Hidden Tang question?

J

jtwodogs

Joined
Feb 1, 2009
Messages
421
Doing a large bowie with hidden tang.
Don't want to complete my guard fit until after it is heat treated, cannot fit my handle until I get my guard on.
So, I can't drill my tang (Here comes the jokes):), until I get it back from HT.
I fear I will not be able to drill a hardened tang. I am sending my bowie off to be heat treated, should I ask that the handle be left "Soft"
 
you can ask, although I'm not aware of them having that as an option. I think you have a couple of other options: One - get a carbide drill bit. Two, draw the tang back yourself with a torch while having the blade submersed in water (Nick Wheeler shows this in a few of his excellent videos). The other option would be to get it more or less close before heat treat, then drill it oversize, and "hope" you're in the ballpark when you get to that stage in the knife making process.
 
What steel are you using(stainless/carbon)? It is not that complicated(though, stainless is a bit trickier) to temper back the tang after you get it from heat treat. You'll need a torch(propane will do).
 
You can drill that hole first,then,after HT,line it all up in your drill press so that the drill bit just passes through the hole in the tang .Then ,after you're sure everything is steady and clamped up securely ,place your handle block onto the tang and drill the hole .When you are ready to do the final fit a thin spacer(that was left out while drilling)will draw the handle up nice and snug.
 
eric brinkerhoff said:
You can drill that hole first,then,after HT,line it all up in your drill press so that the drill bit just passes through the hole in the tang .Then ,after you're sure everything is steady and clamped up securely ,place your handle block onto the tang and drill the hole .When you are ready to do the final fit a thin spacer(that was left out while drilling)will draw the handle up nice and snug.
Click to expand...
I like this idea eric. When you refer to a thin spacer are you meaning something like the .030" fiber material or is that too thick?
 
tryppyr said:
I'm curious.. why wait till after HT to fit the guard?
Click to expand...
I know right. I would rather do the rough fit of the guard and handle before the HT, but I think it was Bladsmith suggested before that to get the best fit on the guard you should wait till after the HT.
 
GMBlades said:
I like this idea eric. When you refer to a thin spacer are you meaning something like the .030" fiber material or is that too thick?
Click to expand...
.030" seems awfully thick to me. Even a shift of .005-.010" is significant.

jtwodogs said:
I know right. I would rather do the rough fit of the guard and handle before the HT, but I think it was Bladsmith suggested before that to get the best fit on the guard you should wait till after the HT.
Click to expand...
Yes final fit should be after heat treat... especially if you anticipate any decarb.
 
It depends on how resilient or brittle the handle material ,the tightness of the sans spacer fit-up and things like that ,but I like to go thinner than.030"most of the time .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top