Drilling holes for pins... I'm confused !

[bush-haus]

I am looking at a webiste to buy pins for a knife I am making. I would like to buy 3/16 pins, which is .1875, but when I look at the 3/16 pins on the site they say it's .156. I am really confused as to why. Is it a mistake? Do I use a 3/16 drill bit for a 3/16 pin? None that I have checked thus far match up. I can't make sense of it. I will be drilling with a hand-held drill and not a vertical drill press.

This is the first time I will be drilling holes for the knife handle pins. All help WILL be appreciated.
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Beckerhead #32

 

[JW Knives]

I'm not sure about the websites dimensions but my best tip would be to drill the holes in the actual blade larger than they have to be. The only visible holes are in the scales and by making the blades holes larger, you give yourself a bit of wiggle room.

Also, you'll learn this by doing but drilling perfect handle scale holes will a hand held drill is nearly impossible. It you are using expensive scales I would recommend trying your best to get your hands on a drill press.

 

[Justin King]

.156 is 5/32", so it sounds like the description is wrong on the site you are looking at. A 3/16" pin will usually be a little tight in a drilled 3/16" hole but it can be dealt with by putting the pin in your drill and using sandpaper on it while turning it in the drill until it fits into the hole, if you don't have the right size reamer. Some makers like to drill the holes in the tang over-size and let epoxy fill the void when they mount it up. I ream the holes .005 oversize to eliminate problems during assembly but leave minimal slop in the hole.

 

[Fred.Rowe]

I drill the holes a bit over size in the tang but the ones in the handle material should be drilled with the correct size number drill bit and then reamed to size. Drill bits do not drill round holes they are very slightly oblong. Using a good ream will eliminate this. You do need a drill press for this operation.

Good luck, Fred