Advice from some knife makers

[NorthBorder]

I've made some knives out of old files and farriers rasps. I went around a bought up a bunch of files and rasps for about $1-3 each. I'v had some success designing, cutting and filing the blades into knives. They are no things of beauty but possibly functional. Even made some micarta and attached it to a handle. Again, nothing of beauty but its a learning process.
My big obstacle is the hardened file steel. I can't find a drill bit that will allow me to drill holes into a hardened steel file to attach a handle.
All that to ask for opinions on a good small forge to buy that will soften the steel enough to drill. Or if you have any other advice that would allow me to drill holes into hardened steel would be muchly appreciated.

 

[Mk-211]

Email Anza knives and ask them, all their knives are made out of old files.

They make some amazing knives, don't think any other company makes as many knives from files as they do.

 

[hso]

My big obstacle is the hardened file steel. I can't find a drill bit that will allow me to drill holes into a hardened steel file to attach a handle.

Easy, you can anneal hardened files to non-magnetic with a torch and cover it with vermiculite in a metal container to slowly cool. Be sure you have at least 6 inches of vermiculite above and below it.

https://knifegeeky.com/how-to-anneal-file-for-knife-making/

 

[Flat Rock]

Easy, you can anneal hardened files to non-magnetic with a torch and cover it with vermiculite in a metal container to slowly cool. Be sure you have at least 6 inches of vermiculite above and below it.

https://knifegeeky.com/how-to-anneal-file-for-knife-making/

yeah, this. just torch anneal it, it should drill no problem.
bear in mind that if you anneal (soften) the whole blade, you will have to re heat treat it.

 

[jdsingleshot]

It doesn't have to cool all that slowly to be drill soft. Just get it to dull red and slowly back the torch away. When the steel is cooled to black, you can dip it in water--that won't harden it.

 

[redneck]

In a pinch you can use a concrete or tile bit with moderate pressure and high speed in a drill press to drill hardened steel. Concrete bits have a carbide tip brazed onto them. It will drill slowly and you will have to be careful you don't overheat it and melt the brazing, but it will drill a hole. Its not the most precise method but is ok for handle pins if you are careful.

As far as a forge there are some very attractively priced ones on amazon. I have no experience with this one, as I built my own forge, but I don't think you could buy the materials for the price of this one and it appears to have all the basics to where it would work for basic knifemaking.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNK7HL27?th=1

If you want to use it a lot, I recommend coating the liner with satanite or some kind of refractory coating, it will let you achieve higher temps and will last longer.

 

[rust collector]

A good cobalt drill bit may also help the process. Anneal just the areas you want to drill.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

https://rodmandrill.com/collections/rodman-multi-purpose-drill-bits

I've had a set of Rodman multipurpose bits for years. Best masonary bit ever and will drill through hardened steel and they are lifetime warranty because I messed up one drilling in some damascus once. It hung up because of the soft and hard and broke the carbide tip.

Funny story, I used to see this old man in a booth at the National Farm Machinery Show every year drilling holes in files, grade 8 bolts, ceramic tile, etc. every year and always assumed it was a gimmick and figured they had annealed the stuff he was drilling. Well I messed up and missed drilling one of the holes for my pins in a knife blade before I heat treated it. I thought I'm going to the NFMS again Saturday I'll just take that blade with me and put him on the spot in front of god and everybody.

So Saturday came and I walked up to the old mans booth and asked him if he could drill a 1/4 inch hole for me at the mark I made. He asked what the steel was and I told him it was 440C stainless about 58RC. He took the blade from me installed a 1/4 inch bit and proceeded to drill the hole. Yep the bit turned red hot but it ground its way through and when he was done he handed the blade to me and proceeded to drill some holes in a file and some ceramic tile to show everyone it didn't hurt the bit. I was sold and bought a set right then and there.

They actually only like to drill hard stuff, I broke the one trying to drill damascus. You can't drill mild steel or anything like that with them they will gall up.

 

[NorthBorder]

@Cowhide Cliff, can you use a single speed drill or does it have to be high speed?

 

[jmorris]

I have drilled holes in files with carbide bit(s).

 

[NorthBorder]

I've ruin some carbide and cobalt drill bits. Was unable to make more than a dimple. I'm looking into those Rodman bits and sent them a message on their chat line. Thanks so far for the suggestions.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I've used electronic discharge machining to drill through very hard steel.
Turned a bunch of brittle-hard throwing knives into pilum heads, for example.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

@Cowhide Cliff, can you use a single speed drill or does it have to be high speed?

You have to spin them fast but a regular cheapo drill press will do it. You are essentially grinding your way through with the carbide tip. Probably any high quality masonary bit will do it too I've just had good luck with these and a good story behind how I wound up buying them. I literally had walked by their booth for years at the Farm Machinery Show figuring it was some gimmick. I knew it wasn't when I took my own piece of steel for him to demonstrate. I guess I did him a favor, guys were asking me what the blade was made of and he sold several sets to the crowd that was around at the time. This was years ago I my set is now probably 20 years old, I hope their product is still as good as it always was.

 

[Valkman]

I'd much rather buy cheap steel such as 0-1 and skip the annealing. I used to buy (granted this was 10 years ago) a bar of O-1 for $20 and make 5 knives from it. Then you can drill it with whatever drill you have - I started with a handheld drill that had a bubble level on the end before I got a drill press. Also very easy to heat treat.