What size CARBIDE MICRO DRILL will do me for home PCB making?
0.35 - 0.45 - 0.50 - 0.70 - 0.725 - 0.85 - 1.00 - 1.05 - 1.15 - 1.20 - 1.25 - 1.30 - 1.45 - 1.55 - 1.60 - 1.80 - 1.85 - 2.00 - 2.05 - 2.10 - 2.15 - 2.20 - 2.50 - 2.55 - 2.60 - 3.15 - 3.25 - 3.30 - 3.35 - 3.45 - 3.55 - 3.60 - 3.65 - 3.75 - 3.85 - 4.00 - 4.10 - 4.15 - 4.20 - 4.25 - 4.35 - 4.45 - 4.50 - 4.60 - 4.75 - 4.76 - 4.90 - 5.10 - 5.20 - 5.15 - 5.25 - 5.45 - 5.55 - 5.75 - 5.85 - 6.35 6.40????????????? :o
I find 0.8mm to be the most generally useful size, and a set of 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0mm covers almost everything.
(you need the larger size for those square-pin headers, and the smaller size is nice for vias.)
0.8mm is also almost exactly 1/32 inch, and/or a #68 drill.
Very much agree but I would swap the 0.6mm for a 1.2mm as I think you find that will be more useful.
Thanks guys, went for a little mixed box that was only £5 (as i will probably brake them within a week!)
Will i need to get a Dremel work station/drill press, or can i get away with using a little block of drilled perspex to guide the bit?
Oh, a box like that is fine. When you figure out which ones you like best, you can get a boxes of 10 or 50 of just that size, but it's always good to have an assortment around as well.
(I find the itty bitty tiny ones (0.5mm and less) to be so fragile as to be nearly useless.)
Carbide drill bits are great; industrial "standard" practices call for them to be thrown away by the pros when there is still lots of life in them for us amateurs, and they show up at great prices on eBay and etc. Needing to buy brand new carbide bits can be a real eye-opener (wallet-opener ?)!
Will i need to get a Dremel work station/drill press,
Yes I would recommend one. With a hand drill you will easy snap the smaller ones.
I have a Proxxon drill press, not the cheapest but quite good.
+1. Even a small, cheap drill press will be much better (accuracy, reduced fatigue, fewer broken bits) than trying to drill with a handheld drill!
