Drill sizes to fit pins?

WinDancer

WinDancer

Joined
May 15, 1999
Messages
720
Can someone tell me what size drill bits for a snug [but not pressed] fit on 1/8 and 1/4 inch brass pin stock?

Thanks,

Dave Evans
Tenino, WA
 
Not sure if this is helpful. The nearest oversize bit for a 1/4 inch rod is an "F" bit which is .257. That gives you about 3.5 thou clearance all round which sounds like more than it is. The alternative is to drill 1/4 inch and thin down the rod a bit by chucking it up in the drill press and thinning it with emery paper. *Caution* Sometimes the emery tightens up around the rod and gets ripped out of your hand. Don't try to hold on to it! (It's amazing how much torque a 1/5 horsepower motor has at low revs.)

Rob!



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Rob Ridley
Ranger Original Handcrafted Knives
 
This brings to mind another "DUH, why didn't I think of that" tip I got from Wayne Goddard.
A gent was complaining how he ordered 1/8" pinstock, drilled the holes in some mammoth ivory & reamed them, cut pins and as he was pressing them in place he felt they were a little too "snug"......
After the ivory started to crack, he miked the pins and found they were several thousandths oversize!
Wayne shared this tip-
whenever he gets a new shipment of pinstock, he mikes each piece, and writes the numbers down on a piece of masking tape as well as a slip of paper. He goes to the hardware store, and buys wire size bits specifically for each piece of stock, and tapes the bit to the corresponding rod...so simple!
Harry
 
:
Most drill manufacturers have nice drill charts. Over the last several years they have included the metric sizes. I have a few of these that are pocket size and one very large poster size that I keep on my small shop's wall. You can tell at a glance whiich drill is appropriate for your project and the nice thing about them is that they are free for the asking.
smile.gif

Ask your drill supplier about them or write to the manufacturer.

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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

Each person's work is always a portrait of himself.

---- Samuel Butler.

Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Website
 
yes, you need to mike EVERY new batch of pin stock.....its NEVER the same.....and sanding it isnt such a hot idea as it wont come out consistent from top to bottom......you can get drill bits ALMOST any size you want, use metric, numbered, lettered, whatever works, usually about .002" oversized is good IF the pin stock is round (truely round)...if not youre screwed....you can get reamers every .001" from the big companies. It might take a little experimenting but you will get there if you try.
 
For bolsters, I use 1/8" drill and sand the pin stock down to fit. I want these tight.

For handles I use a #30 for 1/8" pins and Size F for 1/4" pins.

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Jerry Hossom
www.hossom.com
 
For 1/4 inch holes I use a metric 6.4mm bit I believe. It is a bit tighter than an F size bit but just oversized....

 
Another thing to remember - Most drill bits will actually drill slightly oversize if you are not real careful. That's part of the reason that you ream a hole if you want it exact.

BTW If you want a drill to drill oversize, dull one flute a bit

 
I found an old post............

pin ------ metric --- # size ---- I use
3/32 ----- 2.40 mm -- 41
(.0937) -- (.0945) -- (.0960) --- 2.40 mm

1/8 ------ 3.20 mm -- 30
(.1250) -- (.1260) -- (.1285) --- 3.20 mm

5/32 ----- 4.00 mm -- 22
(.1562) -- (.1575) -- (.1570) --- #22

1/4 ------ 6.40 mm --- F
(.2500) -- (.2520) -- (.2570) --- 6.40 mm

 
Here is an idea. Maybe you will like it and maybe not. I said some time back that I was trying threading my pin material. It worked beautifully. I threaded a very light surface thread into the pin material so light that you should not notice irregularities if sanded at an angle say on a rounded handle. I took a short piece of this pin and chucked it up in the drill press. I previously drilled my pin holes 1/8". After the threading, the pin was slightly knurled so it would not fit the hole. I held onto my handle slab tightly(clamping would have been safer) and drilled through my previously drilled holes with the threaded pin. It reamed the holes out to an almost perfect oversize. I ran through each hole a couple of times till there was no resistance with the fit. It worked out beautifully. This is only for epoxied pins. If you peen them then I guess it does not apply.

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" I am a shootist."
Clay Allison
" Does this mean we are bladists?"
Vaquero57
McAlpin Bladesmithing
 
Dave, Most of the rods are extruded and need to be miked. I've gotten in a hurry a couple of times and got stuck trying to hammer 1/8 pins that would not go into 1/8" holes. Now I mike all of them. Good luck
 
Dave, Most of the rods are extruded and need to be miked. I've gotten in a hurry a couple of times and got stuck trying to hammer 1/8 pins that would not go into 1/8" holes. Now I mike all of them. Good luck. Mark Hazen
 
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