Annealing question

[Randydb]

Hi, Newbie here,
I have a damascus blank that I bought. Tried to put one more hole in it so I can put a cord on the handle, but of course only got a bit beyond a dent in the metal before my bit started screaming and failed.
I have tried to run a search here but get a bad message so I am either prohibited from searching (maybe a newbie thing) or it isn't working.
So how do I anneal this? Take a torch, heat area to red hot and let cool? Does that affect the rest of the knife?

Thanks
Randy

 

[S.Alexander]

You can use a carbide tipped drill bit to cut through hardened steel. You can't truly anneal just the handle, although you could soften it with a torch.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Use this search engine to search BF:
https://www.google.com/cse/home?cx=011197018607028182644:qfobr3dlcra

As Shane said, carbide bits are your friend when the blade is hardened. Even a cheap concrete/glass type carbide bit will work ( but the ones made for drilling metal are better).

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

double post

 

[Randydb]

You can use a carbide tipped drill bit to cut through hardened steel. You can't truly anneal just the handle, although you could soften it with a torch.

Yes, I want to soften it enough to drill the rest of the way through. I have to go to town later, so maybe I will pick up a carbide tipped drill bit. It's so hard to wait though!

 

[Randydb]

The search engine you suggested was what I needed Stacy. Thanks.
I heated the end of the handle to a dark red and let it cool slowly. Then used a masonry bit I had (got that idea through my search) and it was easy to drill through.

 

[S.Alexander]

The search engine you suggested was what I needed Stacy. Thanks.
I heated the end of the handle to a dark red and let it cool slowly. Then used a masonry bit I had (got that idea through my search) and it was easy to drill through.

I hope you were holding the edge in a bucket of water, otherwise you probably messed up the temper by overheating.

 

[Randydb]

I hope you were holding the edge in a bucket of water, otherwise you probably messed up the temper by overheating.

Wrapped a wet tshirt around the blade and then held that with a teflon oven mitt while I heated the end of the handle with a propane torch...how do I know if it worked or not?