David is correct Anthony, the hilt only needs to be correctly fitted, we need to do that very often.
The best tool to remove old cloth, or hair is perhaps a cork screw. Once any garbage has been removed if the hole still needs to be deepened a sharpened screw driver is good, or a chisel. If the hole is too tight, rather than too deep, do not make the mistake of taking an electric drill to it, you can finish up with a hilt broken into several pieces, clamp a drill bit horizontally into a bench vice and using it like an auger to gradually increase the diameter of the hole is probably the safest approach. You start with a drill bit that is close to the size of the existing hole and work up a step at a time to bigger bits. You twist the hilt onto the bit.
Knitting wool is probably the best medium to bind a tang with.
Make sure that the tang is not too long for the hilt by measuring it against the hilt, and also make sure that the hole does not go off at an angle and exit through the side of the hilt.
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