Drilling Holes

[darnew]

Iam an engraver who is trying to build a skinner to engrave to show my work, so I bought a Damascus blade off of E-Bay that was already hardened. The problem Iam having is that the holes for the front bolsters are in the wrong place. I can not get a carbide bit to drill the hole, any sujestions ? I do not have an oven to retemper so thats out, I started a small dent with a diomond bur but the carbide still will not cut the blank. It would take a dozen of these diomond burs to get through the blank, so Iam lost as what to do.

Doug Arnew, Engraver.

[Sean O'Hare]

The only way I have ever been able to drill a hole in heat treated steel is with Hi-Roc carbide spade bits. They are very expensive and break very easily.

I have never tried drilling a hole larger than 3/32" through hardened steel but with those bits I am guessing you will be able to do it. One thing to note is to use some type of steel backing when drilling so that when you make it through the hole the drill is still drilling into steel. That way the bit is less likely to break.

Good Luck.

Sean

[knifemaker73]

Doug
I have had perty good luck useing carbide tipped masonary bits I know that they will drill through a piece of ATS34 rc 60 .Also they are cheapre than spade bits
Good luck
Wayne

[W. Lowell Bray, Jr]

A pointed carbide burr in a drill press will also work. Work from both sides. You will get a hole tapered from both sides.

Lowell Bray