Hello, Could someone tell me wthe best way to drill some holes in the tang of this stainless stock that I am using?? It is just some old kitchin cutlery that I am using to practice on while I learn about knife making. I have looked thru a couple of years of posts and have found this talked about. Thanks, Dave
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
new guy with a ?
- Thread starter trapeze
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
- Messages
- 3,258
Some of this you may already know, so no offense if you do. 
Its a strong possibility the tang is hardened, Dave. Take a file to it. bring the file across the edge of the tang, and if it bites in then your chances are good its soft enough to drill. If that is the case, use a sharp drill bit with plenty of coolant. An on-again-off-again motion will work, I like to call it "pecking" in the way I drill to clear chips and keep the bit cool. Don't force it all at once.
If its hardened, you should try to soften the tang by heating. Wrap the blade in a wet cloth and heat the tang until red. Allow to cool. That should make it soft enough to drill, but if its an air-hardening stainless steel, you will have to get a carbide bit to drill it, and I recommend a spade-shaped bit. Pricey, but works.
Its a strong possibility the tang is hardened, Dave. Take a file to it. bring the file across the edge of the tang, and if it bites in then your chances are good its soft enough to drill. If that is the case, use a sharp drill bit with plenty of coolant. An on-again-off-again motion will work, I like to call it "pecking" in the way I drill to clear chips and keep the bit cool. Don't force it all at once.
If its hardened, you should try to soften the tang by heating. Wrap the blade in a wet cloth and heat the tang until red. Allow to cool. That should make it soft enough to drill, but if its an air-hardening stainless steel, you will have to get a carbide bit to drill it, and I recommend a spade-shaped bit. Pricey, but works.