> 
> I just received my order of 1/32" tungsten carbide bits and so
> proceeded to drill my unfinished PCB... WITHOUT a drill press.
> 
> You guys exaggerated wayyyy too much on how easily these bits snap. I
> drilled 60 holes by hand with a Dremel (at both high and low speed
> settings) and didn't even get close to snapping a bit. These bits
> rock. They drill very very fast - about 1 and a half seconds per hole.
> When I cranked my Dremel up to 30 000 RPM, it took less than a second
> to drill each hole. I just used a clamp to hold the PCB steady on a
> workbench, put some safety goggles on (because you guys exaggerated on
> how easily the bits snap), put one fist down on the table near the
> PCB, put the other hand (with the Dremel) on my fist and used only the
> motion from my fingers to drill the holes. They came out very well and
> the whole process was surprisingly fast. Very much worth it to make
> PCBs at home. Tungsten carbide FTW!

1/32" is about 0.8mm diameter and that is still pretty bloody huge, like the size needed for 0.100" spaced headers and medium-heavy connectors.

Even if you think you have convinced yourself the bits won't snap, they will.  So ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GLASSES!

Rob
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