Drilling Notches for Peg Settings: Bit Size & Metal Compatibility

Question
What size drill bit do I need to create a notch for a peg setting and does it matter what the size of the setting is??  

Also - can I notch titanium and tungsten in order to add a peg setting much like with gold?

Answer
Theresa, most peg settings have a peg close to 1 mm square.  I like to use a drill slightly smaller than the pet, file the corners of the peg slightly and push it into the drilled hole.  You do not want to depend on solder only on the peg to hold the setting in place securely. Take a round bur and cut a slight recess at the top where the setting goes into the mounting. This allows the setting to fit closer to the mounting and solder to have a more secure hold.  As long as you have solder on the base of the setting as well as the peg, the size of the setting does not matter.

You will find small drill bits listed as standard drill sizes like #70 or #64, etc., and also in inch equivalents and in mm equivalents. Get a few of several small sizes.

Since you used the word "notch" I do hope we are talking about the same thing: Installing a peg setting into a jewelry mounting. In jeweler's talk, that is what you are talking about.

The process is 1. hole drilled  2. top of hole opened slightly with round bur  3. setting fitted into the hole tightly with slight filing of peg corners  4. finish up

Theresa, you cannot touch tungsten with a steel tool of any sort. The material is much too hard. And, the material is also quite brittle.  Titanium cannot generally be drilled but some softer alloys might possibly drill. Expect to ruin a steel bit or two trying this.  The problem? Once the hole is drilled there is not a way to solder onto titanium.  Titanium requires special welding equipment with inert gas flowing over the work.  You simply cannot solder titanium in any of the normal methods a jeweler uses.  As you see, tungsten and titanium are out of the picture for the reasons given.

Theresa, I do hope the answer will assist you.  If you need to get back to clarify the question or to ask me to clarify this answer, feel free to use the follow-up option. Fair enough?

God Bless and Peace.  Thomas.