Hand drill for FSB and GB installation?

[Talmadge 2]

Can I use a hand drill for drilling the pin holes for the FSB and GB? I'm nervous about drilling against a sloped surface like that.

[thebuns1 4,323]

I did, but you want to make extra sure you keep the drill as strait as possible while drilling. If not, you'll end up with your pins going in on an angle. Try not to wobble the drill either, as the pins may have a loose fit. If that happens, you could always use nails for the pins, if the standard pins are too loose.

 

I put my rifle in a vice when I did my drilling. It helped. Id rather have a drill press, but that wasnt an option at the time.

[jbanzai 113]

If the holes are already in the blocks themselves, a hand drill may be better. The drill will want to follow the pre existing hole so with a steady hand and a little care, all should go well. But if you use a press, it will be hard to line up the press with the holes perfectly and you could end up with an oversized/egged hole.

 

If you don't already have access to a press, and the blocks have holes already, I would use a handrill. Drill in a little bit on one side, then a little from the other.

 

If the blocks are new with no holes, I'd hold out for a press.

 

With a 20% off coupon, you can get a harbor freight drill press for about $50.

Edited November 23, 2012 by jbanzai

[NM0 586]

I used a hand drill too. Holes already in FSB and GB made it a lot easier. Just got to be careful, keep it straight and go slow. Think I went from each side a little at a time. A hand drill can go pretty slow and will do the job if it is your only option.

[saiga545 47]

If the holes are already in the blocks themselves, a hand drill may be better. The drill will want to follow the pre existing hole so with a steady hand and a little care, all should go well. But if you use a press, it will be hard to line up the press with the holes perfectly and you could end up with an oversized/egged hole.

 

If you don't already have access to a press, and the blocks have holes already, I would use a handrill. Drill in a little bit on one side, then a little from the other.

 

If the blocks are new with no holes, I'd hold out for a press.

 

With a 20% off coupon, you can get a harbor freight drill press for about $50.

 

+1 If your blocks do have holes it helps to start out with smaller bits first (such as 3/32) then work your way up with 7/64 then 1/8 (or 3mm if you can actually find a 3mm cobalt bit). I wouldn't recommend anything else but colbalt bits! Stay away from black oxide! It will only lead to an endless stream of curse words - esp after you've broken your last one and the local hardware store is closed Lowes carries colbalt bits, but only SAE unfortunately. And the only metric bits I can find online are black oxide.

[onehappycampster 25]

Like they said, start with a smaller bit. drill halfway from both sides. THEN proceed to the correct bit. If your gb and fsb are not predrilled then do so using above method. I'd buy some carbide bits, especially if you plan on doing another conversion one day. Good luck.

[Talmadge 2]

Thanks guys. My GB and FSB are already drilled so I'll be doing the smaller bit -> 7/64 bit route it seems. I'm glad I don't have to bother finding a drill press. My IWD set came in yesterday and now I'm anxious as hell to finish.

[Agent Lemon 157]

Funny how lots of people doing this now with as little tools as possible.

 

I personally wouldn't freehand it.

[Talmadge 2]

We're not all equally well resourced. A large portion of the cost of my conversion so far has been spent in lowes picking up odds and ends I needed. It's a cost vs. risk game.

[mancat 2,368]

I used one of these. Also bought several 3mm bits (2.8mm actual size) so I could use the pins that came in the blocks.

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/angle-drill-guide-95622.html

Edited November 24, 2012 by mancat

[thebuns1 4,323]

Funny how lots of people doing this now with as little tools as possible.

 

I personally wouldn't freehand it.

 

I feel its a matter of personal confidence. I use power tools everyday for my job so I was more than confident that I could get it to come out respectable. If I was uncertain in my abilities, than I wouldnt freehand it.

[whitetrashrn 74]

Funny how lots of people doing this now with as little tools as possible.

 

I personally wouldn't freehand it.

 

I feel its a matter of personal confidence. I use power tools everyday for my job so I was more than confident that I could get it to come out respectable. If I was uncertain in my abilities, than I wouldnt freehand it.

 

Agree. I have the drill press and use the hand drill. Just works better for me.

[RedDevilGuns 25]

With hand tools you can screw up slow and fix it. With a drill press you screw up you buy a new gun. A vice some carbide tipped bits and an afternoon and you can scare Feinstine in no time. ohhhh yeaaa.

[varickm 10]

I use a hand drill for the 3mm pins. If the drill bit starts to bind, it's probably a little crooked.