Drilling Holes in Argentinian Uber Metal : I Give Up / I Surrender!

[futuresoptions]

So things have settled down around here enough for me to get the shop organized to a point to where I can start turning out knives again. I had recently got an order from a customer who wanted 7 knives made up so that they could be handed out in time for Christmas. I ordered me some virgin HR5160 steel and began designing and shaping out the blades. During this process, I came across a knife that I had cut out of an old Argentinian machete. Now my intentions were to make a knife for myself out of this cutout because it was a very durable blade, would keep a great edge and had minimal rust issues.

Now fast forward, I goofed up and heat treated my customers knives before drilling my pin/lanyard holes in the handle... No big deal, I bust out a new cobalt drill bit, drilled slow, with plenty of oil and I managed to get all 28 holes drilled.

Now in the meantime, I decided that I would go ahead and put that Argentinian cutout together and do some kind of giveaway here on Pelican prior to Christmas. Good intentions right? Lol, I just drilled 28 holes through 3/16" heat treated 5160 steel with very little problems. I just needed to make four holes in this Argentinian steel that is between 1/16 -1/8" thick. Should be a cake walk right? Well, 20 drill bits later I still do not have a single hole through this metal. I tried high carbon bits, titanium bits, cobalt bits and nothing has worked. I tried high speed, low speed, lots of pressure and little to no pressure. With oil, without oil. I started with small bits and tried to move up to bigger bits, even the small bits would not penetrate. I even got the bright idea of spot annealing the areas that I needed to drill just to try and soften the areas to no avail. I give up... seriously... I am tired...

[stomachmonkey]

[gtc]

take it to someone with a water jet.

[cgarr]

Have you tried Solid Carbide bits? I had to use carbide to drill a hole in a knife blade on one of our packaging machines and it was hard stuff but went right through it.

[sammyg2]

You sure your drill is turning the right rotation? (just kidding while ducking).

Iffn I were you, and you're glad I'm not, I'd be reaching for my small carbide rotary burrs.

[DUK]

carbide bit with wood glue has worked for me a couple of times on hard as heck stuff.

[mossguy]

Originally Posted by DUK

carbide bit with wood glue has worked for me a couple of times on hard as heck stuff.

What is the wood glue for?

[futuresoptions]

Thanks guys, I will try to find some carbide drill bits. I know my local hardware store doesn't carry anything but the carbide masonry/hammerdrill drill bits. I have done a few searches and am bombarded by the same.

does this look like it would work in my drill press?

C1696 Solid Carbide Spiral Downcut Bit, 1/4" Shank, 1/4" Dia.


Also, does anyone utilize a drill doctor for sharpening of old bits and is it worth the money?

[cgarr]

McMaster-Carr also has a nice selection of solid carbide. I have that sharpener for my bits, it works pretty good and I do a lot of stainless so its used a lot however I am as good with a decent bench wheel too for sharpening.

[herman maire]

just wondering, are you using a drill press?

I find if the surface is really tempered and I have a drill bit in a normal hand drill, I dont get very far before I destroy/burn the bit. The drill press made a hue difference for me.

[futuresoptions]

Originally Posted by cgarr

McMaster-Carr also has a nice selection of solid carbide. I have that sharpener for my bits, it works pretty good and I do a lot of stainless so its used a lot however I am as good with a decent bench wheel too for sharpening.

THanks for the info Craig. Did it look like the bit I chose would work in a drill press?

[futuresoptions]

Originally Posted by herman maire

just wondering, are you using a drill press?

I find if the surface is really tempered and I have a drill bit in a normal hand drill, I dont get very far before I destroy/burn the bit. The drill press made a hue difference for me.

Yep, everything was done with a drill press.

[HardDrive]

.30-06

[Flieger]

You sure you got the spot hot enough to anneal it? You are talking about upwards of 750 degrees Celcius. That is like 1400 Fahrenheit.

You can go all out. Worst case is you start melting it and there is your hole.

[vash]

wait..stop the bus!!!

you make knives?!! did we know this? i wish i could do this as a hobby!!

man, i hope you draw my name for the holidays

[BlueSkyJaunte]

You need Solid Carbide Drill Bits

Oh yeah, you should visit this place sometime: Shop Talk - BladeSmith Questions and Answers

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by vash

wait..stop the bus!!!

you make knives?!! did we know this? i wish i could do this as a hobby!!

man, i hope you draw my name for the holidays

I didn't know either,
I used to make swords for a living.

5160 is awesome sword-blade material.

[Rick V]

Originally Posted by vash

man, i hope you draw my name for the holidays

And you will receive a box of dull and broken drill bits, it should be at lest a 20 count box

[DUK]

Originally Posted by mossguy

What is the wood glue for?

Coolant/Lubricant. Not sure why it works a teacher in HS showed me that. Also good old parafin wax. We drill out broken exhaust studs and inconel with them.

[futuresoptions]

Thanks for the help guys, just ordered 2 hi roc bits from drill bit warehouse (thanks BJS!). Man those are some pricey boogers, $60. for two bits lol. We'll see if they get through that uber metal. Yeah I have been making knives on and off for a while now. Will post some pics of the knives that I am making now when I am a little further along. The wifey is pulling me away from the cpu to head to a yard sale so I gotta go for now...