Bigtone
220 posts
May 09, 2013
7:00 AM
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Yesterday workin on a mic I ended up with 8 stiches in my left index finger. I have always worked with my hands but yesterday was a final straw for me. I need to know if anyone knows where I can buy some vice, clamps etc... for holding a mic completely still while drilling. I never realized how important a simple tool can help but it is an obvious step at this point. I love mics and have learned overtime the right ways to make them but I lack the tools as far as vices and things. So if anyone can help me out maybe I can keep the rest of my fingers haha.
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HawkeyeKane
1672 posts
May 09, 2013
7:18 AM
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Vices & clamps you can get for a bargain price at Harbor Freight. If you don't have one close to you, you can order offline from them. Sounds like what you might need is a drill press for boring into mic shells. HF has these too, and they're pretty good for the money. However, get your bits elsewhere. Pretty much everything at Harbor Freight is Chinese made, and Chinese steel is NOT very reliable.
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Hawkeye Kane
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Greg Heumann
2133 posts
May 09, 2013
8:39 AM
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Ouch. My condolences.
I warn people about this all the time. vintage mics are usually made of cast zinc. That stuff is almost as soft as lead. It will grab and jam a drill bit in the blink of an eye. Due to the shape of the shell there's no easy way to hold it securely in a vise so people try to hand hold the shell while drilling. Very dangerous. Is that what happened to you BigTone?
I have developed all kinds of special fixtures to hold mic shells safely for drilling. They may not know it but it is one of the reasons people pay me to work on their mics.
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
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smwoerner
178 posts
May 09, 2013
9:24 AM
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Sorry to hear about the injury. Looking back I barely survived my youth with all of my digits and appendages.
I’m like Greg in that I tend to make fixtures and jigs for the odd stuff. I’ve found that spending a little time with a multi tool and a wood block is very time saving in the long run.
Here is a quick tip, that might be helpful with Mics. I often use a self-centering lathe chuck for holding round parts. You can easily mount one to a wood block and then clamp your part in there (cool trick if the mic is empty is that you can put the mic over the clamp and then open it to hold the mic). If you need to drill at an angle just cut the block at an angle. I have several blocks at different angles with bolts already attached. Screw on the chuck, clamp the part and it’s ready for a 45 degree whatever.
You can pick the chucks up cheep at Harbor Freight or sometimes on ebay.
Get well quick!
Last Edited by smwoerner on May 09, 2013 9:25 AM
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didjcripey
538 posts
May 09, 2013
1:11 PM
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I think the easiest way is to get a small plastic container like the lid from a can of spray paint, and embed the mic in there with plaster of paris.
You then have a solid block which can go in a vice or be reasonably safely hand held.
Coat the mic with vaseline beforehand and it comes out easily and doesn't stick to the shell.
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Lucky Lester
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rbeetsme
1223 posts
May 09, 2013
1:33 PM
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You'd be surprised how inexpensive a drill press is. Do a little woodworking, make a jig to to hold the mic.
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bloozefish
93 posts
May 09, 2013
1:48 PM
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I don't have a jig, but use a cup to stabilize the shell (like didjcripey,) and use several sizes of drill bit, starting with the smallest and working up to the size for tapping.
Can't say I didn't mess up a couple of shells early on, but have been pretty successful with this method.
James
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Bigtone
221 posts
May 09, 2013
10:33 PM
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@ Greg
Yes that is just what happened. I had left hand inside the shell pulling towards my body and drill in my right going full blast. I would post a pic but it make everyone throw up. It is a really really nasty and narly deep ass cut. It looks like a meat grinder got my finger. It is pretty awful looking. If you have anything for sell to help with drilling mics I would be happy to invest. I wanna restore mics because I love them but I cannot have this kinda crap happen anymore I constantly have nicks and cuts on my hands but this time was on a whole other planet of bad.
@ others
I also do use the different sizes of bits but it seems like that last one before I use the tap is really easy to get it caught. I have nicked my hands before but that was no big deal compared to this crap. Thanks everyone for the help and I am thankful for any more I can get. I also hope others can understand from my mistakes and do what I am gonna do and get the right tools/clamps because I could have lost a finger and any
Pain and horrible things that could come of working on anything with power tools is not worth it, trust me I just found out
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Bigtone
222 posts
May 09, 2013
10:36 PM
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@ greg
And honestly buddy if I was not the most impatient man on the planet I would have you do my mics but when I get a new mics which is way more often then not I just have to get it working haha. But be not patient is what caused this to happen and it was def not a smart thing. Plus I always liked to learn how to do new things and learn new trades. But honestly I would buy a set up in a second if I thought I wouldn't loose my fingers doing what I love.
Thanks again
Last Edited by Bigtone on May 09, 2013 10:39 PM
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SuperBee
1099 posts
May 10, 2013
1:21 AM
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Sorry to hear about your injury. I hope you heal quickly and no long term damage.
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