What kind of steel does Gerber use?

[TheDude]

I am using the Gerber Grapplers ruler/pry-bar to mod another tool and trying to redrill the hole bigger. Ruined a dremel bit already and getting nowhere with a standard steel bit. Really didn't want to spend the money on a specialty tungsten carbide diamond coated bit or some such smurf. For a one off mod. Anyone else had this problem?

[zoidberg]

Try a chainsaw file or anneal it.

[pingu]

Use a cheap diamond burr to open up to near diameter then if accuracy and roundness is important true up with a cheap cobalt drill.

[gregozedobe]

I've bought round diamond files (relatively) cheaply from the bay of thieves in the past, with some persistence that will probably get the job done.

[Gareth]

I'd go with the annealing idea as being the cheapest option.

It's actually quite reassuring that Gerber's steel isn't all that easy to drill.

[dks]

SS is always a pain to drill through, even on cheap knives.
Annealing should be done carefully, possibly with a blowtorch so as to only affect the area you want to drill through.

[pingu]

I don't have a drill press so need to do something else.    These are not expensive and a single pack usually allows me make a hole through LM and Vic steel.  Don't recall trying Gerber and a knock-off Pocket Wrench II defeated the method.  Too hard and too thick.  Needs a bit of care otherwise the tip has a tendency to melt and fill the hole 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/30Pcs-Diamond-Burrs-Grits-Rotary/dp/B00C4PZ2QG

[AimlessWanderer]

I think would go for diamond burrs or files, or coarse emery rolled up around a nail or something in a drill chuck - abrade rather than cut, and cool regularly. Annealing means the tool will be left soft, and could compromise the mod you're doing, even if it's only part of the tool that's annealed.

It's not just the fact it's stainless, drills the don't always like. Opening holes up - they're much happier cutting from solid. When opening out they can "snatch" more, even if using a drill press. Also, if you do want to drill, use a good lubricant. If you can't have a steady flow of coolant or sit it in a bath of oil, try a more viscous oil or even some grease. You might need to wipe this off and apply fresh partway through depending how it's cutting. Use very light pressure when opening up by a small amount to reduce grabbing too

[TheDude]

I pulled it off. Just. Thanks team.

[Gareth]

Good news.  Now we just need to see the final mod.

[AimlessWanderer]

[TheDude]

Full story on another post. Not yet final but....

[dks]

Just be grateful they are not using "Surgical steel".
That would have been impossible to drill through..

[pingu]

Well some "surgical steel" is 440 which we are all familiar with.  Definitely hard to drill but surgical steel is more commonly 316 with circa 37 hardness.

[dks]

a joke was missed.. 

[pingu]

Well some "surgical steel" is 440 which we are all familiar with.  Definitely hard to drill but surgical steel is more commonly 316 with circa 37 hardness.

Still missing. You'll need to spell it out.