Drilling in confined spaces.

[J.N.]

The photo is a typical situation of the problem I have with drilling holes in tight spaces. In this particular instance I am using a collet holder with a 2mm drill,  bit turned by hand to drill through 3mm light ply  and then use a 4.5mm drill bit, on its own,  by hand.  In thin light ply I can manage but the problem arises when it is ply or wood in a space that is too small to use a hand. I am looking for a tool that will allow one handed operation and able to hold up to a 4mm drill in either a chuck or collet. I have looked at battery powered drill/grinder multi tools (such as the Proxxon) but you get a lot of bulk to power a small diameter drill bit. I am wondering if a flexible shaft drive is the way to go. Has anyone any advise.

Thanks.

Edited By J.N. on 19/10/2014 14:00:59

[leccyflyer]

Have a look at Dremel's right handed angle drive for their rotary tools.

[cymaz]

Got one of THESE........brilliant, though 3.2mm is the bit size

[Alistair Aardvark]

Why not try a pin vice - search Amazon or ebay there ate lots of different kinds and sizes.

[leccyflyer]

A pin vice is what the OP is using, in the photograph in his post.

The Dremel flexible drives are good, but still have a fair amount of bulk attached and the right angle drives are a good alternative in tight spaces.

[Alistair Aardvark]

If that's a pin vice it's not a very easy one to use - most I've seen  have a  knurled grip/handle  and sometimes a rotating end grip.  My point was to check the different types available, some are very slim - I can see several type that are better than the one in use.

Edited By Alistair Aardvark on 19/10/2014 14:49:47

[IanN]

Posted by J.N. on 19/10/2014 13:56:06:

. I am wondering if a flexible shaft drive is the way to go. .

As leccyflyer says, some flexible shaft drives do have a bit of bulk so are not always the answer in 100% of cases - but mine has got me out of trouble and done the job many, many times over in similar situations to the one you picture above

Can't recall the brand but mine was an Aldi or Lidl special a few years ago: A Dremel type tool complete with flexible drive - it was well worth the (relatively small) purchase cost for the drive alone

[Solly]

If I'm really stuck I simply burn a hole through using heated piano wire. The scorch marks are easily sanded off, especially on lite ply.

[Essjay]

Posted by cymaz on 19/10/2014 14:08:38:

Got one of THESE........brilliant, though 3.2mm is the bit size

If you use the Dremel wood boring bits they have a set of 4 brad point drill bits, 3.2mm, 4.00mm, 4.8mm and 6.4mm.

[roger graves]

I use a dremel battery powered drill with a chuck, if that can't do it I use a length of sharpened piano wire in the same tool,

[Stephen O'Neill]

Would this be any good?

http://www.axminster.co.uk/proxxon-110-bf-flexible-shaft

[DH 82A]

Drill the largest hole you can with the pin vice, then enlarge the hole with a round needle file. There are also riffler files, round and flat, that are bent in a curve to get in tight places. All these should be available from a toolshop.