Bolter barrels

[AlteriusMotive]

Okay I'm not sure where abouts this should go, here or in the space marines section but anyway. Does anyone know any sites or tutroials, that show how to drill out bolter barrels? I want my new marines to look, just that little bit more special. Thanks.

[Legacy40k]

Well, I don't know about any real tutorials on it, but heres what i have.

 

Firstly, you have to accept that rarely the hole will be in the exact center, especially on metal models which often do not have a truely circular barrel to drill into.

 

To start your hole, take a knive and place the tip in the center best you can, and spin it around a few times to creat a divit, this will hold the drill bit tip.

 

Then start drilling with a bit of the size you like, on the divit you made and go in 3mm or so. There you have it: A holy bolter for smiting.

 

-Legacy40k

[CRasterImage]

To add a bit to Legacy's post:

 

Go to a hardware store and look in the Dremel (small drill) section. You don't have to buy a dremel drill, but you can buy the drill bits. The standard package of bits includes a range of 8 bits that go from needle-thin to about 1/4 inch diameter.

 

You can either put the bits in something called a pin vice, or you can just twirl them with your fingertips. (if the figure is plastic)

 

Start with what is called a "pilot hole". This is the step Legacy described using a knife for. However, if you have the drill bit set, just take the thinnest bit in the set and carefully start drilling a hole into the center of the spot you want.

 

Once the pilot hole is drilled, switch to a larger drill bit and do the same procedure. It will follow the smaller pilot hole, so it won't be too hard to stay on target. Be careful anyway. Always double-check your progress and make sure you are not drilling off to the side. If you think you are, then just start applying sideways pressure as you spin the drill bit, to direct it back on track.

 

Don't drill too hard. You are just trying to slowly scrape away flakes of plastic, not churn out corkscrew-shaped plastic chunks. A light touch allows for a cleaner, more accurate hole.

 

(ok, now lets make jokes out of that last sentence)

[AlteriusMotive]

sweet, thanks that helps. I should have a small drill bit somewhere, so I'll give it a go. Is that what the pin vice GW make, for and of course pinning a model. But is it worth waiting an buying a GW pin vice or just using a normal bit, result wise?

[CRasterImage]

Drilling a hole for a pin is not much different than drilling a hole for a gun barrel or drilling a hole to glue a magnet, or drilling a hole for any reason. The pin vice is just to give your fingers something to grip onto.

 

Personally, I just twirl the bit in my fingers.

 

Partly because I am too lazy to buy a pin vice and partly because I like the amount of control I have when I do it by hand. Though, my fingertips do get sore after a while.

 

The most valueable peice of equipment in this operation is the drill bit itself. A fresh, new, sharp, clean bit will cut through plastic like butter and be accurate while doing it.

 

If you just grab some rusty old beat up drill bit that was last used on wood or drywall, then you will be struggling. Which makes the whole process take 4 times longer and run a higher risk of drilling off-center.

[CRasterImage]

One more thing: The real reason for the pilot hole is this: Force vs accuracy. To make the hole the size you want, you will need to apply a certain amount of force to make the drill bit carve into the plastic. The amount of force is not incredibly large, but it is enough force that you will have trouble being accurate. Resulting in holes that have drifted off to the side of where you intended.

 

Using a smaller drill bit to make the pilot hole requires almost no force at all. Allowing you to concentrate ONLY on accuracy.

 

So, once you have the thin, accurate pilot hole drilled, then you can safely apply the force needed to drill out the actual sized hole you were shooting for with the thicker bit. Without worrying (as much) about going off center due to the force of drilling.

 

It may seem like you are doubling your workload by drilling the same hole twice, but the results are worth it. Ruining an expensive piece of plastic by drilling an inaccurate hole is too high a price to pay for speed. Take the extra time and do the pilot hole.

 

I think the most challenging holes I have drilled have been the 6 barrels of the Terminator Assault Cannon. Those holes are soooo tiny that you almost need a microscope just to see what you are doing.

[AkiraCho]

an easy way is use a REALLY sharp pointed exacto knife and just twirl it at the center of a bolter, then if you really wanted go back and drill that, it makes it so it doesnt slip out of the way and stuff (the drill i mean), but it looks fine if you just bore a hole with a knife.

[The Angelus Sanctus]

I pretty much do what AkiraCho suggested with the marking on the bolter and then start slowly drilling from there. Being plastic (most of the time) it doesnt require alot of pressure to start drilling into the bolter.

 

I personally went to a hobby store and picked up a pin vice and drill bit set. Price wise it wasnt too costly at all, and it gives you more sizes to play with than going to the DIY store, although picking up some slightly larger ones from there isnt too bad either, but for the small drill bits, best bet is to hit the hobby stores.

[krangnes]

I would recommend making the "pilot hole" with a Pin Vice anyway. I have a dremel and use it for all sorts of modifications. Drilling out plastic barrels is easy for a dremel, but you might stick into problems when it comes to metal bolters. You have the dremel in one hand and the bolter in the other. As metal is quite hard, it's difficult to hold it in the center of the barrel until the drill-bit gets a grip. You could of course use a scalpel or sharp knife to make the "pilot hole" but this will easily dull your knives. I always start of by giving it a couple of rounds with the GW pin vice to make the pilot hole. Then I use the dremel to drill it the hole way from the nozzle. For the two "vents" on the side of the barrel, just go straight for a dremel. You have your "pilot holes" here. If you can afford a dremel, go for it. It makes pinning and converting so much easier and quicker. But a pin vice will do the job just as well, it just takes more time and your lower arms might ache a bit after some rounds...

 

Best of luck to you with drilling out those barrels!

 

That's my 2 cents.