Engine Wiring Help

Perhaps i should have put this in the same thread but i thought this was important. I just started drilling with my pin vise to add wiring to my fujimi lambo countach 5000 QV kit. I thought my drill bit would be small enough for me to work with but now i know its not. I messed up part of a valve cover but i think i can salvage it IF I can find a small enough drill bit to fir through a spark plug without damaging the plastic around it. So i guess what size drill bit will be small enough to drill through a molded plastic spark plug?. Im talking pretty small here guys, not much bigger than the wire itself. How thin do they make them and can i find one small enough at Hobbytown USA?

Thanks

I also checked the tutorials but it didn't help me too much.

why don't you go in and ask them?

Well i'd have to drive 30 minutes to ask them. Perhaps I could call but I'm not so sure they would know, ill probably give them a ring anyway. I just suggested Hobbytown USA because they are a little more specialized in car modeling than say Hobby Lobby or a hard ware store . Anyplace will do i just need to find a place that has a drill bit thin/small enough.

has it occured to you to type in "drill bit" or something similar into model shops' search function?

typing drill into hlj gave me this (after clicking on tools)
link (http://www.hlj.com/hljlist2/?MacroType=Tool&searchpage=top_page&Dis=-2&from=detail&Word=drill)

the same gave me this on hiroboy
link (http://www.hiroboy.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=drill&x=0&y=0)

a little common sense goes a long way.


whatever you end up buying, buy more than one set of them
you WILL break them sooner or later.

Hobbytown USA should have small drill bits. What size do you have right now?

The smallest size commonly availible is a size #80 bit. It's 0.0135" in dia, which if you do the math comes to just about 1/3" in 1/24. A 7mm plug wire is just over 1/4" in 1/1, so it's pretty close.

But what size is your plug wire...?

Sounds like it's time to get some digital calipers (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=484569) (and a calculator).

Is there any train model stores nearby? They tend to stock raw materials and necessary tools. I can almost always find drill bits "in stock" at train model stores, but have poor luck with general hobby stores.

Really this seems a case where a telephone could be somewhat useful. You need merely ask if they carry pin vise bits (or miniature drill bits) individually. Many hobby shops carry them, and they cost about a buck each.

Never buy just one #80 bit- get at least three at a time.

Absolutely right. #80 is about as small as you'll get, and it's plenty small enough for spark plug wires (I use .26 and .29mm copper wire for that, measured with digital calipers. Spark plug wires on real cars range from 6.5 to 8mm or so). Definitely get more than one--I usually buy 5. They generally cost $.99 apiece. Another thing to watch for: some pin vises aren't small enough for #80. I had to insert aluminum shims into mine to make it work.

Alex