Working on small scale stuff

[CajunRider]

I'm making some small beads and am having some trouble with locating the exact spot to drill the hole. My awl is too big and my tiny drill bit bends easily and wander off the starting spot.

PS: Does any body know what kind of saw I can use to cut bone? I use a good sharp pull saw and still have a bit of problem cutting them.

[TDHofstetter]

For drilling beads, first set up a drill bit about half as large (or so) as the bead's diameter. Clamp a piece of scrap wood down to the drill press's table and drill a hole into it - it needn't be all the way through, it can be just a pocket.

Now chuck up the bead-drilling bit. Drop the bead into the hole you drilled - that'll hold the bead exactly dead center under the chuck. When you drill into the bead, the bit's least likely to wander now.

If it still wanders, pick up a carbide scribe & chuck it up before you try drilling the bead. With the undrilled bead lying in its pocket, just press the scribe into the bead to make yourself a dimple to guide the bead-drilling bit... then drill it with the real bit.

Bandsaw works well for cutting bone, or a hacksaw does the job if ya need to do it untailed. Bone's not an easy thing to cut, though, 'cause it's CALCIUM.

[cabinetman]

Dec 24, 2009 9:37:41 GMT -6 TDHofstetter said:

Bone's not an easy thing to cut, though, 'cause it's CALCIUM.

Carbide tipped sawblades and router bits have a pretty easy time with it. DAMHITK

[dicklaxt]

That bead drilling as Tim described works great but all bets are off if the table is not dead on level in both directions,been there done that,,,,,I guess we should assume you are smart enough to check that first ;D

MERRY CHRISTMAS

dick

[sawduster]

I've found using those itty bitty wire gauge bits that if you choke up on em they wander less. Leave just enough bit extending out of the chuck to make it through the material, plus a little more, and they'll have less tendency to bend and wander.