My first three knives sit on the workbench waiting for me to drill the holes in them. They are made from the bar on a chainsaw. The bar was good carbon steel with some chromium added I beleive. I tried to drill the holes with a small drill press and several of the bits that I have. They will not drill this material. Do I need to buy some better drill bits?? What kind???? Do I need to heat the blades up and slowly cool to soften them then drill??? Do I need not to make more knives of this free material?? Do I need to get out of this knifemaking before it really agrivates me? All help and suggestions appreciated. Thanks

Calvin, it sounds like your blades are made from hardened steel. You have several options: you can anneal the steel (heat it to non-magnetic, and allow to cool slowly), which should soften it to a point where you can drill the holes, and then re-heat treat. Alternatively, you can buy carbide drills to make the holes (expensive).

The cost of the materials for a beginning maker is far less than the value of the blood, sweat, and tears that go into the making of a knife. With that in mind, it is a good policy to buy knife steel (01, for example) of a known formula and condition (annealed and spheroidized). If you want to experiment with "free" stuff, expect to pay a fairly high price for the experience. It becomes worthwhile if you can get a whole lot of the same material, and develop some experience in how to handle it for optimium results, but generally, I would consider using found metals for grinding practice, perhaps, but not much else.

Thanks Don
Forgot to say that I am the mother of all newbies. Live in Louisiana and Terry Primos recommended that I join this group for stimulation conversation and the wealth of knowledge that is here.
The chain saw bars are free and I have a source that is non exaustable. For my first attempts at knife making I thought I would try the bars so that when I screwed up the knives I would have only lost nothin but gained a lot of experience. I will get some steel of known content and qualities when I have a little knowledge of what to do with it under my belt. The knives so far have turned out really nice (for a virgin maker) and have not been really hard to work except for the drilling. I may buy a set of carbide bits and ofset the "free" material. I also am into forging and may try to spot anneal.....read about it but have not done it.

It's all experience, and therefore has value. Stick with it- you have a great teacher in Terry. Can't go wrong there.