Insider tips on supplies..

Psst,

So this might not be the biggest secret in the world, but you too may find it useful when the regular trade fare just isn't showing it.

I needed some drill bits to some very exact sizes and I have looked even on all my decent regular model engineering websites, and it seems they just can't supply this. Fair enough.

But I do know from work where you can get some, I didn't check them out before because I thought they might only supply to industry, but it turns out they sell to retail too, and not bad prices if you scour for the regular jobber HSS drill bits.

Got about 8 different specific sizes, like 2.05mm or 2.065mm for about £10, I went on ebay and some people were charging £5 for 1 drill. The name is horley drill service. This is their website where you can setup an account and search their catalogue online. **LINK**

I promise I have no connection to them, other than the fact that I knew about them from where I work, and you can get practically any size you want. I use all range of suppliers, from the very cheapest to the dearest and have no favouritism,

from genuine, regular users, I invite anyone to use this space to tell us ME's if theres any specialist supplier you have heard of that might be beneficial to the community to know about.

Michael W

Another supplier that some may find useful is this chemical etching company I have used successfully several times through work; Precision Photofabrication Developments Ltd **LINK**

It costs from about £40 to receive a sheet of stainless or brass etc, etched to your own design supplied as a .dxf.

Andrew.

Michael,

That's a great 'lead' thank you

All the better when I saw this on the linked page:

"We now accept PayPal"

MichaelG.

Thanks guys for your quick replies.

Andrew, £40 that's really good considering it's a custom job, definitely useful if you need to create a professional looking replica of rolling stock or some precise frames.

And yes MichaelG, i'm happy about that too, so much quicker and convenient.

Cheers

Michael W

You obviously missed the post a couple of days ago where Drill Services were mentioned and the numerous times they have come up in the past

Out of interest what size hole do the 2.065mm ones produce and are they consistant over a range of materials?

I was told , by a man who had used the service, that the big bearing supply firms will grind a few thou' off a standard bearing to make specials. I have not tried this yet.

The obvious answer would be no, but then I do work where only certain materials are machined. They use this company all the time, well before I started working there, and we have had customers complain of having a 3 micron taper on some very precise hole work.

(This particular part fit onto a rotary spindle for a miniaturized military helicopter, i'm allowed to talk about it now btw ) So the answer is yes, there is a need for drills as precise as you could imagine.  

There is also that company who make 3D models of people from big to small scale for only a little bit of coin, they have been mentioned in MEW but seeing as this is about specialist and unusual supply I think they'd be a good mention here too.

Michael W

Edited By Michael-w on 04/01/2017 16:28:39

Well, it's still interesting to hear about so thank you for your input Gordon,

Maybe they'll start offering this to the public eventually.

Michael W

I got an MSC flyer today. A few bargains (although allow for the VAT on top!) and some prices that would make my hair stand on end if it didn't already!

One thing that is interesting is TCT tipped HSS drill bits (the very end is carbide, normal shape not like a masonry bit). They are supposed to be more flexible and I imagine are less likely to break when used ion a hand-operated machine. A few in small sizes might be a useful 'get out of jail free' card for dealing with hard items or snapped tooling.

Neil

Ah yes, MSC, I have a few 1 foot thick catalogues from them! They sell some extremely sharp kennedy craft type, red handled knives. I've found they're a bit better than the ones that come in sets.

Definitely needed for broken taps. The solid carbide ones can't handle the flex very well

Michael W

PS, Just remembered, there are some premium fancy type TCT drills sold as "cnc drills" on cutwel ltd. They might do small sizes, but the price may be considerably steeper!

Morse taper or Weldon shank... Ouch though, http://www.cutwel.co.uk/hole-making/indexable-drilling-systems/supercut-spade-drill-system/weldon-shank-supercut-spade-drill-holders

Michael W

Edited By Michael-w on 04/01/2017 16:45:33

Drill Services also have a good write up for the

Re the bearing grinding - As I understand it what happened is the chap was rebuilding an old car , went to the bearing supply place and asked if possible to obtain the bearings, two off. The sales man looked around, said come back in half an hour. He had just ground od and id to suit, took about 10 mins. Most cars used slightly non standard sizes so you had to buy the expensive specials.

I didn't realise they were still going. I knew them as they were just down the road from the Mullard (Philips) Research Labs where I worked in the early 70s. They always had a good reputation.

Russell.

Indeed, it's nice to see some local business still going. I knew they had to be fairly old (compared to myself) because they were trading with them for longer than I worked there. It may be a little boring to some to know theres a shop that sells nothing but drills, but when you do need them it's extremely handy,

I don't think there are many other companies about that can offer as many sizes and types as they do, at such an efficient price. Their stock value must be enormous.

Just a note for speedybuilder, I tried looking for the square/hex drill and although I can find examples on google, and their write up, it doesn't look like they are offering it for sale anymore sadly. If they are, then it's likely in a very folorn corner of the site.

Michael W

Many thanks with sharing the drill supply company with us all I have been looking for some burrs they have what I want

No problem, i'm glad I've done some good!

I tried one last week and it worked quite well to remove a broken carbon steel tap , though took quite a while .

I was given them for free and the brand was durapoint made by CJT Koolcarb,inc in the States. I think MSC and Drill services sell them over here.

Heres what the tip looked like.

Ah yes, they look a lot more discreet than the masonry bits we all think of.

Michael W

Probably no secret to many on here, but Iv'e just come across this website while trying to match up some odd parting inserts i had in a drawer. Using the search facility quickly identified the correct blade to suit the inserts...£16 + vat

Prices seem very keen, and a wide range of stock.

**LINK**