Knife handle question

[Cocobolove]

I've been making a few knife handles lately. I've made a few different styles, but I'm not happy with my latest one. I tried to make a one piece handle on a tapered tang. The only way I could get a hole for the tang to go in was using a long 1/8" drill bit. Needless to say, this took a looong time. I am not satisfied with the end result either. I am kinda a detail freak, so I can't stand that the tang is square, and the hole is oblong.:mad:

Is there a better way to make this hole? I have looked online, in books, everywhere, and I can't find anything about it. Is this some kind of a knife makers' secret? Do you have to be in the "club"?:p

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Matt.

[bogydave]

Maybe you could Post a picture to show what the problem is.
May give someone a better idea of how to help.

[Don]

Hey, Coco. Try this on scrap, I've seen it done. The tang is heated to a temperature that will "burn" the hole to the shape you want. Clamp the blade and heat the tang with a torch, press on the handle. It may take a few "burnings" to get it where you want it. It may not work with all woods. Let us know if you try it.

dawjr

[Cocobolove]

Good idea, I'll give it a shot. I'll get some pics as soon as I figure out how. Thanks, Matt

[Will1987]

God I have no idea what this is all about. What's a tang?

[Cocobolove]

Here's a few pics.

The first one shows my final result. The white around the blade is ugly glue filling in the gap I had left.

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=9ghe0x&s=3

This one shows the entire knife.

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=oac8yg&s=3

This one was made by a guy that knows what's going on. (What I want to do)

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=289e71f&s=3

Hope my work isn't horrible. Just remember, I'm new to this.:confused:

[Cocobolove]

The tang is the part of the blade that goes inside the handle. Don't feel bad, I didn't know until about a month ago.:)

[Don]

Same as the tang on the end of a file. Or - what astronauts drink. Someone had to say it.:D

dawjr