Thread: Drill bit for scales

I would suggest if you are drilling pin holes in bone, ivory, bakelite, or other hard, brittle materials to use one of these by hand and go slow. You can feel your progress and back up as needed. A fast spinning drill can crack scales if a snag is hit, particularly as the bit goes through the bottom. While a slow process, it also gives a way to correct angle as you drill.

Sometimes having an oversize hole can allow you to move things around a bit while pinning if the blade will not center properly. I have some tapered pin reamers that work great for this. Look further down in this forum. Gsixxgun wrote a great little article on it.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I would suggest if you are drilling pin holes in bone, ivory, bakelite, or other hard, brittle materials to use one of these by hand and go slow. You can feel your progress and back up as needed. A fast spinning drill can crack scales if a snag is hit, particularly as the bit goes through the bottom. While a slow process, it also gives a way to correct angle as you drill.

If you are using a higher-speed drill or drill press (and even if you are going slow) it is always a good idea to put some scrap wood under the thing you are drilling. This can greatly help reduce tear-out as the bit passes through the bottom. If you are drilling into air, there will be a tendency for the material to crack or split as the bit pushes through the last little bit.

Great thread! Good ideas from all. It shows there is more than one way to relieve a cat from it's skin!
I have taken to drilling thru until I can feel that "snag" at the end with my little tip drill. I then flip the scale over and go at the other side, gently! It chips thru easily by backing up a half turn and trying again.

I prefer an HSS (Hardened Stainless Steel), lipped Brad point, 5/64" drill bit. Eliminates any skating and tear out on the top or bottom of the hole.

Lee Valley Tools. They're about 4 bucks a piece.

Brad points are nice,but if you can drill a .062 hole in a precision manner,is no reason to go oversize.
A .062 pin in a sloppy hole is not a precise fit. But if you need the wiggle room,do it.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Brad points are nice,but if you can drill a .062 hole in a precision manner,is no reason to go oversize.
A .062 pin in a sloppy hole is not a precise fit. But if you need the wiggle room,do it.

Making the holes a tad oversize also gives you the option the readjust the scales if the blade is not centered precisely. For example this could happen if the hole is not perfectly perpendicular to the tang. If you have a 1/16 hole and a 1/16 rod, then you're stuck.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Making the holes a tad oversize also gives you the option the readjust the scales if the blade is not centered precisely. For example this could happen if the hole is not perfectly perpendicular to the tang. If you have a 1/16 hole and a 1/16 rod, then you're stuck.

Your absolutly right,thats why I always have a bit in a pinvice handy when final fitting,sort of use it as a reamer if need be.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I would suggest if you are drilling pin holes in bone, ivory, bakelite, or other hard, brittle materials to use one of these by hand and go slow. You can feel your progress and back up as needed. A fast spinning drill can crack scales if a snag is hit, particularly as the bit goes through the bottom. While a slow process, it also gives a way to correct angle as you drill.

What are those called

Originally Posted by Tylerbrycen

What are those called

It is called a "tip drill". A staple at welding supply's. They usually come with smaller, tiny bits for clearing cutting/welding torch tips. Handy for pilot holes and other uses. You can separately get a 1/16 and a 5/64 bits for it as well . Mine can take a 5/64 bit but not much bigger. Storage for bits is in the end. I use worn bits from unpinning for it. Cobalt split tip bits from Bass Tool. Super cheap in the short length. I doubt one could ever wear out one on scales. Even after drilling out fifty brass/silver pins.