hand drill recommendations

[WindsurfMaui]

So I am going to assemble a Strat from Warmoth parts and I know I will have to drill some small holes mainly the tuner nubs, the pick guard plate and the input plate holes. These are not big or complicated holes to drill but since they are the smaller holes and not deep I was hoping I could buy a smaller, lighter easier to handle drill rather than a large 1/4 drill.  I don't need a drill with a battery pack since I will be near power whenever I use it. I assume it should be variable speed and reversible to make it easier when drilling wood. Does anyone have any recommendations? Do I really need a large 1/4" drill or can I get a smaller dremel drill? Will a dremel be able to handle the hard woods of a guitar neck?

Oh, I already have the neck which I want to attach to my Strat for a while since has a boatneck profile which I really like, but in a couple of months when the weather turns warm I plan on getting a unfinished strat body and then doing the staining myself when I can have the windows open and put the boatneck neck on the Strat body. I already have a pickguard with a set of Fat 50's pick ups ready to go.

 

[rob91bob]

This is what I use for small screws

https://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-Manual-Rotary-Craft-Drill/dp/B000ON00IA/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1524697750&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=hand+drill&dpPl=1&dpID=31cl%2BZdZEOL&ref=plSrch

 

[WindsurfMaui]

Interesting. I hadn't even considered a hand powered drill. I was thinking more electric. Please tell me more about this drill. do you find it easier to make those small shallow holds without marking up the finish? do the gears work in reverse when extracting the drill bit?

 

[rob91bob]

I find it much easier to control. You can spin the crank much more slowly when getting close to depth. I always put some tape on the drill bit to mark for depth. When you crank backwards the drill goes backwards, perfect for starting the hole, place the drill then spin backwards and it won’t chip the finish as easy. I always put a chamfer bit in it as well and spin it backwards on a painted over hole to remove that edge of paint to prevent chip out.

 

[rob91bob]

Drill with bit, tape to mark the depth.

Countersink bit

Chamfered holes, remove the lip of paint around the hole.

Hope that explains it a bit better.

 

[WindsurfMaui]

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Yes thank you