Tips for Drilling HSS M2

M

me2

Joined
Oct 11, 2003
Messages
5,112
Just got a couple of pieces of M2 already hardened. Any tips on making holes for handles and such? My drill press and bits just skate around, and get hot and smoke a little. Not much more than a scratch on the M2, as far as I can see.
 
Carbide or PCBM. Carbide will have to burn through it but it could work. When I made my first knives out of planer blades I ground a slot through the tang and pinned and epoxied it.

Chuck
 
carbide is about the only thing that will cut it. Be sure you knock the edge of the tool off slightly, that way it doesn't grab and bust. You are waisting your time with other HSS Drills or M2 cutting tools trying to cut it while its hard.
 
Either which type of bit you try to use its going to be tough going.. your best bet is to anneal and then do the bulk of your drilling/ grinding/ filing before HT.

If its your first knife or just a simple knife, chucks suggestions is probably a good bet. It will save you the complexity of the later heat treat.

Lang
 
I hadnt planned on annealing it, and dont really have any way to do so. What is PCBM? Yea, I was planning on making a couple of kiridashi from the smaller piece, and see how things went before trying the larger one. The smaller piece is less than 1/16" thick, and the larger one is ~1/8" thick.
 
I remember an article about drilling a hole in glass that might be applicable here. Basically, the 'bit' was a piece of brass tubing with a couple of slots cut in the end. Build a circular 'dam' around the area to be drilled with plumber's putty and place some valve grinding compound in the 'dammed' area (the dam keeps the valve grinding compound contained). Chuck the brass tubing into a slow drill and use light pressure as it grinds its way through. Obviously, the bit will be consumed as well and will have to be touched up/replaced as necessary. A piece of drill rod would probably work. too...............
 
You can do the same with a diamond core drill.. Just use water in the damed area. low speed and grind through.

Chuck
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top