Drill bits for drilling tangs

P

Paul Weiss

Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
16
Hello,

I have read other posts and am still confused. What is the best drill bits for drilling tangs.

I will be using a hand drill for now until I buy a drill press in a month or so.

Also, should I be using cutting fluid? If so, what is a good brand.


Thank you,

Paul
 
Personally I wouldn't try drilling the holes with a hand drill. Two reasons: you really can't go down to the speed you need on most hand drills and so you will just end up ruining a bunch of good bits; and it's extremely difficult to hold the drill perfectly straight to make your hole. I tried this at first and found it to be extremely hard as well as dangerous for me anyways. I was used to doing a lot of woodworking and I figured that metal couldn't be all that bad but I was wrong. Get a cheap drill press; it is well worth it!!

As far as drill bits if you are going to try and drill through hardened steel than carbide is the only thing. If you are drilling annealed steel before heat treatment you can use most of the HSS bits. I really like cobalt but that's probably just personal preference. Definitely use a cutting fluid; most of the knifemaking supply companies carry good ones as well as a lot of tool shops.
 
I have been using modest priced high speed steel drill bits for years. A drill press will make things much easier, and it was one of the first pieces of equipment that I aquired for the knifeshop.

Anyways like you I first started by using a variable speed hand drill. Stand comfortably and first drill a pilot hole 3/32. Pay attention to your posture and how you hold the drill. To make drilling easier try to mimic a drill press by maintaining your position with the drill and drill out the hole without moving the drill. This helps the drill to cut evenly, making things easier for you and the drill. Do not go with full speed, go slow speed to prevent the bit and work from overheating, as this quickly dull drill bits.

Apply cutting fluid as you go, use water if needed but dry things up to prevent rust aftewards. I have used plain water for years, its non toxic and does the job. Go easy, don't push, let your drill do the work. Ease up on pressure and keep the bit turning as you break through the bar of steel, this is often when the drill bit breaks.

Use sharp bits, and resharpen them whenever cutting performance starts going down.
 
Paul Iam confused also. If you are drilling the tang holes and the steel is still in the anealed(soft state a hand drill ? the kind you turn the handle on with your hand will go through fine with an ordinary steel drilling bit. If you are saying you want to use a hand turned drill to go through hardened steel after the blade has been hardened it will be very hard to do. If you are talking about an elctric hand drill , battery or mains it will be ok. The type of drill to look for is the ones with a chunk of carbide welded in the tip. They are normally referred to as masonary bits for drilling in concreat or brick walls.

The trick is relative slow speed and keep the tip cool if all you have is oil or water that will be better than nothing. If the carbide tip gets too hot it will go dull and in the worst case I have seen the carbide chunk fall out.

If you use a smaller drill size3/16 rather than quarter you may find that goes through easier. Keep a good steady pressure.
One last thing sometimes the carbide tips are a little dull from smashing concrete so a light lick on the belt sander dremil or fine emery to put the edge back on will be a benifit.
 
I use Ti coated bits on annealed steel, but I use a drill press. A drill press is a great investment, I would go insane without mine. Keep a board under the metal you are drilling in case the bit slips and for when you exit the steel with the bit. Use a metal punch to make an area that your bit will catch in.
 
Darn near any drill bit will drill annealed carbon steel. For hardened and tempered stuff, someone in one of the mags suggested using flat point masonry bits.
 
Go to Home Depot. Purchase a DEWALT BIT with the gold coating on it and a pilot point to start the hole. Never tried it with a hand drill, but those will drill through annealed steel like butter. 3/8" wide bit runs about 8 bucks....and lower depending on the width of the bit. No need to spend a bagillion dollars on bits that will do the same exact thing.

Spend the 30-40 bucks and buy a drill press. It will take a year to drill it by hand even if the steel is annealed :) Use the LOWEST speed on the drill press you can find. I have been using 620 FPM for a hundred years and it works great. No cutting fluid required. I'm sure you can use it, but sure makes a mess! Have been using the same drill bit for probably 4 years now with over several hundred holes drilled for tangs. :)

A countersink type bit to round off the hole works best at high speeds and not at low speeds :) Also works best in a hand drill for that operation.
 
yea carbide bits are the way to go and also 1/8th in and under no real use for cuttin fluid, 3/16 and over use it... this will sound weird but the best cutting fluid i've found is Crisco shortening... it's does wonders!
 
J.S. Carter said:
yea carbide bits are the way to go and also 1/8th in and under no real use for cuttin fluid, 3/16 and over use it... this will sound weird but the best cutting fluid i've found is Crisco shortening... it's does wonders!
Click to expand...
Great for "biscuits a la gas forge" in a pinch, too, I bet!:D
-Mitch
 
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