I'm setting up a hobby corner in my spare room. It'll be more convenient than working in the garden shed amongst the gardening tools and sawdust and gallon tins of paint etc. And of course I don't want to bring the big drill press into the house - not that it's all that good for working on tiny models anyway.


So I've been searching the net for a mini or maybe a jewellers' bench drill, something small and unobtrusive anyway, but able to hold quite thin drill bits and do a reasonably accurate job. So far, I've gained the impression that the German made Proxxon TBM is the only one worth considering. Trouble is it's so bloomin' expensive down here in the Antipodes. My pension won't stretch quite that far.





I considered getting a bench stand/adaptor for my cordless drill (it's an Ozito and I reckon it's a great little tool), but apparently nobody makes those adaptor thingies any more. They reckon they're "old technology".


So what do you guys use? Does anyone know of a reasonably good mini drill or stand out there somewhere? Anyone managed to make one for themselves? I'd appreciate your thoughts and comments on the subject.


Cheers, Dave.

Very nice. I use my dad's bench drill. Not sure of the make.

Dave:


I have an 8" drill press made for Canadian tire called Mastercraft. It does me well and stands about 2 feet high. I also have a couple of vises for the plate so I can mount them and then clamp toys etc. I don't use it much as I have found it is ackward when I try to drill base plates. I can't clamp the toys firm enough with out damaging it. So I use my Skill hand held battery drill. 3/8" chuck and 18Volt. Charges up in a couple of hours. Most of my drilling is done with that hand held drill. I use the drill press with a wire wheel in it to clean hubs, axles and base plates. Don't use it on the body of the vehicle as I have a bead blaster in the garage that takes care of anything the paint stripper leaves behind. My drill cost about $60.00 and came in a case with all sorts of attachements, drill bits and sockets and screw driver bits.


The drill press I found at a garage sale about 6 or 7 years ago. It cost me $55.00 and was barely used. New they are about $200.00 I think.

I also make use of a grinder/wirewheel combo unit.

last time I used the grinder was to make a 'Pontiac Firebird' nameplate fit snugly over the Camaro wording on the chassis.

I use a drill press in the shed for drilling out rivets, in the model room I use my Dremel, I know you can get a drill stand for the dremel but not bothered yet.

Hi DaveF this is the dremel drill stand Scruffyhippo is talking about

one on ebay.com.au $35.00AU+ post( 120917287213)

I still drill rivet out by hand and eye. I find it more accurate and much faster than trying to set up the toy in a vice and get it aligned with the drill. I guess it is all what you get used to. I have a seperate grinder with 2 wheels in the garage but use it seldom for my toys as the dremel does most of what I need done besides drilling. I also have a hand pin drill.

My dad found a very old electric hobby drill press at a yard sale or swap meet/boot sale about 10 years ago and sent it out to me. No name on it, and the smallest bit it will hold is about 1/32 inch. Any smaller than that and you are better off doing it with a pin vise. I don't go much smaller than 1/16 inch with it. Not worth the broken bits at that speed, and the micro drill bits don't take the pressure of a drill press for more than a few seconds. I'd rather use a pin vise for the really tiny holes.

Thanks for all your comments everyone, they do help me get a better picture of the way to go. And thanks Luff for the ebay reference, I missed that one when I was checking ebay the other day, maybe I was searching for the wrong thing. I've ordered one of the Dremel stands. I have some doubts as to their precision but at that price I can't really lose so it's worth a try. 


All in all though, from what you guys have said it looks like the best option is to persevere with using the Dremel and/or a pin vise, and resort to my drill press in the shed for removing base rivets.


Thanks again, Dave.

DaveF, it is what you can afford and end up being comfortable with. I have a Dremel and dremel drill press which work fine with certain projects, and a shop drill press in the garage as well. Sometimes it is where I am at at the time, that is what I use. The Shop drill press can change speeds by changing the belt pulleys within a few seconds and it is done.


   When you set up the bench area, make sure it is solid and secured so that when you have a project that might require that extra muscle power, you will be working on a steady base that you can rely on. Good luck.
dinkyboy

Thanks for your input Dinkyboy, yes my drill press in the shed is firmly bolted down and is great for removing the base plate rivets. But it's a bit too hefty for really fine drill bits.


Surprise! I've just googled Dremel Drill Press and found what appears to be just what I need for my in-house hobby corner: it's a Dremel "Work Station" (is this the one you referred to Dinkyboy?). And on the same site I found a Proxxon version of the same sort of thing.


Funny, I never saw either of these when I was researching last week. I guess it just depends on what words you use. Anyway, I'm sure one or the other of these units will suit me down to the ground. They're both reasonably priced, and the site is Australian so I won't have to pay for shipping half way round the world.


So thanks again Dinkyboy - that's what I call serendipity!  


Dave.


 

Hi DaveF the reason that i did not say about these two options was that you were thinking of using your ozito drill and they will only take their branded equipment.

Sorry Luff, I guess I misled you and everyone. I mentioned my cordless Ozito drill because I thought that would be the most likely option, but I was (still am) open to any and all suggestions.


In fact I have another Ozito, a hand tool similar in size and usage to the Dremel, as well as a tiny cheap looking plastic one (which is surprisingly good within it's limits) that I bought second hand for a song.


I ordered the stand that you showed me earlier, which should take one of my Ozitos I think. But if it turns out to be not too good (it was quite cheap), I now have the option of either buying a Dremel stand plus (if it won't adapt to anything I have) buying a Dremel, or I can pay a bit more and buy the Proxxon stand which I've discovered can be supplied with an adaptor to take an Ozito. 


So happily I have quite a few options to choose from, all within my price range, and I'm sure I'll end up with a satisfactory result. Again I appreciate everyone's input. I'll let you all know what I eventually settle for.


Dave.

DaveF, Yup, that is just what I have. Don't forget a secure base for the workbench.... dinkyboy