Attaching Lances Question

keavadominus · Post by **keavadominus** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:38 am

I just purchased some sarmatian cavalry and it came with a bunch of really thin metal rods that I imagine are the lances, but I don't knwo the best way to put them on. Tried cutting them and gluing to both sides of their hands, but that doesn't work. I can't believe that there are any drill bits that tiny to drill through the hands. How do I attach these things?

nikgaukroger · Post by **nikgaukroger** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 9:27 am

You can get very thin drill bits indeed for Dremmel and similar tools - quite a lot of Art & Craft type suppliers have versions as well IIRC. These are great for drilling through hands, etc. as long as you're a bit careful.

keavadominus · Post by **keavadominus** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 9:31 am

Thanks, Appreciated.

MarkSieber · Post by **MarkSieber** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:55 pm

I use a pin vise, a small hand drill that clamps a bit in one end and has a rotating butt piece that fits in the palm of your hand. You spin the body of the tool (with the bit locked to it) with your fingers while applying pressure with your palm. I recently drilled out the hands of 48 Old Glory pikemen. It takes a bit of practice and time, but moves along once you have the hang of it. I purchased the tool at my local hobby store, and they sell a variety of sizes of bits individually. Be sure to buy a bit a little larger than the wire and get extras--they do wear out, and I break them occasionally--more during the learning curve.
Here's a site with a picture (I haven't used this vendor):
http://www.greenwayproducts.com/buy_tool_drills.htm
There's an X-acto version which showed up on my Google search doesn't seem to have the palm piece--can someone who's used one weigh in?

vercingetorix · Post by **vercingetorix** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:49 pm

I cut a slot in their arms and glued in the lance with superglue. after that, I went in with epoxy and put on some more glue because superglue is so brittle.

it worked well for me.

will05 · Post by **will05** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 5:26 pm

I just use a drill set on a slow speed. Mine is a cordless cheap black and decker, not very powerful and not much good for drilling into walls but great for 15mm hands. I do Xyston and I have cut weapons out and drilled Khurasan hands.

I get 1mm and 0.8mm bits from Heresy, and he's a fab seller.

http://www.heresyminiatures.com/

OldenTired · Post by **OldenTired** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:04 pm

MarkSieber wrote:I use a pin vise, a small hand drill that clamps a bit in one end and has a rotating butt piece that fits in the palm of your hand. You spin the body of the tool (with the bit locked to it) with your fingers while applying pressure with your palm. I recently drilled out the hands of 48 Old Glory pikemen. It takes a bit of practice and time, but moves along once you have the hang of it. I purchased the tool at my local hobby store, and they sell a variety of sizes of bits individually. Be sure to buy a bit a little larger than the wire and get extras--they do wear out, and I break them occasionally--more during the learning curve.
Here's a site with a picture (I haven't used this vendor):
http://www.greenwayproducts.com/buy_tool_drills.htm
There's an X-acto version which showed up on my Google search doesn't seem to have the palm piece--can someone who's used one weigh in?

i've used this method for maybe a dozen armies. you have a lot more control that with an electric drill, and doesn't take long once you get the hang of it.

i now replace the spears on *all* figures, manufacture my own pikes from brass rod, and recently did a bunch of lances for knight figures.

makes a huge difference to potentially ugly armies with "bendy-spear" syndrome.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 7:06 pm

I have to add my voice to the pin vice crowd. I recently bought some figures from the South Africa guy and had to replace about 5 spears that were just glued on to the hands. So I selected a small bit the size of the spear and drilled through the hand. The nice thing about the pin vice is the control you have. Just needs a little patience as you cut through but it gives good results.

Brian

flameberge · Post by **flameberge** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 4:29 am

I love the Dremmel tool myself. You can hold the neck of the Dremmel like it's a pencil which just makes it super easy to drill hands with. I haven't broken a single bit or ruined a single figure and I've done hundreds of Xyston pike. The 3/64" drill bit works perfectly.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 2:05 pm

flameberge wrote:I love the Dremmel tool myself. You can hold the neck of the Dremmel like it's a pencil which just makes it super easy to drill hands with. I haven't broken a single bit or ruined a single figure and I've done hundreds of Xyston pike. The 3/64" drill bit works perfectly.

I Honestly have not tried that as I thought the drill bit was too small and flexible. But I'll give it a try as it would be a little easier on the fingers.

Brian