Making holes in really small enclosures.

[DustyD]

So i am trying to put ventilation holes in tiny enclosures (.9 inch by 1 1 inch) for some tiny slings i hope to get in the near future. The flame heated sewing needle works great, but even if i wipe off the needle, I still get black "soot" or something inside the holes. I tried soapy water and a tooth brush but still mostly there. Is that going to be a health issue for the slings. I am assuming it may be akin to charcoal.

@Enn49know seven years ago this month you posted a response about using a flame heated needle. Any advice?

I am practicing right now and the holes look ugly but allow water to pass through so they work. I have about 20 more of these little plastic containers to improve my skills on.

 

[Nurse Ratchet]

Next time try painters tape on both side for cleaner holes with minimal residue. It worked for me on my candy container.
I don't think it should cause any health concerns.

 

[DustyD]

Thanks!

 

[Cor]

Have you tried a different heat source? Candles create a very dirty, sooty low temperature flame. Any time you put your needle into it, it's basically being covered in the soot and residue of the candle wax. Do you have something like a butane lighter? It burns a little cleaner and may give you better results.

 

[DustyD]

Nice idea but no butane here.

 

[m0lsx]

I use the cooker hob to heat the needle & hold the needle in a pair of pliers, using an elastic band on the handles of the pliers to hold them shut. Works fine for me & you can make at least 2 holes per heating.

 

[caretaker]

The acrylic basketball displays from Hobby Lobby are ok with a few holes added for ventilation they make a nice clear enclosure. these are a12"x12" cube and with a hot glue gun and some acrylic hasps and hinges from Amazon you can do a front opening enclosure without much work. Or just keep em as is for top opening.
Not proud of it,
below is my first attempt at a front opener.
Crude but effective. This was completed in about 45 minutes at 2 O'clock one morning when the urge struck. It was cut free hand with a Dremel tool.
Using a steel straight edge and with a little more care I'm sure you could do a much nicer job.
cheers,

 

[DustyD]

Have you tried a different heat source? Candles create a very dirty, sooty low temperature flame. Any time you put your needle into it, it's basically being covered in the soot and residue of the candle wax. Do you have something like a butane lighter? It burns a little cleaner and may give you better results.

Lol it just sank in. I have a cigarette lighter for lighting the candles. Can't remember if it is butane or some other lighter fluid. I may try that. Or maybe the stove top.
Using painters tape helped a bit.

 

[MBullock]

IMO you should get some little sauce condiment cups from smart&final, etc.
Lightweight, easy to poke holes in with a pushpin or thumbtack.

 

[DustyD]

That's a possibility, although I worry about them being too squishy. I can be a bit heavy handed and I like the screw/twist tops of these tiny containers. I bought a thin wire tool called a “pearl reamer” used for making holes in, I am assuming, beads and maybe even pearls. Hopefully that will help clean things up.

 

[octanejunkie]

View attachment 65267

Plastic drill bit off Amazon or soldering iron

 

[DustyD]

The soldering iron may work, but i am not sure if the head would be small enough. I need to make air holes that hopefully a fruitfly or pinhead cricket could not get out of. I may check out Lowe' s for the soldering tools. Likely I will stick with the ones I have made as hopefully the new babies will be arriving tomorrow. I do already have some deli cups but even at a few ounces they are a bit large for the 2i slings i am getting.

 

[Konstantin]

Hi
best buy after my soldering iron for large holes was my wireless dremel tool with varied speed feature.It came in set with bunch of drill bits most parts of mm only.Drilled holes with it so even micro slings can't escape.The dremel cost me £16
Also purchased some extra drill bits 1mm upwards for bigger holes.Biggest my dremel can take is 2.5mm
Regards Konstantin

 

[DustyD]

Did not think of that. I likely will have to wait. Shipment suppised to come in tomorrow morning. I did find some 2oz storage cups. They may be too big for 2i but i think i am ready.

 

[octanejunkie]

Did not think of that. I likely will have to wait. Shipment suppised to come in tomorrow morning. I did find some 2oz storage cups. They may be too big for 2i but i think i am ready.

Smart and Final sells 3/4 oz and 1 oz souffle cups and lids..works great for small slings!

 

[MBullock]

IMO 3-oz delicups are the best for slings of any kind, you get plenty of room for them to burrow and be happy.