- Joined
- Feb 6, 2010
- Messages
- 1,427
May I chime in on this subject? I always drill slightly oversize holes in my tang and even as Mr Apelt has said an even larger tang hole is fine. It's the fit of the pins in the scale that most of the better knife makers have different methods for. I noticed early on that not all drills are the same diameter and to make things worse the rod stock we buy varies in diameter also. So I always check the rod stock first for size with a dial or digital calipers and compare it to the drill size. You will find that you cannot press some pins into your scales holes by thumb pressure but once you run a Q-tip, with epoxy into the scale hole that the pin slides in like it is too small. Before you have a lot of experience you may want to drill a hole in a piec of scrap hardwood and apply some epoxy and try to push a pin in with thumb pressure. The ideal is too just be able to push in the pin with heavy thumb pressure. After you install several pins that work well you will know which drill to use and which rod stock to use. I buy my drills 10 pieces at a time and the Norseman super premium drills I use in 1/4 inch works perfect with the 1/4 inch rod stock I buy from Jantz knife supply. Not so with all other diameters but I can reduce the rodstock diameter by rolling it against a slack belt at 400 grit and by trial and error get a snug fit. Some of you may think that I'm making too big a deal about this but in my opinion a snug finished pin looks professional and is something that is so apparent when the knife is finished. Just my opinion. Larry
