A question about files

T

thegeek574

Joined
Sep 3, 2010
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OK, first, a bit of a warning. the first part of this post is a rant. sympathy is accepted and wanted ;). the second part is the question. feel free to skip down to the second paragraph if you having a good day and do not feel in the mood for a bit of a downer.

Here goes. OK, so the birthday just came, and so, when all the presents and stuff come in, together with the money i have i have enough for a belt sander. i asked what you people would recommend, and you said the craftsman 2x42 for my budget. i check the website multiple times, and the price is 145, just under my limit. i checked 1 more time monday night, and the price is the same. when we get to the store, the price was back to 160, and the website said 160. i couldn't afford that and get belts, so i left, went to home depot, and got the ryobi 4x36 for 120. it had pretty good reviews, and so i figured i was fine. i get my new toy home, and start playing with it. it works great, and is generally a lot faster than my file, even with the 80 grit aluminum oxide belt. after playing with it for a while, i noticed a new and different sound. i hunted it down, and it turned out to be the drive wheel. it was tracking to the side so badly that it was rubbing the metal frame. i readjusted it, and it was fine for about 5 minutes, then resumed it's former noisemaking. i adjusted again, and again, and then a couple more times, and it continued to track very badly to the side. i am to the point where it is going to be going back, and i doubt i will be bringing another one home. the belts that are coming from supergrit may end up being my belated 500 post giveaway. :rolleyes::D:barf::(:thumbdn:

now, for the question. i think i am just going to go back to files for the amount of knives that i am going to be making, but i do not think the 8 inch i got form home depot is going to cut it. where can i get an absolutely massive file, like 12-18 inch? the coarser, the better. the rest of the money will go into a decent forge, propane, files, sandpaper, and other things that just have to get bought.

thanks for listening. to summarize, ryobi 4x36 sucks, and what would you recommend for a huge file?
 
thegeek574 said:
OK, first, a bit of a warning. the first part of this post is a rant. sympathy is accepted and wanted ;). the second part is the question. feel free to skip down to the second paragraph if you having a good day and do not feel in the mood for a bit of a downer.

Here goes. OK, so the birthday just came, and so, when all the presents and stuff come in, together with the money i have i have enough for a belt sander. i asked what you people would recommend, and you said the craftsman 2x42 for my budget. i check the website multiple times, and the price is 145, just under my limit. i checked 1 more time monday night, and the price is the same. when we get to the store, the price was back to 160, and the website said 160. i couldn't afford that and get belts, so i left, went to home depot, and got the ryobi 4x36 for 120. it had pretty good reviews, and so i figured i was fine. i get my new toy home, and start playing with it. it works great, and is generally a lot faster than my file, even with the 80 grit aluminum oxide belt. after playing with it for a while, i noticed a new and different sound. i hunted it down, and it turned out to be the drive wheel. it was tracking to the side so badly that it was rubbing the metal frame. i readjusted it, and it was fine for about 5 minutes, then resumed it's former noisemaking. i adjusted again, and again, and then a couple more times, and it continued to track very badly to the side. i am to the point where it is going to be going back, and i doubt i will be bringing another one home. the belts that are coming from supergrit may end up being my belated 500 post giveaway. :rolleyes::D:barf::(:thumbdn:

now, for the question. i think i am just going to go back to files for the amount of knives that i am going to be making, but i do not think the 8 inch i got form home depot is going to cut it. where can i get an absolutely massive file, like 12-18 inch? the coarser, the better. the rest of the money will go into a decent forge, propane, files, sandpaper, and other things that just have to get bought.

thanks for listening. to summarize, ryobi 4x36 sucks, and what would you recommend for a huge file?
Click to expand...

I always find large files in my garage....

I got a 18 inch one Leaning on my nightstand lol
 
thegeek574 said:
thanks loads ;) wait a sec, can i go through your garage????
Click to expand...

I don't know- not even I can go THROUGH it, though I find interesting things every time I look in it- like my schrade 150t that magically appeared in a tool box...
 
Quote: "where can i get an absolutely massive file, like 12-18 inch? the coarser, the better. "

Great question! A file that will do some SERIOUS draw filing! I would like to know also.

On the other hand... a LARGE super fine file would be nice also, to smooth down the gouges from the above mentioned coarse large file.

I've taken my 2X42 belts and placed them on a 2" wide board cut just long enough for them to fit, when the ends are rounded over, about 21". They're not files but give me some of what I am looking for.

- Paul Meske
 
One of my local hardware stores carries them in coarse cut up to 16" I believe. No, it's not a regular hardware store though. They are a machine shop/farm equipment repair/hardware store/gun smith/farm supply/anything you need type of store, and the best at all of it too. The last project I did I needed eight 3' lengths of 2" SS threaded rod and they had it on the shelf!

Maybe check the independant farm supply stores near you, and if not McMaster-Carr will have what you need, they have everything.


-Xander
 
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A 4x36 is a poor substitute for a belt sander that uses a narrower belt. Don't get me wrong, I use mine on most projects... but I would not attempt to grind bevels with it. I *might* use it to make a first pass flattening/clean-up of a file grind... but I've had mixed results doing that.

If it was me, I'd take the unit back for a refund on the belt sander.

After that, I'd look for belt sander more appropriate to knife making... such as the 2x42 (or, if you're REALLY cheap like I am, a 1x30).

- Greg
 
tryppyr said:
A 4x36 is a poor substitute for a belt sander that uses a narrower belt...If it was me, I'd take the unit back for a refund on the belt sander.
Click to expand...

I agree. I started with a 4x36 and hated it. In addition to being plain clumsy to grind blades on, I went through 3 drive belts in a few months. Hang in there and get the 2x42 it's much easier to use well. The motor drives the main wheel directly so there's really nothing to wear out. I mean eventually the motor may puke or need a rebuild, but I've had mine for 2 1/2 years and ground dozens of blades on it with no issues.

Regardless, you'll still want to have some good files around :thumbup:
 
I had a 4x36 with a 9 inch disk, which then fried due to metal dust in the motor, (I saved the disk though) as well as a 1x30 with a 6 inch disk (still running). Use the disk for roughing shaping and the 1" belt for final shaping and files on the blade itself. A massive file is not really needed, any files I use are around 8" and not the coarsest things going. Too coarse and you spend a lot of time trying to get rid of the gouges. Get a good triple set for about 30 dollars and if you can find a belt/disk sander, grab it, you will use it for handles if nothing else.
 
ok, the belt sander is going back immediately, becuase it does not do what i need it to do in addition to the fact that it is broken. how is the quality of the files at mc-master carr? i want something along he lines of a Nicholson in terms of quality, not some piece of excrement.
 
thegeek574 said:
ok, the belt sander is going back immediately, becuase it does not do what i need it to do in addition to the fact that it is broken. how is the quality of the files at mc-master carr? i want something along he lines of a Nicholson in terms of quality, not some piece of excrement.
Click to expand...

Well McMaster generally doesn't sell crap, here is the page...http://www.mcmaster.com/#hand-files/=cnj9ay...check it out.


-Xander
 
It's worthwhile to compare prices/shipping/sales etc between McM, MSC, Grainger and Enco.
 
4X36 sanders are woodworking tools.
The 12" Magicut files will move a lot of metal.
 
Might I suggest that you save the money from the 4x36 and use it on the 2x42 when it goes back on sell. And save every dime you get in to put towards belts.

Files are nice, but nothing compared to a good grinder/sander
 
fast14riot said:
One of my local hardware stores carries them in coarse cut up to 16" I believe. No, it's not a regular hardware store though. They are a machine shop/farm equipment repair/hardware store/gun smith/farm supply/anything you need type of store, and the best at all of it too. The last project I did I needed eight 3' lengths of 2" SS threaded rod and they had it on the shelf!

Maybe check the independant farm supply stores near you, and if not McMaster-Carr will have what you need, they have everything.


-Xander
Click to expand...

Hey Xander, what's the store man? I go up to sacramento for meetings every couple months or so, definitely sounds like it is worth a stop.

Red
 
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