Oly Posted July 5, 2007 Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 Fella's, Just thinking about getting started on my first knife. I was wondering though...to attach the blade to the handle I need to drill into the yet unformed wood to a depth of about 70-80mm. However, the blade is ~3mm thick - so does that mean I need a <3mm diameter drill bit that is 70-80mm long?!? If so where to a get a good strong one from?!? The only other alternative I can think of is a drilling a larger hole and simply filling it with glue/apoxy etc to hold it...but this doesn't quite seem right somehow, as the strength would be decreased surely? Any help much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted July 5, 2007 Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 You buy a 3mm (or whatever) looooong drill. Drill 2 holes, slowly as the drill will follow the softist wood. Then file between the 2 holes using a swiss needle file. It takes time but it works. Then hammer the tang of the knife, or rough it up on an offhand grinder, so it is good and rough. Then fill the hole up with araldite (not rapid) and show the tang into the handle. You can then press the whole lot together in a workmate and leave it overnight. Job done Or ask the guy on here who makes them - he is bound to have a better way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fenlander Posted July 5, 2007 Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 Hi Oly you can buy Long reach drill bits from loads of places, Try at a HSS hire shop or a builders merchants,if you cant find any PM me and I'll let you have some, I get them free from work Stuartps method is the correct way of doing it,the only thing I would add is that it is easier to drill the wood block with a piller drill ,that way you can go slow and the drill bit has less chance to wander, however it is possible to drill by hand if you are very carefull,I have to do it this way as I do'nt have a piller or bench drill. I have also made a few knives using a bigger drill bit ie if the tang is 3mmx8mm i've used an 8mm bit,and as you say filled it with apoxy,and to be quet honest I don't think this has compromised the strength of the knife,because the only pressure applied to a knife is in the vertical,and as the tang is in contact with the handle in this direction the strength should be pretty much the same as if you were to do it the purists way. I should at this point say i,ve only made a few knives so far ,but I do use them ,and have,nt had a handle come off or go loose yet. All the best Mick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted July 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2007 Many thanks fellas, I'll head out to the builders merchants at the weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted September 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 Getting there slowly!! Been busy! Considering I'm using a high carbon content blade how is it best to rough up the tang to get the tang and the wood handle to apoxy together well? :unsure: I've tried filing it but it's seriously hard and not even marked it! I tried to trim the tang a little with a large hacksaw & decent saw blade and it only just marked it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 I had the same problem with the stainless one I made, all my files just skidded off it, in the end I got a hammer over a makeshift 'anvil' and whacked it a few times. I wouldn't recommend that, using an offhand grinder make much more sense, but I didn't have one at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bernie garland Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 drill your hole with a wooden speed bit the width of the widest part of the tang, and as you said earlier fill with two part epoxy resin. hope this helps bernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted September 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2007 I had the same problem with the stainless one I made, all my files just sidded off it, in the end I got a hammer over a makeshift 'anvil' and whacked it a few times. I wouldn't recommend that, using an offhand grinder make much more sense, but I didn't have one at the time. Havent had a problem with stainless as it's realtively soft, but carbon being so hard is tricky. However, I too can now confirm that I would not recommend being too harsh with a hammer...when hammering it last night about an inch of the tang broke off!! It should be fine as there is sufficient tang remaining to be adequate (I did want to trim the tang at the outset but my saws weren't even coming close to denting it!), but I continued marking it with a hammer and punch (or old drill bit) in order to mark up the faces before setting in apoxy. Be warned!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
food for free Posted October 25, 2007 Report Share Posted October 25, 2007 I had the same problem with the stainless one I made, all my files just sidded off it, in the end I got a hammer over a makeshift 'anvil' and whacked it a few times. I wouldn't recommend that, using an offhand grinder make much more sense, but I didn't have one at the time. Havent had a problem with stainless as it's realtively soft, but carbon being so hard is tricky. However, I too can now confirm that I would not recommend being too harsh with a hammer...when hammering it last night about an inch of the tang broke off!! It should be fine as there is sufficient tang remaining to be adequate (I did want to trim the tang at the outset but my saws weren't even coming close to denting it!), but I continued marking it with a hammer and punch (or old drill bit) in order to mark up the faces before setting in apoxy. Be warned!!! I was just wondering where you folks get the stainless blades from? Are they pre shaped and sharpened or did you make them. I could fancy giving that a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted October 25, 2007 Report Share Posted October 25, 2007 Attleborough Accesories do it all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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