Enjoy your videos.. one trick I learned from making resin wall plates that required brackets was to use Blue Tack. I have also used this in rock tumbling where’s there a quartz hole. Just fill with blue tack let it dry out for 24hrs and tumble. Then remove with tooth pick. Ray. Isle of Wight . UK
I had to look up what Blue Tack was. It looks like it's a poster putty. I don't understand how you used it for your resin wall plates. Did you put it on the back of the plate before drilling?
@@MichiganRocks .. No, I measure the wall bracket and just stick a pc of BlueTack to capture that space. The resin doesn't stick to BlueTack , so after top coat & removing from mold I can scrape it out and use some bonding resin to secure the bracket.. I do coffee tables now, but started learning with wall plates with shells/stones. seaglass etc that looked like a slice of beach for tourists to take home and remember their holiday.. It is a putty that was used for sticking notes/pictures on the fridge before the 3M paper stickies came along.. Ray
Thanks so much, Rob. The tip about the drill bits sticking out of the wood to align the holes is amazing! Been struggling with that for the last few weeks. Really appreciate all your videos.
I can't remember if you've commented before. My name on the Rock Tumbling Hobby forums (forum.rocktumblinghobby.com) is "Jugglerguy". Looks like we have at least a couple things in common.
Thank you so much Rob for the video. You answered so many of the questions that I have been asking myself for quite some time. I can now move forward to my drilling rock issues.
Awesome! Years ago I drilled some holes in glass blocks to make Christmas decorations. Packed lights inside and put a ribbon on. Had no idea they made drills as small as 1mm. Cheers from Wisconsin.
@MichiganRocks the smallest I ever drilled in stainless was .3mm. Broke alot till I got the feed rate right. I wonder if the drills your using are carbide coated diamond? Could be why the acid did noting to remove broken ones. An EDM machine is about the only way to remove carbide I know. Not cost effective to have a machine like that as a hobbyist.
I just want you to know that I watch every one of your videos you have helped me so much to know what rocks are what .I believe now I know why my Uncle loved Michigan so much y'all have the most beautiful rocks and you are so helpful.but I just wanted to say thank you so much and let you know how much I appreciate you .one day I'll come to Michigan and go rock hunting.much love from Ann in Alabama
Great instructional video Rob! Especially the use a peg to recenter the from the back.🏆 One tip that I use for small or difficult to hold pieces ( or if my hands are getting tired), I " mount" the rock on the board using hobby modelling clay. It sticks best on a dry board. Just put a good thick berm around and over the piece and it holds well. When done it's easy to remove the rock and clean it up.
I used the peg on the board method for some years. Useful method. I drilled 100s of holes using it. Recently moved up to a Gunther water cooled sintered hollow core drill bit system. It comes with pegs that match drill diameter, much like you show here.
Rob, as I always jokingly say, while circling my head with my hand, "Not just an ornament". 😂 In other words, you're a pretty smart cookie! Love your videos!
I saw your cover and thought your were drilling some BIG holes in rock. I have been and I use an SDS drill which also offers the percussion effect. Far different from your delicate work which is far prettier than mine. Thanks Rob.
Yeah, a hammer drill wouldn't be great for the work I do. If I was trying to drill a rock like the one in the thumbnail, I might go for something a little more aggressive.
Thanks! the tip about using a use drill bit to center the hole when drilling from the other sided was very useful. I don't have a lot of problems with breakout but when drilling harder stones it gets harder to drill the deeper you go. being able to turn it over and drill from the other side should be useful.
Have you tried using a hammer drill on the stuck bits? My dewalt has a hammer setting so I can snug a bit into it then try the impacting to see if it would loosen it. Otherwise maybe just tapping the top lightly with a hammer like you were trying to gently drive a nail to see if it would eventually loosen it up. . .
@@MichiganRocks Hmmm. . . almost seems like vibration would be the trick if you could apply it in lower intensities. . . maybe a sonic cleaner? Possibly throw it in the freezer to see if the metal can shrink just enough to unbind it? We used to do that to car parts that got frozen up and it worked a lot of the time. Maybe an engraving tool placed sideways against the base of the bit near the stone could shake it loose.
@@LearninRocks I think they're jammed in there pretty good. The freezer idea is interesting, but I can't imagine a 1mm bit shrinking enough to make a difference.
Thanks for the tips Rob. I like the peg idea and using the larger core bits to get stones into a round bezel. I’ve used those tiny 1mm core bits from Kingsley and the 1mm solid burrs in a Grizzly mini drill press. The core bits bend easily if you put much pressure on them. I’ve even had burrs break off with very little pressure. Quality varies from one to another. Agates are hard to drill with either of them but you can do it if you’re willing to take a lot of time.
I tried the Triple Ripple bits and the super tiny core bits from Kingsley this year and neither worked as well as the really cheap Kingsley bits even though they cost more.
Rob, I asked my husband (who's an engineer in parts manufacturing) and he looked at the link to the bits you use and said that a strong vinegar (he found a 45% on Amz) might work to dissolve the steel if that's what they are. It wouldn't dissolve the diamond, but if you test one with a magnet (some other metals are also attracted) and you've got steel, it would take a while, but you can get it dissolved enough that it might become loose enough to come out. He said you can test a broken one in some vinegar beforehand to see how it reacts. I don't know how the vinegar would affect the rock, though. But that was his idea, in case it helps and you want to look into that as an option. :) (Edit to add: he said that it can take a week to work, so it's slow. He had something steel in regular 5% vinegar and looked a week later and it was eating away at it. He said you can apply a tiny bit into the hole if it's not going to leak out, if you don't want to get it all over the rock. Basically, just trial and error, but vinegar was the thought based on what he's observed.) 🤷♀
Thanks for asking him, and thank him for his suggestion. I soaked it in straight muriatic acid, which I would have thought would be stronger than 45% vinegar. But maybe vinegar is a better type of acid than muriatic (hydrochloric) acid. I'll give it a try next time I have a stuck bit. I'll also test them with a magnet like he suggested.
I'd be curious to know, too, in this kind of situation. I hope you can find something that works for when that comes up again. Great idea about aligning the hole so you can get them to meet, too.
@@MichiganRocksseeing as you are a business you would probably be able to buy 95% glacial acetic acid. I used to work for a firm that made acidity regulators for the potato crisp/chip industry that was used in their salt and vinegar flavour.
Rob thank you for your video you do such an amazing job on making the ornaments they look amazing and very beautiful. Hope you and your family have a wonderful bless weekend
Great tip on drilling through holes. I’ve messed up too many rocks blowing out the back side. My tip for you , instead of using wood which try’s to float when you let it go is to use scrap pieces of vinyl plank flooring. It doesn’t damage your drill and it won’t float.
My tip of the day..... I totally volunteer to give a home to any lapidary jewelry you make and then realize you made too many...😂 Such beautiful creations! Thank you for the "how-to"!
Nice jig for drilling the back side of a piece! I use my Dremel drill press to make holes in obsidian flakes I’m going to make into a wind chime. The bit I use is about a 1.5 mm corer.
@ Pretty easy with a Diamond bit, just have to keep it in the water like you do, and taking your time with it. The hard part is keeping a good grip on it (due to the exceptionally sharp edges).
Excellent information. Love the craftsmanship. Have you tried an ultrasonic cleaner for clearing trash out of the holes? You can get small units and you just drop the piece in the bath. No spray back in the eyes.
For those that may want to use a Dremel (?)stabilizer but don’t have the funds for it, I have seen directions online for homemade ones, utilizing PVC pipe or making ‘arms’ on a base with steel pipe or rods. Thanks for the tutorial, Rob. You sure are a talented guy! If you decide you want to get a new cab machine sometime, let me know- I’d be interested in buying your old one.😄💁🏻♀️
If you have a link to that tutorial on how to make a Dremel drill press, I don't mind you putting it here. Sometimes TH-cam doesn't let you post links though, so I'm not sure if it will work.
@ I thought about that just as I posted this. Right now, I’m trying to find the websites for do-it-yourself furnace repair that I utilized in years gone past.🤨 Doggone thing has decided to be finicky again this year. Am getting tired of cobbling it, but funds are really tight right now, so we’ll see how far I get. May be time to ‘recycle’ it!😄
@@littledabwilldoya9717 If it an older model high efficiency furnace, check all of the little rubber hoses that run from one component to another. Sometimes they will crack right where they attach to the furnace component and will not let the furnace fire up. Also check the condensate drain. Sometimes it gets built up with goo and the water can’t drain out. This actuates a switch that shuts the furnace down. Good luck !
@ Thank you! I know even when the furnace isn’t running, I can hear the condensation ‘drips’ in the wall. Doggone thing ran last week, then stopped for a few days, then ran a few more, without any intervention.. I checked fuses and wires last night , but didn’t check hoses for cracks. House was built in 2000, so furnace is 20/21 yrs old. I don’t like the response of the thermostat, but after new batteries and a reset 3 days ago, lcd screen seems more responsive. AC always worked well, but we could always open a window for a breeze, vs trying to keep warm in the Northern Michigan cold!🙄😁
I'm grateful you posted this video, you had some clever tips I plan on trying out. Recently ive gotten into making jewelry with Lake Superior Agates. I've been searching for the exact bits you said not to use. Do you know the best way to drill a small hole through a Laker??
Unfortunately I don't. I usually use these: kingsleynorth.com/diamond-drills-kingsley-north-inc-pkg-of-100.html?queryID=44871efcd7982f24dc932615d780740b&objectID=10765&indexName=kingsleynorthenglish_products#1121=29239 I also tried the Crystallite Tripple Ripple bits and the Super Small Core Drills, also from Kingsley North. Neither of these worked as well as the cheap ones I typically use. There's a machine called an ultrasonic drill that would probably work, but it's very expensive. I'm not sure what to recommend.
I have a recommendation for the snapped drill bits; just use a 1mm or smaller punch to knock them out! Even better, a watch band pin removal tool would be perfect. It’s basically a mini press with .60mm, .80mm and 1mm tips that you can use to press the snapped bits out! I have a feeling it would work like a charm!
Sounds like a good idea, but I haven't had a lot of problems with them moving around on me. My bigger problem is that sometimes my hand is in a weird position for too long and sort of cramps up.
Thanks for the great tips. I went to Taiwan in 1986 to visit a missionary. His house was close to a marble factory and in his back yard was a mountain made of marble. His driveway was made of marble chips and the edges were made of 1" column when the square the ends. There was little shops that sold gifts like chess sets made of marble. Good to see you!!!!
Hi Rob you might try white vinegar and salt. I know this works on copper penny's you probably will need to put a sprinkle of salt on the area where the drill bit is. Anyway good luck
you can drill pretty far through the stone by presetting the drill bit depth with the side screw depth adjustment so just the tip of the drill comes through the stone, then you can flip it over and drill from the other side. use drills made of cobalt they are special drills for hardened steel, should work fine for rock and won't get dull quickly.
Mine is an "Evajoy oral irrigator". I can't find that exact brand on Amazon right now, but I added a similar one to my Amazon storefront. You can find my Amazon storefront in the description of this video.
Drill out the bit with a hole drilled out with another bit next to it? I use a ball bit to drill holes. I do a cyclonic movement with the dremel. I can get a hundred holes out of a bit. Always use in a tray submerged in water.
I don't think I'd want to drill two holes because it wouldn't look very good. I"m not sure what a cyclonic movement is. Can you get ball bits as small as 1mm?
Are you sure you were a math teacher? You think like an Engineer. I like the alignment hole method. I'll have to use that. Thank you. Do you get the same amount of blow out if you glue the stone to a piece of wood. obviously you would want to use water soluble glue.
Diamonds bits are electroplated with Nickel to secure the bond, and of course, Nickel is very corrosion resistant, though Nickel dissolves slowly in dilute sulfuric acid, but unless it's a really exceptional piece, probably not worth the risks....
Maybe you could press the broken bit out with the blunt end of a worn-out bit, using something like an arbor press. Or... maybe the steel shrinks more from cold than the rock, in which case, cold soak then try to press it through. Maybe something like WD-40 or Molybdenum disulfide might loosen it making the arbor press idea more workable?
@ doh! i missed that. if you drilled from the other side using tour technique with the drill bits in the wood, you could drill right up to the broken point. i guess it depends on how much effort it’s worth.
@@nickcaruso In most of the cases, I don't want the hole to go all the way through. Most of the rocks I'm drilling like this now are for Christmas ornaments. I appreciate you trying to help me though!
Hi, I am drilling small, flat river rocks,...should I be drilling them in water with a diamond core or solid bit or go with a dry bit.... The holes are small 2-4mm.....the rocks are thin, small ? slate river rocks I got on line, will be making some mobiles. I am also trying to find a good bit- not sure what kind will give me the best hole.....the rock is pretty soft...been experimenting with different bits, haven't found one I really like, some seem to cause blow out in back of stone....(light pressure with a drill press)..all the drilling has been using water. I work with glass and know the drilling process with glass, rocks are new to me, any suggestions? Thanks!
I'd drill from both sides like I showed in the video. As for bits, It's hard to say what to get. I just added the 5mm bits I use to my Amazon storefront. You can find that in the description of this video. You could also try the ones I use from Kingsley North. I use the 1mm size, but they come in other sizes. They also come in 10, 25, or 100 with discounts for buying more. kingsleynorth.com/diamond-drills-kingsley-north-inc-pkg-of-25.html?queryID=ed7b0ef055389bc2e123d1086c6a7d63&objectID=10766&indexName=kingsleynorthenglish_products#1121=29240&1120=29234?ref=robertabram1& (affiliate link)
No, I don't sell my tumbled rocks. I think that would be a hard way to make money. I do sell Christmas ornaments and a few other things that go through the tumbler though. I make very little money doing that, considering the cost of the equipment and the amount of time that goes into it.
I'm not sure. I tried two other more expensive 1mm bits in the past couple of weeks and neither were as good as the really cheap ones I use. There's a machine called an ultrasonic drill that would probably work but they're really expensive.
If you really care about the rock you can maybe rust them out. Since they are maybe made of stainless steel you can infect them by adding a rusted peace of iron or steel to a slightly acidic saline. Then keep them in there for a month or two. Not sure but might work.
That's at least something different that I haven't tried. I don't have anything with broken drill bits right now, but it's only a matter of time until I have more.
Hay Rob you might check with a company called white reaming tools router bits you might go to there website or even calling them. Anyway it's just an idea only.
Take your board with the pin in it and chuck the pin in your drill press. Lower the drill press quill to the table and glue or clamp the board in position. Open the chuck and raise the quill. Now your drill and pin are in perfect alignment. This video was completely “boring” pun intended !
Rob is like the mad Scientist of lapidary.
None of these things are my ideas. I'm just the one you heard them from.
Ha, I just bought a drill press for my husband's Dremel for this very reason. Great video!
You're going to like that! He might too!
I love your "drill from both sides" jig! I'm going to have to steal that trick.
It's not stealing if I give it to you. But if you feel like you're getting away with something, go ahead and steal it!
The centering post for drilling from 2 sides is brilliant, I will definitely be making one. Thank you for sharing what you're learned.
I'm glad I could help!
Enjoy your videos.. one trick I learned from making resin wall plates that required brackets was to use Blue Tack. I have also used this in rock tumbling where’s there a quartz hole. Just fill with blue tack let it dry out for 24hrs and tumble. Then remove with tooth pick. Ray. Isle of Wight . UK
I had to look up what Blue Tack was. It looks like it's a poster putty. I don't understand how you used it for your resin wall plates. Did you put it on the back of the plate before drilling?
@@MichiganRocks .. No, I measure the wall bracket and just stick a pc of BlueTack to capture that space. The resin doesn't stick to BlueTack , so after top coat & removing from mold I can scrape it out and use some bonding resin to secure the bracket.. I do coffee tables now, but started learning with wall plates with shells/stones. seaglass etc that looked like a slice of beach for tourists to take home and remember their holiday.. It is a putty that was used for sticking notes/pictures on the fridge before the 3M paper stickies came along.. Ray
🙋♀️❤️. The drill bit in the board is an excellent solution.
Thanks so much, Rob. The tip about the drill bits sticking out of the wood to align the holes is amazing! Been struggling with that for the last few weeks. Really appreciate all your videos.
I can't remember if you've commented before. My name on the Rock Tumbling Hobby forums (forum.rocktumblinghobby.com) is "Jugglerguy". Looks like we have at least a couple things in common.
Thank you so much Rob for the video. You answered so many of the questions that I have been asking myself for quite some time. I can now move forward to my drilling rock issues.
Happy drilling!
Very clever way of drilling through something, thanks Rob
Great tip on using the "studs" to drill perfectly from both sides!
Thank you for sharing your process with us, Rob! We learned in 15 minutes what it took you 15 years to learn!
I don't think I've been doing this stuff for 15 years. Just think of how much I could teach you if I had been.
Awesome! Years ago I drilled some holes in glass blocks to make Christmas decorations. Packed lights inside and put a ribbon on.
Had no idea they made drills as small as 1mm.
Cheers from Wisconsin.
They make the ones I used as small as .75mm.
@MichiganRocks the smallest I ever drilled in stainless was .3mm. Broke alot till I got the feed rate right.
I wonder if the drills your using are carbide coated diamond? Could be why the acid did noting to remove broken ones. An EDM machine is about the only way to remove carbide I know. Not cost effective to have a machine like that as a hobbyist.
@@weathertrainsrandomniss1083 Someone else told me that the bits are covered in nickel as part of the process that attaches the diamonds.
I just want you to know that I watch every one of your videos you have helped me so much to know what rocks are what .I believe now I know why my Uncle loved Michigan so much y'all have the most beautiful rocks and you are so helpful.but I just wanted to say thank you so much and let you know how much I appreciate you .one day I'll come to Michigan and go rock hunting.much love from Ann in Alabama
Thanks Ann! I appreciate you letting me know how much I've helped you out.
Watching those wax plugs slip out was so satisfying. Great tips!👍🏽
I know, I love that.
Great instructional video Rob! Especially the use a peg to recenter the from the back.🏆
One tip that I use for small or difficult to hold pieces ( or if my hands are getting tired), I " mount" the rock on the board using hobby modelling clay. It sticks best on a dry board. Just put a good thick berm around and over the piece and it holds well. When done it's easy to remove the rock and clean it up.
Thanks, Mark, or is it Joyce?
Thanks for all the great info Rob. You may think you are retired, but you are still wearing that teacher’s hat. It’s to our benefit 👍.
I'm not so sure I feel retired. Sometimes I feel like I spend more time on this TH-cam channel than I did teaching full time. It's fun though.
I used the peg on the board method for some years. Useful method. I drilled 100s of holes using it. Recently moved up to a Gunther water cooled sintered hollow core drill bit system. It comes with pegs that match drill diameter, much like you show here.
I just looked up the Gunther system. Looks nice.
Rob! Thanks for the genius ideas to address blowouts! Always easy to understand and apply! The sign of a great educator!
You're welcome, Scott.
Thank you for the tips. I love the informational videos and appreciate you sharing your knowledge with us. 🙂
Rob, as I always jokingly say, while circling my head with my hand, "Not just an ornament". 😂 In other words, you're a pretty smart cookie! Love your videos!
Ok...Using a drill bit in the board to match up your holes is brilliant. Thanks
You seem to enjoy sharing your work. The how to’s as you have figured out what works best for you.
I do enjoy teaching. Instructional videos don't usually do as well as entertaining videos, but I feel better making them.
I saw your cover and thought your were drilling some BIG holes in rock. I have been and I use an SDS drill which also offers the percussion effect. Far different from your delicate work which is far prettier than mine. Thanks Rob.
Yeah, a hammer drill wouldn't be great for the work I do. If I was trying to drill a rock like the one in the thumbnail, I might go for something a little more aggressive.
Great tips and ideas, thank you. This will definitely help me.
Thanks! the tip about using a use drill bit to center the hole when drilling from the other sided was very useful. I don't have a lot of problems with breakout but when drilling harder stones it gets harder to drill the deeper you go. being able to turn it over and drill from the other side should be useful.
Yep, there's a little less friction with shallower holes.
Pretty nifty trick lining up the holes to drill through! So Simple but never would have thought of it. Thanks!
Have you tried using a hammer drill on the stuck bits? My dewalt has a hammer setting so I can snug a bit into it then try the impacting to see if it would loosen it. Otherwise maybe just tapping the top lightly with a hammer like you were trying to gently drive a nail to see if it would eventually loosen it up. . .
I don't have a hammer drill, but I'd be afraid that would be too much for my 1/4 inch slabs. I think I'd break more stuff with that.
@@MichiganRocks Hmmm. . . almost seems like vibration would be the trick if you could apply it in lower intensities. . . maybe a sonic cleaner? Possibly throw it in the freezer to see if the metal can shrink just enough to unbind it? We used to do that to car parts that got frozen up and it worked a lot of the time. Maybe an engraving tool placed sideways against the base of the bit near the stone could shake it loose.
@@LearninRocks I think they're jammed in there pretty good. The freezer idea is interesting, but I can't imagine a 1mm bit shrinking enough to make a difference.
@@MichiganRocks only other thing I can think is try the engraving tool trick. Good luck👍
Thanks for the tips Rob. I like the peg idea and using the larger core bits to get stones into a round bezel. I’ve used those tiny 1mm core bits from Kingsley and the 1mm solid burrs in a Grizzly mini drill press. The core bits bend easily if you put much pressure on them. I’ve even had burrs break off with very little pressure. Quality varies from one to another. Agates are hard to drill with either of them but you can do it if you’re willing to take a lot of time.
I tried the Triple Ripple bits and the super tiny core bits from Kingsley this year and neither worked as well as the really cheap Kingsley bits even though they cost more.
You are a genius Rob!
Nah, I just know how to read. None of these are my original ideas.
This was an excellent how-to video!
Thanks for this!
You're welcome, Mike.
Thanks Rob for creating this VERY helpful video. I learned a lot and plan to use many of your techniques.
You're welcome!
indexing on the existing hole is really smart
Great video. Learned a lot. Thank you...
Beautiful stones and stone work.
Thanks for sharing.
Interesting and I liked that bracelet
Rob, I asked my husband (who's an engineer in parts manufacturing) and he looked at the link to the bits you use and said that a strong vinegar (he found a 45% on Amz) might work to dissolve the steel if that's what they are. It wouldn't dissolve the diamond, but if you test one with a magnet (some other metals are also attracted) and you've got steel, it would take a while, but you can get it dissolved enough that it might become loose enough to come out. He said you can test a broken one in some vinegar beforehand to see how it reacts. I don't know how the vinegar would affect the rock, though. But that was his idea, in case it helps and you want to look into that as an option. :) (Edit to add: he said that it can take a week to work, so it's slow. He had something steel in regular 5% vinegar and looked a week later and it was eating away at it. He said you can apply a tiny bit into the hole if it's not going to leak out, if you don't want to get it all over the rock. Basically, just trial and error, but vinegar was the thought based on what he's observed.) 🤷♀
Thanks for asking him, and thank him for his suggestion. I soaked it in straight muriatic acid, which I would have thought would be stronger than 45% vinegar. But maybe vinegar is a better type of acid than muriatic (hydrochloric) acid. I'll give it a try next time I have a stuck bit. I'll also test them with a magnet like he suggested.
I'd be curious to know, too, in this kind of situation. I hope you can find something that works for when that comes up again. Great idea about aligning the hole so you can get them to meet, too.
@@MichiganRocksseeing as you are a business you would probably be able to buy 95% glacial acetic acid.
I used to work for a firm that made acidity regulators for the potato crisp/chip industry that was used in their salt and vinegar flavour.
@@lynn69jackson I just have a TH-cam channel and a couple affiliate deals. I don't think that would get me very far.
Nice job Rob. Love the magnetic pendants, great idea.
Great info! Thanks!
Thx for always sharing your knowledge. It's fascinating to see how you do all of your projects!! ❤
Very informative, great ideas and some beautiful pieces!
Rob. You have a very nice setup going on.
Excellent video ! Thank you
Really intresting video(even i have no equipments to do any lapidary things) but really love to look how its done by u
Thx for the video ❤👋🇫🇮
Rob thank you for your video you do such an amazing job on making the ornaments they look amazing and very beautiful. Hope you and your family have a wonderful bless weekend
Thanks, Coffee!
@@MichiganRocks you’re welcome Rob
Great tip on drilling through holes. I’ve messed up too many rocks blowing out the back side. My tip for you , instead of using wood which try’s to float when you let it go is to use scrap pieces of vinyl plank flooring. It doesn’t damage your drill and it won’t float.
Thanks! I'll see if I can find something like that.
My tip of the day..... I totally volunteer to give a home to any lapidary jewelry you make and then realize you made too many...😂
Such beautiful creations! Thank you for the "how-to"!
Good try, Jennifer!
@MichiganRocks 😂
excellent, thank you
You have talent sir
Nice jig for drilling the back side of a piece! I use my Dremel drill press to make holes in obsidian flakes I’m going to make into a wind chime. The bit I use is about a 1.5 mm corer.
I don't know if I've ever drilled obsidian. It's soft, but chippy. Is it hard to drill?
@ Pretty easy with a Diamond bit, just have to keep it in the water like you do, and taking your time with it. The hard part is keeping a good grip on it (due to the exceptionally sharp edges).
Excellent information. Love the craftsmanship. Have you tried an ultrasonic cleaner for clearing trash out of the holes? You can get small units and you just drop the piece in the bath. No spray back in the eyes.
I haven't tried one, but I have read that they can sometimes break rocks. I don't know if that's common or rare, though.
Great info and video. I plan on drilling holes to make pendants so I appreciate this. Just need a drill press for a flexshaft.
Good luck!
For those that may want to use a Dremel (?)stabilizer but don’t have the funds for it, I have seen directions online for homemade ones, utilizing PVC pipe or making ‘arms’ on a base with steel pipe or rods. Thanks for the tutorial, Rob. You sure are a talented guy! If you decide you want to get a new cab machine sometime, let me know- I’d be interested in buying your old one.😄💁🏻♀️
If you have a link to that tutorial on how to make a Dremel drill press, I don't mind you putting it here. Sometimes TH-cam doesn't let you post links though, so I'm not sure if it will work.
@ I thought about that just as I posted this. Right now, I’m trying to find the websites for do-it-yourself furnace repair that I utilized in years gone past.🤨 Doggone thing has decided to be finicky again this year. Am getting tired of cobbling it, but funds are really tight right now, so we’ll see how far I get. May be time to ‘recycle’ it!😄
@@MichiganRocksHopefully, the one I just posted works. You can also made 3D printed ones, now!
@@littledabwilldoya9717 If it an older model high efficiency furnace, check all of the little rubber hoses that run from one component to another. Sometimes they will crack right where they attach to the furnace component and will not let the furnace fire up. Also check the condensate drain. Sometimes it gets built up with goo and the water can’t drain out. This actuates a switch that shuts the furnace down. Good luck !
@ Thank you! I know even when the furnace isn’t running, I can hear the condensation ‘drips’ in the wall. Doggone thing ran last week, then stopped for a few days, then ran a few more, without any intervention.. I checked fuses and wires last night , but didn’t check hoses for cracks. House was built in 2000, so furnace is 20/21 yrs old. I don’t like the response of the thermostat, but after new batteries and a reset 3 days ago, lcd screen seems more responsive. AC always worked well, but we could always open a window for a breeze, vs trying to keep warm in the Northern Michigan cold!🙄😁
Good to know. Especially with pendants I made one for the wife she wears it a lot😊
The Magnabilities pendants?
Thanks for the video 👍 very good tips 👍👍
That was Cool.
#rockhounding
Very interesting! One of these days I’ll buy some tools
Do you use specific types of drill bits for your large drill, such as masonry bits?
I don't use masonry bits, all the bits I use are diamond bits, usually core bits except for those little 1mm bits.
I'm grateful you posted this video, you had some clever tips I plan on trying out. Recently ive gotten into making jewelry with Lake Superior Agates. I've been searching for the exact bits you said not to use.
Do you know the best way to drill a small hole through a Laker??
Unfortunately I don't. I usually use these: kingsleynorth.com/diamond-drills-kingsley-north-inc-pkg-of-100.html?queryID=44871efcd7982f24dc932615d780740b&objectID=10765&indexName=kingsleynorthenglish_products#1121=29239
I also tried the Crystallite Tripple Ripple bits and the Super Small Core Drills, also from Kingsley North. Neither of these worked as well as the cheap ones I typically use. There's a machine called an ultrasonic drill that would probably work, but it's very expensive. I'm not sure what to recommend.
I have a recommendation for the snapped drill bits; just use a 1mm or smaller punch to knock them out! Even better, a watch band pin removal tool would be perfect. It’s basically a mini press with .60mm, .80mm and 1mm tips that you can use to press the snapped bits out! I have a feeling it would work like a charm!
The problem is that the stuck bits are in holes that don't go all the way through. There's no where to push them to.
My friend places a small piece of sponge underneath the rock/s to help hold it/them in place 😀
Sounds like a good idea, but I haven't had a lot of problems with them moving around on me. My bigger problem is that sometimes my hand is in a weird position for too long and sort of cramps up.
Thanks for the great tips. I went to Taiwan in 1986 to visit a missionary. His house was close to a marble factory and in his back yard was a mountain made of marble. His driveway was made of marble chips and the edges were made of 1" column when the square the ends. There was little shops that sold gifts like chess sets made of marble. Good to see you!!!!
That would be fun to visit a factory like that.
Clever tips. 🙂
Hi Rob you might try white vinegar and salt. I know this works on copper penny's you probably will need to put a sprinkle of salt on the area where the drill bit is. Anyway good luck
Thanks, I'll give that a try next time.
you can drill pretty far through the stone by presetting the drill bit depth with the side screw depth adjustment so just the tip of the drill comes through the stone, then you can flip it over and drill from the other side. use drills made of cobalt they are special drills for hardened steel, should work fine for rock and won't get dull quickly.
Can you get cobalt drills with diamond tips?
So smart!!!
Thanks.
I would trade the plywood coupon for the same size piece of nylon cutting board. The bit would be less likely to break, I think.
I don't think I've ever broken a bit on the plywood. A nylon cutting board wouldn't delaminate like my plywood did while making this video.
Very interesting
Hi Rob,
Great video! Could you share what the name of the high pressure water wand is?
Thank you! ☺️
Mine is an "Evajoy oral irrigator". I can't find that exact brand on Amazon right now, but I added a similar one to my Amazon storefront. You can find my Amazon storefront in the description of this video.
Wonderful! Thank you so much for the response.
Drill out the bit with a hole drilled out with another bit next to it? I use a ball bit to drill holes. I do a cyclonic movement with the dremel. I can get a hundred holes out of a bit. Always use in a tray submerged in water.
I don't think I'd want to drill two holes because it wouldn't look very good.
I"m not sure what a cyclonic movement is. Can you get ball bits as small as 1mm?
Are you sure you were a math teacher? You think like an Engineer. I like the alignment hole method. I'll have to use that. Thank you. Do you get the same amount of blow out if you glue the stone to a piece of wood. obviously you would want to use water soluble glue.
I haven't tried to glue any rocks to a board since I have other methods that work, so I don't know if that would work.
Diamonds bits are electroplated with Nickel to secure the bond, and of course, Nickel is very corrosion resistant, though Nickel dissolves slowly in dilute sulfuric acid, but unless it's a really exceptional piece, probably not worth the risks....
Thanks Shawn. That explains why things that dissolve steel don't work on it.
sorry last comment Lol, for your drill that could rust, you could use Bluing liquid over it and then it'll never rust
👁👁 😳 Happy to drop by
15:14
6:10 what about using a rubber mallet with your bit in there? Tap the bit and then it gets the smaller pieces out?
There's no hole on the other side, so I don't know where it would go.
@ oh darn!
Chisel off a tiny piece of magnetite, attach it to the bit and pull it out that way?
@@AllZcraftsandmore No, that wouldn't work. It's jammed in there.
Maybe you could press the broken bit out with the blunt end of a worn-out bit, using something like an arbor press. Or... maybe the steel shrinks more from cold than the rock, in which case, cold soak then try to press it through. Maybe something like WD-40 or Molybdenum disulfide might loosen it making the arbor press idea more workable?
When they break off, the hole is not all the way through, so there's no where to push it.
@ doh! i missed that. if you drilled from the other side using tour technique with the drill bits in the wood, you could drill right up to the broken point. i guess it depends on how much effort it’s worth.
@@nickcaruso In most of the cases, I don't want the hole to go all the way through. Most of the rocks I'm drilling like this now are for Christmas ornaments. I appreciate you trying to help me though!
@@MichiganRocks I'll shut up now. I drink a lot of coffee. 🙂
Hi, I am drilling small, flat river rocks,...should I be drilling them in water with a diamond core or solid bit or go with a dry bit.... The holes are small 2-4mm.....the rocks are thin, small ? slate river rocks I got on line, will be making some mobiles. I am also trying to find a good bit- not sure what kind will give me the best hole.....the rock is pretty soft...been experimenting with different bits, haven't found one I really like, some seem to cause blow out in back of stone....(light pressure with a drill press)..all the drilling has been using water. I work with glass and know the drilling process with glass, rocks are new to me, any suggestions? Thanks!
I'd drill from both sides like I showed in the video. As for bits, It's hard to say what to get. I just added the 5mm bits I use to my Amazon storefront. You can find that in the description of this video. You could also try the ones I use from Kingsley North. I use the 1mm size, but they come in other sizes. They also come in 10, 25, or 100 with discounts for buying more.
kingsleynorth.com/diamond-drills-kingsley-north-inc-pkg-of-25.html?queryID=ed7b0ef055389bc2e123d1086c6a7d63&objectID=10766&indexName=kingsleynorthenglish_products#1121=29240&1120=29234?ref=robertabram1& (affiliate link)
Do you make profit off of rock tumbling
No, I don't sell my tumbled rocks. I think that would be a hard way to make money. I do sell Christmas ornaments and a few other things that go through the tumbler though. I make very little money doing that, considering the cost of the equipment and the amount of time that goes into it.
@@MichiganRocks well at least it is a very fun hobby 😅
maybe a strong magnet to get those broken drill bits out of the rock
No, they're really jammed in there. No way a magnet would get them out. But thanks for thinking about it for me!
🌷💎🌷
I wonder if a little dip pot or 'cone of shame' over the end of the water pick could stop the splash back? dunno
Maybe! Maybe I could keep my camera lens dry that way too.
I have hard agate I want to drill, if these bits won’t work what can I use??
I'm not sure. I tried two other more expensive 1mm bits in the past couple of weeks and neither were as good as the really cheap ones I use. There's a machine called an ultrasonic drill that would probably work but they're really expensive.
A good way to prevent your drill press from rusting is to coat the parts with paste wax. Kind of like waxing a car.
That's a good plan. I have some Johnson's Wax in the house. I'll do that, thanks!
If you really care about the rock you can maybe rust them out. Since they are maybe made of stainless steel you can infect them by adding a rusted peace of iron or steel to a slightly acidic saline. Then keep them in there for a month or two. Not sure but might work.
That's at least something different that I haven't tried. I don't have anything with broken drill bits right now, but it's only a matter of time until I have more.
Hay Rob you might check with a company called white reaming tools router bits you might go to there website or even calling them. Anyway it's just an idea only.
I couldn't find that. Do you have a link?
What about in heads? I’ve met some people that needed them… 😹
Bruhhhhhhhhh
I needed that question like I needed a hole in...
@ 🤣🤣🤣🤣❣️
Take your board with the pin in it and chuck the pin in your drill press. Lower the drill press quill to the table and glue or clamp the board in position. Open the chuck and raise the quill. Now your drill and pin are in perfect alignment.
This video was completely “boring” pun intended !
That's a really good idea, David. Thanks!
6:42 Strong magnet?
No, I don't think any magnets are that strong.
Go Ducks!
I think the drills are made from carbide... Or high speed steel... Maybe even cobalt..🤔🧐
I'm not sure what they're made of.
❤sorry l was assuming ....
Liquid nitrogen on Qtip for the bit.
I don't have any of that laying around. Just out of curiosity, wouldn't that potentially crack the rock?
Compl complicated!!!buy hook and and eye like on bras!! You could use an old bra
I don't understand what you're trying to tell me.
I was referring to the thing called a little eye check the back of bra strap at the back
@@dianacummings250 Are you saying I should use that for the eyes on my Christmas ornaments?
@MichiganRocks yes l'm just suggesting this!
I love rocks like you do