[Boatanchors] Drilling Holes Questions

[wa9wfa]

For my first and only large radio project, the HBR-13, I did most of the drilling at work with a Bridgeport Milling machine.  It was like heaven on earth.  I secured the chassis to the moveable table, and simply used the x-y controls to move the table right under the drill bit.  Beautiful and precision work even for a newbie builder like me.

Retired now, no access to the milling machine, and I’m getting ready to build a moderate size 7 or 8 tube superheterodyne receiver.  I don’t have a drill press but I could buy a lower end one I suppose.

I’m looking at mounting 5 or 6 HC-6 ceramic crystal sockets.  I’m looking at the size of the ceramic that fits into the holes and pondering if I can actually drill each socket hole plus the small mounting hole in the center, with any kind of accuracy.

How do you drill with any precision with a low end drill press or hand drill?  

I’m just not sure if I can drill those three holes in a row, without breaking metal in-between.  

Thanks. 73 Scott WA9WFA