Anybody drilled into micarta with a hand drill?

[Mistwalker]

Ok, getting spoiled working with a knife with a bow divot...now I am seriously thinking of adding one to my RC-4S. I don't have access to the drill press is this weekend so I am considering doing it with a hand drill. I am just unsure of the density of the material and don't want the drill to wobble when I run into the steel. Has anyone here drilled into micarta with a hand drill before?

 

[cricketdave]

yes i have, i wouldn't drill all the way to the steel if i were you. and you need to use extremly slow speed when you do it, bits will cut micarta quick.

take it easy
cricket

 

[Heath2]

yes i have, i wouldn't drill all the way to the steel if i were you. and you need to use extremly slow speed when you do it, bits will cut micarta quick.

take it easy
cricket

+1, definately on the slow speed. I went to the steel on the one I did and wish I didnt, so good recomendation.

 

[Mistwalker]

Thanks guys! Guess I'll just have to wait till I have access to the drill press again. With the scales of the RC-4 being only 3/16 thick part of my plan is to take the divot into the steel 1/32 to 1/16 to make the divot a little deeper.

 

[1066vik]

make a stop collar on the drill bit with electrical tape?
figure out how deep you need to go with your 1/2" drill bit and wrap the tape around the bit at that point until you have about a 1/8" shoulder.
won't be super precise, but will help limit overtravel if you don't have a variable speed drill.
other option would be to use a dremel/rotozip with plunge base and a cove bit -- just make sure you clamp everything in place real good before you turn it on.

 

[kypatriot]

Does the micarta burn when using the bow?

Do you coat the divot with anything to make it slicker?

Never seen a micarta divot used before and wondering how well it really works.

 

[NorCalMtn2]

Thanks guys! Guess I'll just have to wait till I have access to the drill press again. With the scales of the RC-4 being only 3/16 thick part of my plan is to take the divot into the steel 1/32 to 1/16 to make the divot a little deeper.

The shallow divot is barely an adequate bearing block. Why not just attach a fire steel to the sheath of the knife instead?

 

[rayban]

Zippos and Bics are pretty handy too.

 

[very cold steel]

I've never met a fire I couldn't start with a road flare, but it lacks the panache of starting a fire with a bow. I'm interested to see how the divot turns out in the -4. If it works, it's another level of redundancy in his survival tool kit, just like the third and fourth knives most of us carry.

 

[blacksn95]

You could also just remove the handles and drill it first before doing the steel.. Personally I don't really think its needed.. Just pack some fire steel and ur good to go

 

[Mistwalker]

make a stop collar on the drill bit with electrical tape?
figure out how deep you need to go with your 1/2" drill bit and wrap the tape around the bit at that point until you have about a 1/8" shoulder.
won't be super precise, but will help limit overtravel if you don't have a variable speed drill.
other option would be to use a dremel/rotozip with plunge base and a cove bit -- just make sure you clamp everything in place real good before you turn it on.

Thanks man, I got a game plan on it now. I'm just going to wait till I'm back near the drill press... I'm not obsessed with the idea enough to risk screwing it up

Does the micarta burn when using the bow?

Do you coat the divot with anything to make it slicker?

Never seen a micarta divot used before and wondering how well it really works.

After starting over a half-dozen fires using a micarta divot the only difference I saw was that it was smoother inside.

The shallow divot is barely an adequate bearing block. Why not just attach a fire steel to the sheath of the knife instead?

I have a firesteel...more than one...more than one of each of more than one type and more than one style... the bow divot is just another option I want handy.

I've used divots that were only 3/16" deep with success so I know I can with one that is 1/4", I thought about adding liners for another 1/32" or 1/6" and then 1/16" into the steel that would make it 5/16 deep which is plenty for me.

Zippos and Bics are pretty handy too.

Got that right...that's the first string

I've never met a fire I couldn't start with a road flare, but it lacks the panache of starting a fire with a bow. I'm interested to see how the divot turns out in the -4. If it works, it's another level of redundancy in his survival tool kit, just like the third and fourth knives most of us carry.

I like redundant systems

You could also just remove the handles and drill it first before doing the steel.. Personally I don't really think its needed.. Just pack some fire steel and ur good to go

Nah...rather have the hole drilled all at once.

I'm not studying this from a "day-hike" perspective.

.