Busted a bit off in the tang.

Wade Jones

Wade Jones

Joined
Nov 1, 2009
Messages
183
Howdy. Noob here.

I was drilling through the 1st slab for the pin holes on the 2nd slab and my 1/8th bit caught the tang hole and stuck good. I managed to break it off trying to unscrew it. It's in there so tight I had to clamp it in my vise while attempting to unscrew it, and it broke off.
Tried drilling through the other side and pressing it out, but no luck. Managed to bust a punch in the process too. :o
I was able to drill the remaining holes with another bit without issue.

Anyways, I don't see me getting this thing out.

So I thought maybe I'd glue a short pin in the unobstructed side and fill the area around the broken bit with silver solder to at least make it look decent. It's only my 4th knife attempt and just a cheapo dagger with 6 small pins.

I'm still just experimenting, but I'd hate to just pitch it. I'd rather practice on it some at least.

The only other option I can think of would be to remove the slab, but that Gorilla Glue is tough stuff. Handle material is black corian, if it matters any.

Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated!
-Wade
 
With 5 other pins you have plenty for strength.
What pin material are you using? If it is steel or nickle silver them the silver solder fix sounds workable.
If your other pins are brass then you have a color issue.
I have used a carbide bit to take enough of the broken bit off to put a cap over the broken bit. It did ruin the carbide bit but it saved the project.
I have been a slow leaner on drilling holes. A trick of two I have learned.
Drill your tang holes slightly over sized. This will really be necessary when you start doing tapered tangs.
Drilling holes in dissimilar materials with small diameter bits can be a problem. As soon as you hit the second material back out and clean out all chips re-lube your bit.
Even better is if you take your first material off as soon as you spot your hole, then drill slightly over-sized through your tang, reassemble and then drill through the remaining material.
Use lube on corian Corian melts and sticks to your bits, and causes heat. lube it, back out often and clean out the chips, then clean with alcohol.
 
Sounds like that knife needs a bit of strategically placed hemp wrap... you know... for that little something that removes the flaw and adds to the selling price..... eh?... huh?

IMG_0069.jpg
 
Thanks for the help all.
I was planning on using nickel silver pins anyway, so I think I'll go with my original solder/grind plan.
 
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I may be confused or misunderstanding something but it sounds like you glued the scales on before drilling your pin holes in either the tang or the scales.

I'm a newb too so I'm not 100% sure what the correct sequence is but the way I do it is drill the holes in the tang first, then position one of the shaped scales on the tang and drill the holes from the tang through the scale remove scale, repeat with other scale. As each hole gets drilled insert a pin to hold the scale in place to the tang while you drill the remaining holes. check fit up with both scales and all pins and when everything fits, mix epoxy and glue it up, pin it and clamp it.
 
Holes in tang were already there. I glue the 1st slab on, then drill through tang holes for slab holes. Then I glue the other slab on and drill through the first slabs holes and through the back of the 2nd.
Does that make sense?
It's how I was told to do it anyway.

Now unfortunately I have a small hole to try and fill. When trying to drill through the opposite side of the obstructed slab, the new bit must have skipped off the broken one. Didn't see the damage until I started sanding down the slabs last night.
Anyone ever fill a hole in black corian?
 
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