Handle drilling fixture

[M&J]

Most the handle material I use is fairly dimensioned so it made life easy. Had some really odd shapes to drill and clamping them was not yielding the results I wanted.

Made this one up from some 6061 Kaiser alu scrap on hand. Just to note that I really like using their 6061, buying it off the shelf it comes proper size start to finish. At $4.79/pound it is pricey though the remnant job cuts are sold at $2.60/pound. I didn't have any 6-32 screws in the proper length so wound up using these stainless spanner heads. The lower clamp uses 1/4"-20 bolts.

This is for folders and may make up a fixed blade size with some additional refinements.

[Doug Lester]

Looks interesting. Not being a folding knife maker I don't quite see how it would be used but I applaud anyone who makes their own tools.

Doug

[M&J]

This was motivated by some stag slabs that were to be drilled for a folder body. I've done variants hanging off the drill press table but it wasn't as secure to drill that way. The flat of the folder body faces up and the odd material is below so that this results in an accurate perpendicular hole that lines up to the body or tang of the knife.

Clamps can slip so this way the lower shelf clamp is held by 1/4"-20 bolts and the thumb knobs to tighten the work piece. It weighs in at 15.8 oz. so enough mass to be steady-stabil when drilling.

The lower shelf isnot as wide as the top by .50" so that I can add supplemental clamping if necessary. The smaller 1" Kant Twist cantilever clamps if necessary fit that space easily.