hidden tang pin hole drilling

[Hengelo_77]

Do you guys have a good way to find the exact point to drill the hole for a pin in a hidden tang knife?
I tried it just by eye, but I was off a bit.

 

[silver_pilate]

You have to know the location of the tang. I start by marking the block on the outside with the outline of the tang where I want it in the block. Then I drill out the tang slot to correspond to the drawing of the tang, lining the bit up with the center of the block and positioning the block so that the drill follows the tang outline (if that makes sense). That way, when I fit the handle block and tang together, the tang is sitting inside the block beneath my outline drawing. Then all I have to do is drill my hole through the middle of the tang outline, and if I did things right, it will line up.

Edited to add: this is done after glue up and you drill through both handle and tang at the same time as suggested below. You have to make sure the tang is soft, either tempered back with a torch or not hardened to begin with. A friend and very skilled maker suggested using a center cutting four flute carbide end mill as they are stiffer and handle the drilling task better.

--nathan

 

[GHEzell]

I leave the tang soft, and drill for the pin after the handle is glued into position... drill through the handle and tang at the same time. Just make sure you hit the tang...

Not sure if this is the best way, but it has worked for me many times.

 

[Mike Quesenberry]

When you drill the hole in the tang make it a few drill sizes larger than the actual size of the pin in the handle. So if your off the pin will still go in. The hole through the tang doesn't have to be the same as the handle, cause it will get filled with epoxy anyway. If your of by just a couple thousands you'll have a gap at the guard. Tim Hancock taught me that trick.

 

[Nebulae]

do both what silver pilot and mike said put the blade in the handle drill through the handle untill you hit the tang (you will know it) then take the blade out and there should be at the very least a scratch or ring where the hole should go. then drill through the tang in that spot w/ a larger drill bit

 

[silver_pilate]

Great idea, Nebulae. I'll have to try that. See, I learn something new everyday on this place!

--nathan

 

[bbarnettAUS]

I do the same as Mike & Nebulae after learning the hard way. I remember drilling one after glueing and a large piece of swarf reamed a big heap of wood out on its way up the drill flute. Wasnt happy

Cheers Bruce

 

[oconeedan]

If you drill the tang first and harden the blade, hence you have a hardened tang, you can:
Clamp blade to hang the tang off the side of your drill press surface, then line everything so that the drill bit in the press fits into the hole of the tang, then lock everything down hard. Raise the press and bit, double check to make sure everything is lined up. Then slide handle on the tang, then drill it out. After test fitting everything, add spacer if needed to make the handle tight, and glue it up.
Maybe not by the book but it works if you have a hardened tang.
Dan