What type clamp for scales and drill press

J

jaxthedog

Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
13
So I've made a handful of knives. Or to be accurate - a handful of custom scales and only done stock removal on some blades.
The biggest problem I have - is on smaller knives with smaller pin holes - getting the holes just right on the scales so glue up is easy.

I realize that I need a clamp to clamp 1 scale onto the blade/tang and then drill it while its clamped for the perfect fit.

But -> -> What kind of calmp do I use for that ?
The clamp needs to be flat on one side so it rests on the drill press table evenly.
And it needs to be small enough not to cover up the holes I want to drill....
Some of the smaller knives I'm working on have handles less than 3 inches total with 6 pin holes.

Any advice appreciated.
THanks !
 
I use a squeeze clamp that is not really small. I clamp one end and drill a hole on the opposite end and insert a pin, then I put the camp on the other end and drill the other end. Insert a pin. For the middle pin, I don't clamp since the pins are holding it. You may need to swivel the drill press table and either drill over a slot, or place the scales on some flat stock (MDF is real flat) for a backer.
 
Glue one scale on the drilled tang. Once the glue has hardened, glue the other scale on. Drill back through the installed scale and through the undrilled scale.
 
Or that, and to clarify, drill through the tang holes and the first scale then glue on the other scale and drill. At least I think that is what Bill is suggesting.
 
If you have a drill press just clamp it to the work rest and drill one hole through the tang and scale. Put a pin the same size through that hole. Now drill the next one and do the same for all holes. Then do the same thing on the other side. At this point I trace the tang and cut out the scales. If you don't have a drill press then clamp it to a table or board. Welding/sheet metal vice grips work well because you can get deep ones.
 
clamp the scales to the knife and rest it on a 2x4 or 4x4 on the bench. a 2x4 would clear the vice grip style clamps
 
t! I should have been more specific. Drill through the first glued handle, glue the other on and drill back through the first.
 
Or you could can CA glue you scales together and drill through the tang and both scales at the same time.
 
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