Drilling a Spydie hole into AUS8 A?

[Gerhard Gerber]

I have a refreshed appreciation for the patented Round Hole of our beloved Spyderco.

The efficiency and simplicity has yet again touched the German in me 

So..........on to my modified (read:fixed) CS FinnWolf. 

I have a very serious urge to remove the thumb stud and to drill a big hole in the blade right there.

The scallop already in the handle needs to be enlarged slightly.

No matter what I'm going to mode the back lock spring anyway.....


I have a nice big drill press, and very bad experiences drilling into hardened blade tangs, any advice? 

[ThePeacent]

I also have had some bad experiences grinding and drilling hardened blades, but mostly good results.
I can tell you that I've drilled 4 Cold Steel blades in AUS-8 (Hold Out 1, Vaquero grande, Ti-Lite and Gunsite) with different bits, drills and heads and they were almost all a pain to work with . 
The Ti-Lite was ground(ed?), not drilled, and I got good results, but the 3 others I drilled or pierced into them and 2 were true messes. The Hold Out still has scary scars and marks, as does the Vaquero.   

The Gunsite I was able to touch up a bit and repair some of the damage but I would for the love of me not try to pierce through and AUS8 blade again unless it was completely necessary.

Grinding, shaping and removing material in light passes and progressive manner?  OK
Punching holes through it? Bad idea 

[ducttapetech]

Ya gonna need carbide drills and go slow.

[Gerhard Gerber]

Thanks  .....figured as much.

If it was carbon steel I'd try to anneal with the edge clamped in a vice, but stainless is a smurf...

I'll ask my buddy, maybe some magic bit on his milling machine could do it......I'm severely motivated by this idea 

[Gerhard Gerber]

Ya gonna need carbide drills and go slow.

  milling machine for sure then....

[hiraethus]

If the new large hole is concentric with the hole for the thumb stud then drilling ought to work.  Go fast if you're using carbide and make damn sure everything is fixed solid or you'll break the bit.  If it's not concentric then you'll need a carbide milling cutter not a drill.  I'd be tempted to do it by hand with abrasive bits in a Dremel or die grinder - mark it accurately and go slow - you should be able to sneak up on a perfect circle as the material is so hard.

[ducttapetech]

Perfectly said. I should have went in to more detail.

[hiraethus]

 

[gerleatherberman]

An M35 cobalt alloy bit on the press would work well, but an M42 cobalt alloy bit would likely cut it like butter. High speed steel bits will lose temper at high temps when drilling hard steels and iron, but the cobalt alloy allows for a much higher working temperature and hold the temper very well. Use a good cutting oil as well and clamp the piece very well and it should be fine. Be careful though, a lot if junk companies try and sell TiNi coated buts as cobalt "like", but those won't work.
Good luck!

[Gerhard Gerber]

Thanks guys 

If the hole was concentric I'd give it a go on my drill press......but that point where the big hole meets the small hole is what worries me.

My buddy is a wizard on the milling machine and lathe, I'll just show him where the hole goes and stand back 

[Gerhard Gerber]

An M35 cobalt alloy bit on the press would work well, but an M42 cobalt alloy bit would likely cut it like butter. High speed steel bits will lose temper at high temps when drilling hard steels and iron, but the cobalt alloy allows for a much higher working temperature and hold the temper very well. Use a good cutting oil as well and clamp the piece very well and it should be fine. Be careful though, a lot if junk companies try and sell TiNi coated buts as cobalt "like", but those won't work.
Good luck!

Just spoke to my buddy, recently got a quote on 3mm Carbide bits decided to make another plan.  Local prices are ridiculous and transport kills you on imports....

If the hole was concentric he could re-profile a masonry bit, he's very sure that would  go through. 

[CarlWorker]

My advice to you is simple. Inspect the material before drilling, there might be nails or knots which avoid a right drilling. Stabilize the material. Pre-drill holes. Is it the material too hard? Buy a drill more powerful. Check more tips here LINK REMOVED and have a drilling safety.

[Vidar]

My advice to you is simple. Inspect the material before drilling, there might be nails or knots which avoid a right drilling. Stabilize the material. Pre-drill holes. Is it the material too hard? Buy a drill more powerful. Check more tips here LINK REMOVED and have a drilling safety.

Is nails or knots in AUS8 a common problem? Actually, I just might check out more tips.

[Gerhard Gerber]

We destroyed an end mill, I drove to the hardware store and got the masonry drill bit.

Not sure what my buddy did to the cutting edge but it took about 30 seconds, it went through the AUS8 like nothing....

There's a link to the video somewhere on this forum  took so long it looks like there's 3 threads for this knife