a guide on my file?

S

skaterboy

Joined
Dec 29, 2006
Messages
96
I am try ing to make my first knife and
I was wondering if I should put a guide on my file to make shure it stays at the corect angle (I have trouble staying at the same angle on practice runs)
 
I would just keep practicing. If you start to rely on guides and jigs, you'll never get to the point where you can do it freehand. Also, from what I hear, guides and jigs mostly end up being a hassle. I use a filing jig for keeping shoulders square for guard fitting, etc but that's it. Practice is the key.

If you want a good filing practice exercise, get a piece of 1 1/4" round stock 1 1/4" long and file it into a perfect 1" cube. It'll take a while, but once you can keep all those faces flat and square you'll be in much better control of your files.

-d
 
When I used to train apprentice jewelers, I would start with sawing and filing. I would give them sheets of copper and brass and tell them to cut out different shapes.Then they would file them to perfect squares,triangles,etc. of matching size. I would have them file a 1/2" dowel into a triangle,a square,a hexagon and an octagon.Some of those guys and gals still have that multi shaped pieces around to remind them how hard it was to learn filing.
Take your time filing, it is not a race against the steel.
Practice long smooth strokes, NEVER "saw" a file back and forth -one way only.
The angle is not so important as the technique. Once you have mastered filing, the angles will become intuitive.
Most of all, have fun.
Stacy
 
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