Hidden Tang Drilling Problem

[calharkins]

Hello everyone,

I am a newbie. I just finished my first knife. I am now trying to make a hidden tang knife with a buffalo horn roll about 4&1/2 inches long and 1&1/4 inches diameter. This knife blade I bought comes with a pommel. Where do you get drill bits that can drill 4&1/2 inches deep. I can't find any bits near that length. Of course I live in the sticks and that could be a problem. I called the nice folks at Jantz but they couldn't help me either.

I sure would appreciate some help with this. If any of you need help making spinner baits, jigs, or plastic worms, I am the guy to help you.

Cal

[chiger]

Hey Cal, welcome. With the completion of you're first knife you've just joined an elite group of the obsessed and confused. ;~)

First what do you mean by pommel? A pommel usually means a nob of some sort for a hilt/butt cap...whatever you want to call it. If it has a pommel it's not really considered a hidden tang. A hidden tang never comes back out of the handle. I think your probably talking about a through tang or knock down as some people call it, depending on how it's put together. Do a search or two and you can get the terms a lot straighter than I can tell you.

Now that the definition stuff is out of the way...if you're talking about a through tang, you don't really need a bit that long. Just drill as far as you can from one end and turn it over and finish drilling from the other end.

If you're concerned that you can't make them meet, start with bits that are a lot smaller than the finish hole should be. Then you can correct any misalignment. You can buy long bits at Harbor Freight, Lowes and places like that. But unless you are making 2 hand sword handles you probably don't need 'um.

Hope that helps. Be sure and let us see how it comes out. We enjoy seeing new maker's work around here.

chiger,

[NJStricker]

Cal,

Chiger's solution is the most cost efficient. Use the search function here, there are some older posts about methods/jigs to make sure the holes line up.

If you really need longer bits, you could a) have someone weld a drill bit onto a longer shaft, or b) check Brownell's or Midway USA for bits in their gunsmithing section of their catalog or website. Extended shank bits are used to drill holes through buttstocks for the through-bolt on shotgun stocks.

[Ray Rogers]

Cal,

All the above works just fine. For myself, I use longer drills that I buy from MSC. A 5" drill is plenty but I have a few that are 10" or so.

No matter how you chose to solve this particular problem, I strongly suggest that you acquire a catalog from MSC and from all the major knife supply houses like Sheffields, K&G, Jantz, Texas Knifemakers, etc. While many of these outfits have an online presence there is nothing that makes comparison shopping any easier than being able to lay it all out in front of you on the table. You'll be surprised how much you can learn about knife making by reading these catalogs cover to cover ...

[calharkins]

I want to thank everyone for their willingness to help. Chigger, I believe you are right about it being a through tang. I am not sure that I can line things up that well so I will try harbor freight and others for long shank bits. I would hate to ruin that beautiful piece of buffalo horn.

Thanks again
Cal

[SBuzek]

Cal
A good thing to have in the shop is a center finder, you can get them at most woodworking stores and I think the big box guys. Just a simple platic jig you set your piece into and scribe a line,rotate approx. 90 deg and scribe another line, where they meet gives you the center. Do this on both ends and your holes will match close enough to pass the tang through.
Stan

[B.Finnigan]

Here is a easy to make hidden or thru tang drilling jig I made a few months ago. It is faster then a drill press.

http://www.knifenetwork.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=45875

[calharkins]

That is a neat jig for drilling holes. Thanks for sharing it.
Cal

[DC KNIVES]

Here's a jig I built awhile back for tang drilling and a shorter benchtop drill press.It also allows you to drill on an angle.Dave