I recently started to try knifemaking and I am having a really hard time drilling the handles for narrow tang knives. When i drill the hole through the handle it is almost always off center on the other side. Does any one have any suggestions for keeping the drill straight?
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drilling handles
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Yes Drill Press. Also, You need to make a starter hole with a punch, and when using smaller bits that can bend in the chuck under pressure, you should only leave an 1' or so of the bit extending out of the chuck. I have drilled several bad holes due to the bit bending or floating. Good Luck.
knifenutz2008
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try one of these thats what i use works for me......
Fred.Rowe
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Outline,
Try drilling a pilot hole through the handle material first. Use a carpenters square set up along side your vise to help with keeping the hand drill straight in relationship to the material being drilled. Level the surface of the material being drilled so it corresponds with the square. It's easy to get the holes off center, on opposit sides of the knife. If this comes out ok insert the tang in the handle, align and mark through the pilot hole in the handle. Put the tang in the vise and drill with a pilot hole first then oversize the hole relative to the pin material you are using. Drill the handle to accept the pin. When you apply the opoxy and assemble the knife the oversize hole in the tang will give you
a little wiggle room to fit. The next step will be a drill press. Good luck, Fred
Try drilling a pilot hole through the handle material first. Use a carpenters square set up along side your vise to help with keeping the hand drill straight in relationship to the material being drilled. Level the surface of the material being drilled so it corresponds with the square. It's easy to get the holes off center, on opposit sides of the knife. If this comes out ok insert the tang in the handle, align and mark through the pilot hole in the handle. Put the tang in the vise and drill with a pilot hole first then oversize the hole relative to the pin material you are using. Drill the handle to accept the pin. When you apply the opoxy and assemble the knife the oversize hole in the tang will give you
a little wiggle room to fit. The next step will be a drill press. Good luck, Fred