Small drill bits

[David Knight]

Since the demise of Eileen’s I find myself looking for a source for small drill bits in the range of .3mm to .8mm. Since the drill bits have to travel over the pond it would be nice if the supplier had other goodies so the price of postage does not exceed the value of the goods. I’ve investigated on my own side but there are generally only sets for which I have no use as I already have several consisting of a number of empty slots and then drills from .8mm up in pristine condition, I’m sure I’m not the only one with this problem . Any suggestions?

Cheers,

David

[David Thorpe]

Proops Bros? Decent quality reasonably priced titanium coated drill in metric sixes from 0.3mm upwards (and pleanty of other goodies too)
https://www.proopsbrothers.com/drill-se ... s-90-c.asp

Or Chronos Engineering? Poorly set out selection, but search among them and you'll find drills from 0.3mm upwards. And lots of other goodies....
https://www.chronos.ltd.uk/omega-search/?q=drill%20bits

[Daddyman]

I asked a similar question on RMWeb some years ago and have used what I was advised to try ever since. They were Heller jobber drill bits, available from many sellers on ebay. They're about £6 for 10 (cheaper and better quality than Eileen's), and you may find a US supplier. I've had 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 in the past, but now tend to get only 0.4 and 0.6 and broach for other sizes (0.4 is fine for 0.31 wire anyway in most applications); all the 0.5s over the years have always seemed to be both blunt and bendy, for some reason. This also afflicts the odd one or two in the 0.4 packs, but they (the 0.4s) are generally very good - they can roll off your workbench and land drill-bit-down and yet don't break (they drill quite well too...).

[davebradwell]

DavidK, You must have local suppliers for the engineering industry. They have a far bigger, better range than hobby suppliers and are used to supplying small quantities quickly to people who want to get on with a job. Those most suitable will be well known by model engineers.

DavidA, very disappointed by your broaching technique. Why not get some decent drills - try Drill Service Horley for starters. Sounds like you need to pay more if you're getting duff drills. Cutwell are another I use but they're more into milling cutters.

DaveB

[andrewnummelin]

Why not look for a local supplier to the jewellery, watch making, scientific instrument or electronics industries? Such drills are often used by people working with printed circuit boards.
And there’s also Tamiya… https://www.tamiyausa.com/search/?q=Drill+bit

[45609]

These guys are a supplier to Drill Services Horley in the UK

http://www.ohiodrill.com/

Try contacting direct for supply within North America

Morgan

[nigelcliffe]

Why not look for a local supplier to the jewellery, watch making, scientific instrument or electronics industries? Such drills are often used by people working with printed circuit boards.
......

I'd caution against drills for PCB work. Fine if used in a drilling machine with zero off-axis load. But without a machine to guide them, any off-axis load will result in "ping". Better to look for normal steel drills which are slightly more forgiving. And, for small holes in thin material, learn how to make your own D-bits.

[Paul Willis]

For many years I've used Arc Euro Trade.

They'll send you anything from a set of 0.4mm drills (https://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Cutting-Tools/Twist-Drill-Bits/Drill-Bits---Polished) to a milling machine.

No connection, excellent service, recommended years ago by Dave Booth I think...

Best,
Paul

[splam32]

Since the demise of Eileen’s I find myself looking for a source for small drill bits in the range of .3mm to .8mm. Since the drill bits have to travel over the pond it would be nice if the supplier had other goodies so the price of postage does not exceed the value of the goods. I’ve investigated on my own side but there are generally only sets for which I have no use as I already have several consisting of a number of empty slots and then drills from .8mm up in pristine condition, I’m sure I’m not the only one with this problem . Any suggestions?

Cheers,

David

David

Hobby sense in Winnipeg have some decent drill sets, made in Japan I believe. Lot sof other useful hobby tools also.
https://hobbysense.ca/collections/tools ... 0-3-1-0-mm

Stephen

[David B]

In N America, Contenti (Rhode Island) have individual HSS drill bits from 0.35mm up. https://contenti.com/individual-hss-twist-drills or their economy range in packs of 10 https://contenti.com/economy-hss-twist-drills. Otto Frei also have HSS bits from 0.35mm up in packs of 10 https://www.ottofrei.com/products/high-speed-steel-twist-drills-sizes-80-to-50 FDJ Tools likewise https://www.fdjtool.com/280535-european-high-speed-twist-drills-pkg-10-cho.html?id=20855386&quantity=1 Search for 'Jewellery Tools USA'.

In the UK, you can get drills from 0.3mm up from Cookson Gold https://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery-Tools/HSS-Twist-Drill-0.30mm-prcode-970-010. Also Cousins https://www.cousinsuk.com/category/hss-drill-bits If you want to lose yourself in a bewildering range of drill types, see Drill Service https://www.drill-service.co.uk

Personally, I have moved over to shanked drills which come from 0.5mm upwards. https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/jewellery-drills I find I can use these by hand if necessary or in a micromotor. I bought a set 12 months ago and they have been a boon.

[David Knight]

Thanks to all for the suggestions. I have located a source of decent quality drills not far from home plus they sell individual sizes which is what I was looking for. They are numbered sizes but for the purposes I have in mind that will be near enough. For Canadian readers I include a link
https://perrinwatchparts.com/collection ... ills-28468

Cheers,

David

[garethashenden]

If you were in America, I would recommend McMaster Carr. Not exactly cheap, but fast and dependable with high quality. But they don't ship to Canada. Or maybe they ship to Canada, but only to businesses. It seems to have changed a bit over the years. And its not documented at all on their website.