Ever drill a hole and find out its too big or small?

[abedooley]

Anyone here ever drill a hole for detail wire or ignition wires and find out its too big or small? > Then you have to fill it in with glue if its too big and wait for it to dry, or if its too small and you have to use a larger bit, but you can't just go one size up, you usually have to go 2 or 3 sizes up and find that you've just opened it up too much. Well, I got tired of this. I made my own wire/drill bit GAUGE. It measures 9/16" X 1-27/32" X .040" thick plastic sheet. Its that simple. I know that eventually it will get wore out and won't be accurate, but I made it so it was easy and cheap. Especially after looking at the metal one from Micro Mark and seeing that they wanted $20 for theirs!

Heres a pic:

[envious8420]

great idea abe!

you can put your hose in the hole and know which bit to use.

[Steven Zimmerman]

Hose in the ?....uh,I aint TOUCHIN that line (grin).................

[envious8420]

Hose in the ?....uh,I aint TOUCHIN that line (grin).................

[MikeMc]

I use the index that stores my bits....predrilled in metal and it came with the bits!!

[elan]

Great idea! All I have to do now is buy a full set of drill bits!

[abedooley]

At first I was drilling a hole in scrap plastic as I needed to find out what size until I ran out of room and just figured I'd make one that was labeled and in order.

If I had one of the drill bit kits that had the correct size slot for the bits I don't think I would have been smart enough to do that, but I have the sets that came in the el-cheapo plastic ones that slide open. I didn't have the #80 and #79 drilled for awhile because I had broke like 4 of those before I made this so I had to wait until I ordered some new bits.

Edited August 13, 2009 by abedooley

[chrismooney]

At first I was drilling a hole in scrap plastic as I needed to find out what size until I ran out of room and just figured I'd make one that was labeled and in order.

If I had one of the drill bit kits that had the correct size slot for the bits I don't think I would have been smart enough to do that, but I have the sets that came in the el-cheapo plastic ones that slide open. I didn't have the #80 and #79 drilled for awhile because I had broke like 4 of those before I made this so I had to wait until I ordered some new bits.

I did the same thing but color coded mine...

[Guest Gramps-xrds]

At first I was drilling a hole in scrap plastic as I needed to find out what size until I ran out of room and just figured I'd make one that was labeled and in order.

If I had one of the drill bit kits that had the correct size slot for the bits I don't think I would have been smart enough to do that, but I have the sets that came in the el-cheapo plastic ones that slide open. I didn't have the #80 and #79 drilled for awhile because I had broke like 4 of those before I made this so I had to wait until I ordered some new bits.

Abe, would you like to sort my drill bits ? This isn't even all of them. Best way to handle bit size is with a dial or digital caliper. An invaluable tool for any modeler. I have a 3 or 4 of them. I prefer a dial over digital and I can't even read the vernier any more. You can pick up a digital pretty cheap just about anywhere. It'll end all your drill problems plus it's great for a lot of other modeling things.

[Chuck Most]

Awesome, I can't even tell you how many times I've misjudged a drill size!- now somebody needs to come up with the solution to the question "Have you ever carved up a kit into an AFX funny car, carefully and painstakingly test-fitting along the way to make sure the axles were where you wanted them, then after final assembly realized that somehow the wheelbase must've magically shrunk 1/8" between the final test fit and final assembly and now the front tires are almost rubbing the backside of the fender opening even though everything looked perfect before all that?"

At least the holes will be the right size now!

[abedooley]

Abe, would you like to sort my drill bits ? This isn't even all of them. Best way to handle bit size is with a dial or digital caliper. An invaluable tool for any modeler. I have a 3 or 4 of them. I prefer a dial over digital and I can't even read the vernier any more. You can pick up a digital pretty cheap just about anywhere. It'll end all your drill problems plus it's great for a lot of other modeling things.

I don't use it to identify my drill bits. I use it to correctly identify the size of hard line, ie.: music wire, ignition wire, brass and aluminum rod.

[Guest Gramps-xrds]

That's what the caliper's for It'll tell ya what size drill to use for any size wire or hose.

[abedooley]

That's what the caliper's for It'll tell ya what size drill to use for any size wire or hose.

I can tell you without the calipers and also without trying to remember what bit is what size in decimals. Can't ya just say "That could be easier"?

I have calipers, but this is easier for me because I keep my bits organized.

Edited August 13, 2009 by abedooley

[Guest Gramps-xrds]

I can tell you without the calipers and also without trying to remember what bit is what size in decimals. Can't ya just say "That could be easier"?

I have calipers, but this is easier for me because I keep my bits organized.

Whatever works fer ya bub It's easier for me to work in decimals than number or letter bits

[E St. Kruiser50]

If ya haven't got any of these checkin' tools, WHY NOT JUST DRILL A TEST HOLE IN A SCRAP PIECE OF PLASTIC, TA SEE WHAT WORKS

[trapper]

thats a good idea, i wish i would have thought of that

[abedooley]

If ya haven't got any of these checkin' tools, WHY NOT JUST DRILL A TEST HOLE IN A SCRAP PIECE OF PLASTIC, TA SEE WHAT WORKS

THATS WHAT THIS IS!!! I was just drillin holes as I went until I got tired of forgettin what holes were for what size bit. I don't think I've ever had to defend a TIP before. SHEESH!

This tip isn't for you 2 anyway.

[E St. Kruiser50]

This tip isn't for you 2 anyway.

[abedooley]

For what's its worth, I appreciate the tip. I came up with some other ideas after reading all the posts that will work for me, but there's no doubt that I would have made some drilling errors without this thread and tip being started. Any of these would be good time savers I think, it's just a matter of preference.

WELL, I'm glad someone can see the purpose of this tip.