Pin Vises

I've used my X-Acto brand pin vise for a good number of years now and have supplanted it with a similar Zona unit of good quality. Actually, I use my pin vises a lot, most recently on my M4A3, drilling out the 'holes' on the hull sides, where the skirts would be fitted. Accurate and easy with less chance for error as with a mototool. I also use it to drill pilot holes for said mototool so I won't have any 'wander' of the bits.

On that one, I can't help -- but it WILL hold pins if you want to put them in there!

Frank Kranick

Mike,

Actually I "cheated" and got it from an ACSII artwork NG.

Digital_Cowboy

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I do have a pin vise, but it won't grip the really tiny bits (59-80) for which I got it (it does work fine with larger bits, so it's still worthwhile to have.) Anybody got recomendations for a pin vice specifically able to handle the smaller bits?

Mark Schynert

Can't say as I've ever seen one with clamps etc. I've a pin vise I use for small number drill bits and its extremely handy for ship modelling. You can easily put a little tape around the shank of a tiny drill bit to fatten it up for holding between your fingers, and use it successfully that way however if you have several hundred holes to drill, that gets old after about the 3rd one.

Mine is all metal, holds the bit on one end and has a swivelling knob on the other so you can rotate the unit with your fingers and it swivels against the palm of your hand. It was like $7 at the hobby shop. I've seen the long aluminum(?) looking ones, similar to an ink pen kinda but never used one of them. The short one I have is really easy to hold and use.

A guess re: 'p>

Mark, mine holds the tiny bits just fine, is made by Excel and one can be seen at

Grandpa John

You can't have too many small clamps and you can't have too many pin vices. My count on clamps borders on infinity - as for pin vices:

I just counted 28 -- but then it's not the breeding season for pin vices. I have several different kinds -- those with collets, those with fixed collets -- I have more of the smallest Starret type than any other. Here are some uses:

1. One set with even numbered drills from 56 to 80 -- all in a nice pin-vice rack. When I find another ten of that size I'll do the odd drills as well. If I'm drilling into wood, I almost always use the drill in a pin-vice. I have three flex shaft machines -- much better than dremels -- so its not for lack of power tools. It may take a few seconds more doing it by hand, but it saves drills and almost never goes wrong.
2. Four pin vices with different kinds of jeweler's burrs in them. Tapered, bud, round, flat. Again, when you want accuracy and no chance of fouling up, hand work is better than a machine.
3. Makes nice file handles for the smallest files.
4. A few more when I'm going to do the same operation many times and it requires several different tools -- e.g., a drill, a burr, countersink, file, etc. Same reason I have three flex shaft machines, except for stuff I want to do by hand.

Boris

Been there! Retired in 2002 from doing computers at age 54. Damned things gave me grey hair!

Can't help with that but a pic of the one I have can be see at

Its made by Excel. A lot of the crafts stores like Hobby Lobby and Michaels carry their products.

I've picked most of that stuff from Harbor Freight since I have one less than a mile from home. Good stuff when you need it for sure. Needle file sets were $1.99 on sale etc. The pin vise I got from a hobby shop. The number bits I got from Model Expo, set of 20 (61-80) with metal index for $4.99 when they were on sale. They carry a lot of handy tools for modelling & the prices are reasonable and competative IMO. I do ships and cars (plastic) so this stuff in invaluable.

Oh, if you ever need small clamps, WalMark carries those tiny clothes pins, wooden and under 1" long, bag of 50 for like $1.99. They're really handy for holding/clamping small stuff and for attaching a weight to when rigging a ship model to tension a line. Cheap enough to be disposable too!

Grandpa

Smallest Starret or equivalent. Boris

Should work just fine if set up correctly. My oldest son has one on his PC and runs wireless so he can use the laptop for work there too, w/ a firewall. He used the defaults and all runs perfectly. BTW, he uses Comcast, as do I.

Model expo is a large mail order hobby shop out of Florida. They sell all manner of models as well as supplies. They don't carry as much plastic as they used to unfortunately, however I have 30+ ships to build of which over half I got from them. Loads of wooden ships and lots of tools and other supplies.

"Digital_Cowboy" wrote

If you want to drill holes smaller than .060, you'll need it to turn the bit.

I would spend the money to get a Starrett set, as others have suggested. Although others may hold the bit, they rarely hold it true to the center, leading to elongated, out-of-position holes. You'll be amazed working with real tools - it's astonishing to have parts that are truly square, flat, and round.

KL

Thanks to all for the suggestions. Do you have a seller for the Starretts?

Mark Schynert

"Mark Schynert" wrote

This is the catalog page, from which you can find a distributor

You can also try MSC Industrial supply, or Ebay.

They don't look to be as good as my Dad's old one from the 1950's. It ran true enough to be chucked into a lathe while holding small stock.

KL