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Old 06-20-2019, 08:07 AM
jimmontg jimmontg is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Now live in Las Cruces NM.
Posts: 1,345
Grainger Industrial Supply and MSG carry "in between" carbide drill bits. I use a number 30 or .128 carbide drill through hardened stainless and tempered back Nicholson files for 1/8th inch pins. I have carbide bits in #41 .099 for 3/32, I have them up to 1/4 or 6.5 mm for .255 all to make clearance holes for handles and the uncommon bolster I may. I made a 12 pin handle and using the 128 was a life saver on getting them to fit and to not possibly crack the ironwood handle material during expansion contraction temperature changes. Super tight pins just squeeze all the glue out of the hole, so rough sanding the pins is a must.
I have found that I can sharpen the straight two flute carbide bits with a diamond sharpener.

Don't try to drill without a drill press or cutting fluid, I use tap magic. Carbide drill bits are brittle and trying to hand drill is guaranteed to break an expensive drill bit. Be careful not to use too much pressure or too high a speed especially on stainless.
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