Adding filework to a finished knife

Qew71

Qew71

Joined
Dec 4, 2000
Messages
169
As part of my learning process as a knife knut, I'm currently in the process of "customising" a knife I have.

Since it came to me as a completed piece, it's already been tempered and therefore the steel is at RC57-60.

I tried adding some filework to the spine but DAMN my files seem to be getting worn down!

I'd marked out where I'd like some scalloping and started with a triangular file... the first "scallop" went well enough but by the second scallop I felt little cutting. I left that second scallop half done and started a third and felt even less cutting.

Examining the edge of the file with a 10x loupe showed thatthe teeth of the file looked rather... blunted... most were rounded. I believe that the hardness of the steel blade was hell on my file.

Are there any other ways to do it? Is there a type/brand of files I should be looking at?

P/S I'm probably using inferior equipment anyway... my small set of files came from a small hardware store and I believe that they were made in China. I saw some file from STANLEY at another bigger hardware store. Should this be good enough or should I look for a better brand? Mail order is an option. Please advise. Should I look at a power tool?

One last thing... the little bit of filing that I did on the spine of this knife got me to thinking that filework goes in BEFORE a heat treat, so the metal will be easier to work with... is that true? or is it dependent on the nature of the work? Thanx again
 
Diamond files, or diamond bits in a dremel. Be careful if you go with the dremel, though. One slip and you have hours of sanding to correct what it can do to a blade, if it can be corrected at all. You can get the files off of eBay. Diamond files also cut on the push AND pull stroke, instead of just the push stroke, as standard files do.
Hope this helps.
 
Cutting hardened steel is hard on any file but your knife is harder than the ones from china.:D They make them from Home Depot steel. There have been many threads here about files. I'd suggest you search for them and get many opinions on file manufacturers. I hate to say search all the time but the fact is that by doing that you get far better opinions then I can give.
 
great pointers! I'll go do a search.

I'd never heard of diamond files tho it's a logical think to make I guess... I'll see if I can find one.

I haven't got a a dremel tool... but I had considered attaching a grinding bit from a dremel to my power drill... hmmm... might work. Maybe I'll clamp the drill dorn and apply the knife to the bit instead of the other way around... I should get more control that way.

Thanx again guys!
 
Oz is right about the Demel however it in my opinion ruins as much work as it saves.
One last thing... the little bit of filing that I did on the spine of this knife got me to thinking that filework goes in BEFORE a heat treat, so the metal will be easier to work with... is that true? or is it dependent on the nature of the work? Thanx again
Click to expand...

Knife makers do it both ways. The vast majority that I know only do filework on edge quenched knives. It can and should be done after the heat treat in that case.
 
You might want to check out Nicholson Black Diamond files. Most cheap files are case hardened and the end result is a crappy file. Nicholson are probably one of the better types of files, and you might be able to pick them up at Home Depot.
 
Originally posted by peter nap
[BKnife makers do it both ways. The vast majority that I know only do filework on edge quenched knives. It can and should be done after the heat treat in that case. [/B]
Click to expand...

true... but in this case, the spine isn't hard and is thus the same as a pre-heat treated blade.

Thanx for all your suggestions guys! I looked at a few of the smaller hardware shops here and couldn't find any diamond files... I'll go look in one of the bigger (and hopefully better stocked) places... otherwise I'll buy them off the net.

Files for chainsaws would be even harder to find I expect... being so urban, almost no one owns any chainsaws here. And the landscaping companies would probably have their own "secret" source of supplies... but still a good lead though.
 
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