Drilling knife handle.

[Asa Samuel]

Hi, I'm just about ready to start drilling my knife handle out but I have a problem.

I need to drill in about 9cm but most 3-4mm drill bits I've seen are half that, sometimes shorter! I thought about burning a hole but I've not got the right equipment to make a copy of the tang (I don't want to use the actual tang as I can't do the heat treatment).

What can I do?

Thanks for any advice,
Asa

 

[Robbi]

how about drilling the hole over sized to get the length and then sticking the tang in with epoxy or some other really god sticky stuff ?

 

[Dave Budd]

there are a few ways to do it.

Axminster sells long series drill buts and the 4mm will just about do that length I think (I use them for stick tangs but rarely need to go all the way through a block). Longer drills are sometimes found at specialist wood turring supplies

You can drill from either end and aim to meet in the middle. good luck, but it can be done

saw block in half and drill each half separately, then put a contrasting centre piece in

Drill as far as you can with the drill of choice and then make yourself a small spade but from a length of silver steel.


To open the hole to the correct size for your tang, just wrap a wet rag around teh blade and clamp the blade in a vice. then heat the tang with a blow torch

 

[Asa Samuel]

Drill each half sounds like a nice idea, so llong as I can secure a small piece of leather to make it look good. Although thinking about it, doing it like that I would want to make the cut diagonally which could complicate the drilling even more! Ahh the trials and tribulations of bushcraft projects

 

[Muddypaws]

Drill as far as you can with the drill of choice and then make yourself a small spade but from a length of silver steel.

You don't need silver steel for a one off spade bit. I use a bit of 3.2mm welding rod, with the end hammered flat, and a point filed on. No need to heat treat for a one time drilling of a wooden handle. Remember to clear the chippings frequently, as it won't self clear like a spiral flute bit.

 

[addo]

Using more than one section of handle with various materials, is easyer to drill and an excuse to have a play with designs.
Watch out though, its adictive fun

 

[Asa Samuel]

I think three sections will be good, should be easy to drill. Do you think 3.2mm bit will be sufficient for a 3mm blade or should I go for a 4mm drill bit?

 

[addo]

Epoxy is quite forgiving, but I just go with the wood wanting to slide on with some resitance and a tight fit. A series of drilled holes with a small milled bit to open them out is one way, round chainsaw files are another. 4mm would make the series of holes prob join up better, but it depends on the depth of the tang. Good luck.

 

[Asa Samuel]

Thanks a lot for all your answers