How do drill hardened steel

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I use three-flute carbide drill bits. The are less likely to break than two-flute bits. If you shop around Ebay and Amazon, you can find sellers that have very reasonable prices.

 

[navman]

Agreed, two flutes in hard steel (or gummy titanium) is asking for trouble.

 

[ShelterGirl]

uh oh

Is it possible without a drill press?

 

[Danke42]

Yeah sure as long as you don't care if it's straight or not.

 

[Taz]

And with a carbide bit, more chance of snapping it if it's not in a drill press. Even the cheap harbor freight type 5 speed drill press will work. Or look on FB marketplace for a used drill press. Lots of them out there!

 

[Alex Topfer]

You could probably do it in a lathe with some creative fixturing (get a drill press, they're really useful. i have a small mill and i still need a drill press)

 

[ShelterGirl]

Yeah sure as long as you don't care if it's straight or not.

Shouldn't matter

And with a carbide bit, more chance of snapping it if it's not in a drill press. Even the cheap harbor freight type 5 speed drill press will work. Or look on FB marketplace for a used drill press. Lots of them out there!

You're probably right, so like my problem is I tried to buy a punch so that I could indent where I wanted to drill so it'd like stay still. It just dented the punch. I think what my plan is right now to try and dremel an indent where I want my thumb hole, then I might be able to get the carbide to catch

 

[ShelterGirl]

You could probably do it in a lathe with some creative fixturing (get a drill press, they're really useful. i have a small mill and i still need a drill press)

Don't really have the space for a drill press

 

[Contender Machine]

If you must use a handheld drill, get a masonry bit with a carbide tip. It will be more forgiving of the lack in rigidity.

 

[ShelterGirl]

I'll post some pics tomorrow when I work on it. Just trying to add a thumb hole to a kizer

 

[Taz]

Hmmm. A Dremel and carbide burr may work for that purpose? Dremel also has a small device that lets you use the Dremel like a drill press, too that doesn't take up much room. With being on a ground blade, unless there is a large enough flat spot, it will be difficult to drill through it since the blade will be at a slight angle to the drill bit, which will cause the drill bit to "walk" and not cut.

I would clamp the blade to something to hold it steady and go at it with a Dremel and carbide burr, then clean up by hand with some diamond files. You will need to keep an eye on the temp and keep the blade cool. If it's a folder, I would try to remove the blade so you can keep the handle/action/lock mechanism free from the teeny metal slivers that will go everywhere.

 

[ShelterGirl]

Hmmm. A Dremel and carbide burr may work for that purpose? Dremel also has a small device that lets you use the Dremel like a drill press, too that doesn't take up much room. With being on a ground blade, unless there is a large enough flat spot, it will be difficult to drill through it since the blade will be at a slight angle to the drill bit, which will cause the drill bit to "walk" and not cut.

I would clamp the blade to something to hold it steady and go at it with a Dremel and carbide burr, then clean up by hand with some diamond files. You will need to keep an eye on the temp and keep the blade cool. If it's a folder, I would try to remove the blade so you can keep the handle/action/lock mechanism free from the teeny metal slivers that will go everywhere.

This is what I started yesterday. wanted to just make an indent where the drill could catch, but I think just doing it with a dremel would be fine. Should I add oil where its working? How to keep it cool other than working slowly?

 

[GRapp]

so like my problem is I tried to buy a punch so that I could indent where I wanted to drill so it'd like stay still. It just dented the punch.

Do you have a center punch, or is that what you used? I've been using a spring loaded one for a while but the old school is still good for when you really mean it. I'm not saying it will work on hardened steel.

 

[Taz]

Work it slowly, you can dunk the blade in water to cool it off. I think oil or cutting fluid would be OK, but it may make a lot of mess!

You will have to see at what speed the carbide burrs work best and start with lighter pressure. You are manually controlling the "feeds and speeds", so you need to start off gentle and slow and see where the sweet spot is for the tools you are using. I use a generic Foredom type rotary tool; the smaller hand piece gives more control and a flex shaft can be purchased for most Dremel type tools, too that will make it easier than trying to hold the entire heavier Dremel. With the carbide burrs I have, I find a little below half speed seems to work pretty well. Full speed typically works horribly, but going slower lets the bit do it's work without generating a lot of heat and doesn't dull the bit quickly. "Let the tool do the work" applies a lot here. Too much pressure, you will increase heat and dull or break the cutting edges. Too little, and it may want to skate around and not stay where you want it. Too fast, cutters dull and then make a lot of heat. Too slow, the burr may not cut well on the material.

 

[ShelterGirl]

Do you have a center punch, or is that what you used? I've been using a spring loaded one for a while but the old school is still good for when you really mean it. I'm not saying it will work on hardened steel.

It didn't even marr the coating, so I gave up on it

 

[ShelterGirl]

Work it slowly, you can dunk the blade in water to cool it off. I think oil or cutting fluid would be OK, but it may make a lot of mess!

Sounds like a plan. I don't think I have carbide burrs though. These are diamond, right?

 

[Taz]

Those are diamond, but will take forever to go through the steel. The carbide burrs will look more like a rasp:



The big river site has an assortment with 1/8" shanks for $10-$15 typically. "Carbide Burr Set 1/8" shank" is what you want to google for.

 

[failbot]

I've tried a bunch of things, these work well, they're expensive - Guhring 5514 and 5515 series

 

[SharpBits]

This is what I started yesterday. wanted to just make an indent where the drill could catch, but I think just doing it with a dremel would be fine. Should I add oil where its working? How to keep it cool other than working slowly?

That blade will likely start spinning when the bit catches. Needs better clamping and lots of tape on the edge.

 

[ShelterGirl]

Those are diamond, but will take forever to go through the steel. The carbide burrs will look more like a rasp:

View attachment 2937919

The big river site has an assortment with 1/8" shanks for $10-$15 typically. "Carbide Burr Set 1/8" shank" is what you want to google for.

Checked my local ace hw, they didn't have em, so I feel less bad about ordering some. Thanks