Is it possible to drill

M

MattinLA

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May 31, 2006
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5,098
a thumbhole in an already hardened knife? I love my Griptilian 551, but I hate the thumbstud. Is it possible to drill a thumbhole in it? I am not really into the sheeps foot design on the 550 but I may have to get it.
Thanks
 
Anything's possible although this would be quite difficult since the the entire blade is hardened. Slow and steady wins the race here.
 
Is it possible...maybe. The bigger issue is where you will put the hole. Not all that much of the 551 blade is above the handle, IMO the logical place for a hole would be below and a little toward the point from the hole for the thumbstud. This presents a problem because if the hole you want to drill overlaps the thumbstud hole, you will be doing what is called "interrupted machining". This makes a tricky job even harder The edge of your drill bit is likely to catch on the edge of the existing hole and break, or spin the blade if it is not securely clamped.

If it were me, I would consider making a slot rather than a round hole, starting with the thumbstud hole and working towards the point of the blade, grinding slowly and carefully with a Dremel tool or die grinder
 
I would recommend buying a Spyderco Delica, not because I like the Delica or think Spyderco is better, but because without a machine shop I don't think you could do a very good job on it.
 
Mahoney said:
Is it possible...maybe. The bigger issue is where you will put the hole. Not all that much of the 551 blade is above the handle, IMO the logical place for a hole would be below and a little toward the point from the hole for the thumbstud. This presents a problem because if the hole you want to drill overlaps the thumbstud hole, you will be doing what is called "interrupted machining". This makes a tricky job even harder The edge of your drill bit is likely to catch on the edge of the existing hole and break, or spin the blade if it is not securely clamped.

If it were me, I would consider making a slot rather than a round hole, starting with the thumbstud hole and working towards the point of the blade, grinding slowly and carefully with a Dremel tool or die grinder
Click to expand...
This I thought you wanted to ream the thumbstud hole but its too close to the spine
 
I have drilled a hole through a VG-10 FFG Endura blade, near the spine just forward of the opening hole. The hole was 0.25" diameter, and difficult to drill.

Key things to do for success:

Use a drill press.
Back the blade with a piece of thick steel.
Clamp the blade very firmly to the table so it cannot move at all.
Drill at slow speed.
Use a solid carbide bit designed for hardened steel, not a twist bit.
Use plenty of coolant.
Pay attention to the sound of the drill, it will tell you how it is cutting.

A laser would be easier.
 
Haha at least you asked before trying... I wouldn't recommend it. Can it be done? Sure, of course. Is it worth the effort to do it right/worth the investment in necessary equipment? Well that's up to you, but it was a smart move to ask. I'll not try again. ;)
 
Send the blade to a waterjet place, they can do the cut for you in no time for as cheap as the cost of a good carbide drill bit.
 
Thanks for all the responses. Yeah, I'm not set to do it. Maybe a waterjet place is the thing to do...or just get the 550

Thanks again
 
MattinLA, If you check out the waterjet please let us know about the cost and if you have it done, the results.
 
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