drilling holes in hard tang?

[mattd]

Sometimes I have to wait till after h/t to drill holes in the tang. It seems lately I have had trouble drilling holes in the front of the tang. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong?

 

[Tom Militano]

Why do you have to wait until after heat treating to drill holes? I drill all mine before. Not criticizing, just curious.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

If it has been hardened,you will need carbide bits.An all carbide reamer bit is also useful for making the starter holes larger.Masonry carbide bits work,but don't last as long as the all carbide bits.Whichever you use, you have to flood the bit with coolant.

 

[mattd]

I figured someone would ask why wait till after H/t. I should have adressed this at first. I don't like to wait to drill the holes but being relatively new to knife making I screw up and have to redrill. Most of my problems come from making hidden tang stag handles.

I will look for some carbide bits, I've already got the oil.

Thank you very much

 

[polarbearforge]

...you have to flood the bit with coolant.

Only use coolant/oil if you can keep it flooded. Otherwise, it's better to go dry when using carbide in this fashion.

Jamie

 

[Erik Fritz]

Soften the tang with a torch before final assembly

 

[Fred.Rowe]

I submerge the blade in water, leaving the area to be drilled above the waterline then heat with a torch to soften. Fred