a sudden sharp pain and saw blood. I was able to drill from the other side afterword and got a nice clean hole! I've again modified my method slightly. Ruh-roe. Sorry bout dat, I didn't factor in differences between peoples sense of touch, or how hard they're pushing the burr. Also, I'm learning that cold water can dull nerve sensation enough that you can easily grind right through a fingernail into the flesh under it if you're not careful. I am also rethinking some of my stonecutting by braille techniques. |
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,546
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Post by gemfeller on Dec 4, 2022 18:39:42 GMT -5
Here are some ideas I've developed over the years for what they're worth. I used a Dremel drill press like this for years: www.lowes.com/pd/Dremel-Rotary-Tool-Drill-Press-Workstation/1238685My ancient Dremel gave out so I bought a small drill press but both work well for me. If you're drilling cabs, here's an idea: take a small strip of aluminum and bend it into a narrow U shape. Drill a hole through both pieces close open end of the U. That's your "stencil." You can slip it over the cab and mark where you want your hole on the sides of the cab. I use white-out for typing corrections for visibility underwater. Use a ball-shaped diamond bit to cut shallow dimples on your marks on both sides of the cab to prevent your drill from wandering. Then use a diamond bit of the finished size you want (slightly smaller than the dimples) and drill halfway through the stone. Repeat from the other side. This avoids blow-out and allows you to align your hole precisely. The dimple edges are easy to polish. I prefer to do this when the cab is roughed out but not polished but circumstances vary. The above assumes all drilling is done underwater to keep things cool. Pull the drill up every 2-3 seconds to prevent heat build-up. The best source for diamond bits I've found is Treasure Hong Kong (THK). They last much longer than others I've tried. They also make really good plated grinding wheels at a reasonable price. |
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Post by Pat on Dec 4, 2022 19:07:39 GMT -5
I’ve used both —- drill press and Dremel/Foredom. Dremel/Foredom takes up little space. Drill under water or with a drip. If drilling many holes, I’d use the drill press. Good luck!
Jadecarver.com is also a good resource.
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I was able to drill from the other side afterword and got a nice clean hole! I've again modified my method slightly.
