I have invested maybe $40-50 and have close to 100 carbide drill bits, and
not just junk sizes either... most of my bits are of the size for small
(most discretes) component legs (#71), or larger (headers, IC's, larger
transistors, etc) component legs (1mm), with the rest being an assortment of
sizes from small to large, 2-4 bits per size, and so far I've always had the
bit for any given hole. And all of my bits are from ebay.
for drilling with carbide bits, if you don't have a drill press already, I
suggest this rotary tool drill press attachment:
http://www.minicrafttools.com/PZ541.htmlit's FAR more solid than the sloppy dremel drill presses I've used, and I
have yet to break a drill bit as long as I hold the board down well with my
hand while drilling. With the dremel on its highest speed, the bits go
through PCB like a hot knife through butter.
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