drilling tang hole in handle?

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knifenutz2008

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what are some good methods for drilling out a handle so the hole stays perfectly centered when it comes out the other end i need to drill a 5" handle and i only get one shot at it lol?
 
Clamp a piece of 2" thick wood in your drill press vise. Drill a 1/4" hole most of the way through it (don't remove the wood block).Cut a piece of 1/4" drill rod so about 1" sticks out the hole.Grind it to a 45 degree point.Drill a 1/4" deep starter hole in each end of the handle where you want the hole to be. Place the handle on the rod (with the starter hole on the rod tip) and drill about 2" deep from the other end.Reverse the handle and drill down to connect the holes. It will be perfect every time. This is especially useful for drilling handlers that are not straight,or don't have flat ends (stag or such).
Stacy
 
I did the same exact thing, but different. I drilled a 1/4" hole in my DP table, then turned a point on a section of 1/4" all thread, then attached it with a nut and washer on each end. When I need such a hole, I just bolt the hole center in. I set and check center with another piece of turn pointed rod in the drill chuck, and drill as previously described. You can buy such a jig, but it's just too easy to make. Besides knife making, I also build flintlock long rifles, which require a number of accurately drilled holes that need to be in pretty close alignment, from one side to the other. Works great. Only time it is tricky, is when you try to drill an off center hole on a round surface, then you have to be very careful.
 
bladsmth said:
Clamp a piece of 2" thick wood in your drill press vise. Drill a 1/4" hole most of the way through it (don't remove the wood block).Cut a piece of 1/4" drill rod so about 1" sticks out the hole.Grind it to a 45 degree point.Drill a 1/4" deep starter hole in each end of the handle where you want the hole to be. Place the handle on the rod (with the starter hole on the rod tip) and drill about 2" deep from the other end.Reverse the handle and drill down to connect the holes. It will be perfect every time. This is especially useful for drilling handlers that are not straight,or don't have flat ends (stag or such).
Stacy
Click to expand...

The line up tool is a great idea:thumbup:
Thanks
Dave
 
Using a couple C-clamps clamp one scale to tang. Place in vise and drill from tang side. Repeat for other scale.

RL
 
Rodger, That works for scales (knifenutz is drilling solid handle for a through tang).There is one improvement to your suggestion, though.Drill the pilot hole about half the final hole size,this will mark the placement of the hole.Turn the tang/scale assembly over so the tang is flat on the drill table.Drill the final size hole trough from the scale side.Doing it this way will assure that the hole is exactly perpendicular to the tang.If the scale does not have even sides (rough shaped,stag,etc.) the hole can be out of vertical alignment and will not match up straight with the other side. With pins it won't matter much if the hole has a slight angle,but with Corby rivets and the like it can be a nightmare.

Deker - I'll try to snap some photos tomorrow.
Stacy
 
OK, here are some photos. The blocks are just cut offs that were on the bench.
In the first photo I show how this set up assures that the drill and the base pin will make the hole where you want it.
The second shows how it can be used for drilling a angled hole,or for curved handle material.
The third shows the normal drilling of a handle block.
Stacy
 
is there any company who sells a jig of this sort???
 
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