Making a handle for a hidden tang knife

[yoda4561]

I am dabbling with knifemaking as a hobby, and I have a bowie I forged which needs a handle now. The tang is 3/4" X 1/4" thick. I have tried to use a hand drill and chisels, but only ended up spliting the wood. I know I could use a drill press but I dont have one right now, Ive heard that using a red hot piece of metal to burn a hole through the wood works. Any suggestions?

 

[goshawk]

You can use a hand drill. First get the right type of drill bit. Brad point bit..
steel drill bits have the tendency to cut out
the center and push out. The brad point cuts
the outside first and is designed specificly
for wood. The otherthing is drill two holes
side by side then ream out the web inbetween.
If you can hold the wood in a vise at the
height you can see and get at it will also
help. Burning a hole still needs to be drilled smaller first and needs to go all the
way through. It is really tough to do in a
blind hole and can create more problems than
it's worth. If your going to epoxy it in after it will usually loosen up.

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Don't walk in tradition just because it feels good!!!!!
Romans 10:9,10
Psalm 91

 

[Alberta Ed]

I read a classified ad in a knife magazine about a tool for making holes or slots in handle material. Comes in various widths, 1/8, 3/16, etc. I gather you drill a hole, then slide the tool in and pull it back, slicing out a piece of material. Around $20, I think.

 

[yoda4561]

thanks guys... I was using metal bits to drill holes in the wood. I think that was my problem.

 

[Dr.Lathe]

I have several 1/4"-3/8" dia. (round) wood rasps that I ground flat on two sides, the thickness of the tangs. I then drill two holes side by side and break the material between the holes with the end of the smaller of my ground files. Once I can get the smallest file through, I can file just about any square shape that is needed to accept the tang. I pin all my tangs and have to use very little epoxy because of the close fit. It works fast too! I also put a big handle on those small files. This makes it easier to "hog" the material out!!!!