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OK, so I've worked on one or two DAs in my day.....:rolleyes:
Now, I usually simply drill out the existing tang hole to be able to fit my standard 2-56 screws for mounting the blade. Usually this is a 1-2 second proceedure, no fuss, no drama. But not this time:(. I tried three different drill bits, but can't make a dent in it (snapped two of them...:rant:). Is this the Super DA, Rockwell hardness of 72 or something?
Anyhow, just sharing my frustration.
Crazy... Not even a dent... Hmm I don't have a clue, do you use some kind of cutting oil? Shouldn't need it, but maybe it could help.
On a side note, i'd like to know what steps you take to make sure that your hole gets lined up to be perfectly perpendicular to the plane of the blade. I think many would be interested in this part of your process.
I sounds like a solid carbide drill bit is what you need, (I am assuming that you are using some sort of HSS ). Maybe it is cheaper to buy another DA?
You could try the trick of spot annealing. Set your blade up on the drill press and make ready to drill, but instead of a drill bit use a piece of metal with a flat bottom. (cut off nail). Run the drill press at high speed and press the nail into the blade and let the friction heat up the spot you want to drill. You should be able to get that one spot pretty hot with friction. Let it cool slowly then try drilling again with a HSS bit.
Charlie
+1 on the carbide bit. I've also had good luck going slow with a cobalt bit. Don't forget the oil.
Quote:
Originally Posted by spazola
I tried doing something like this- I wrapped the main body of the blade with a soaking wet paper towel, then hit up the tang hole with a propane torch for a few seconds, hoping to anneal it a bit. Went back to the drill press, and same old story. I may have to be a bit more aggressive.
I would simply move on the another DA, but I have already done most of my mods on this one, so I have a fair bit of effort already invested.
It is odd, as I have never run into this issue on any razor I have drilled the tang on, DAs, Solingen, Sheffield....nada.
I don't sweat getting it perfect, I just allow for clearance in the hole.Quote:
Originally Posted by Del1r1um
Give the friction way a try the heat is much more locallized than with a torch. Make sure and let it cool slowly
Charlie
Quote:
Originally Posted by spazola
Aha, I did a water quench immediately after torching it. Perhaps that was the prob???
Are you using a hand drill?? If so,( and I don't want you to take this the wrong way) make sure your not in reverse. I have drill out some pins and the steel was soft as butter.
Quote:
Originally Posted by turbine712
HA!
No, I use a drill press, and every other time I've drilled out a tang it has been butter soft, as you say.
But not this time....
get yourself a dremel tool 3/32 ball end carbid cutter
i wise the 1/8 adn 3/32 size all the time
jsut make sure you get the ones thats rounded at the point so it can dut on the way down
Quote:
Originally Posted by Seraphim
If your drill bit was dull you may have work hardened the tang. I have had good luck with masonry drill bits. They fairly inexpensive and have carbide tips.
If you quenched the blade, if anything you might have hardened it. To anneal or draw the temper a bit you need to heat it gently, then let it cool slowly.
The carbide burr and a masonry bit are both good ideas. People here are so damn smart.
So how did you fix it? Inquiring minds need to know.
Charlie
I had a similar problem with 7 erik antonbergs that regular bits wouldn't work with.
I ended up using some diamond bits I had that worked just fine and I used a carbide one on one or two. Sounds like you got it though :)
a diamond bur on a dermel works to ,i have a taperd one that i ues on high speed and it does the job.
I think I will simply pin it the old-fashioned way.
I can't wait to see it! Don't get me wrong, I really like the usual work you do, but for me the old fashioned pinning style adds so much class to the razor. Good luck!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Del1r1um
Nah, this one is nothing much to look forward to. I tried a new worked back treatment, and it didn't turn out so hot. I'm just looking to get some scales on there so I can be done with it and move on to the next one....
I never was able to drill that tang. I purchased a brandy-new cobalt bit and everything.
Now I'm working on a second DA from that same batch, and I can't drill that tang neither!:rant:
I'm going to get better at pinning, I guess!:)
That is bizarre! Evidently China has discovered Durasteel.... welcome to the 24th century, straight shavers!
one thing youve got to watch, is that it could very well be that this blade was just hardened quite a bit, you run into the problem more with heavy metal generally that has been welded, but if you dont know the way one tempers steel is essentially you heat it up and cool it off really quickly (theres more to it than that but thats basically it) and really youd have to heat it to rather high temperatures (like a good solid red color atleast) and then let it cool very slowly to have any great effect on the hardness of the steel, now as im sure u can image on a razor that would be highly unadvised since it would be almost impossible to get a good temper back to the blade after this (it is very hard to do properly even to experience metal workers)
id have to imagine though a high quality bit a good drill press plenty of oil and patience will go on and punch on through
As people may have noticed, I have worked on more than a couple of these DA razors...they have always been quite easy to drill out the tang, same as most any other razor I have had to do that to (vintage Sheffield, or Solingen, whatever), and then these last two have had this same issue.Quote:
Originally Posted by center5150
The previous one honed up no problemo, and actually took a very nice edge. So, who knows?
well i more meant if you were heating the metal to extreme temperatures and then allowing it to cool slowly to soften the metal, and the problems in trying to keep the blade tempered correctly
i cant imagine the drilling affecting the temper much beyond right around the whole
it does also soung like a pretty interesting endeavor