Anyone around? Saturday Afternoon hellllp! Drilling into Swiss Army blade

[DavZell]

Hope it's ok to post here and Mod area.


I'm trying to move an implement from a larger Wenger to smaller Victorinox.  I already ground the piece to fit, but I can't drill the pivot hole for the life of me.  No bit I have makes more than a few hundredths of mm into it.  Some just broke.  I went and bought a Milwaukee cobalt bit, but that's not doing much.  It does make a creaking noise the others didn't, but no real progress.  I've tried RPM's from mid 300's down to 150 (the slowest my drill press will go).  I've tried gentle, I've tried hard.  With oil, without oil.  It's probably work hardened by now, I suspect.

Help me!  I wanted to do this today/tomorrow, or at least during the bid snow Monday.  I ordered a carbide bit, but it won't be here till late next week.  None locally that I know of.

Any guidance you can share?  By the way, it's a 1/16 or 1.6mm hole.  Carbide tipped bits (eg masonry) all start larger at Home Depot by me.  They also don't sell cutting oil.  I'm using WD-40.

Thanks!

[ComboTool]

In my experience carbide bits and cutting oil are the way to go. If you can't get them locally you should consider ordering online, but of course it won't help you for this saturday 

[Rizio Il Ghiro]

I fear Combo Tool  is right..... patience is the answer until the bit and oil arrive....

[DavZell]

 

... tap tap tap ...

[Helvetica Bold]

100% agree.  tungsten carbide end mill bits are the only thing I have found that go through them with any real success but are super brittle at smaller sizes so you may want to get a spare too ;0) I’ve also remember someone saying they use a diamond dremel bit of the right width (ball top one I think) which makes sense too.

[Aloha]

I have used a diamond dremil bit to enlarge a SAK scissor hole.  It was slow going and probably not to most accurate but it did work.  I used the cone shaped bit as well as ball and cylinder as well.