Adding jimping with a checkering file to a heat-treated blade -- doable?

E

edgecentricity

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Feb 10, 2018
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Hope it's okay to post this here rather than in the tinkering forum. It pertains to modification, but I figure the folks here might have the most experience.

I've been considering a Manly Peak knife, but noticed there's no jimping on the thumb ramp. That may be a non-issue, but I've gotten used to the feeling of a jimped thumb ramp, per Spyderco knives. Given that the Peak's thumb ramp is flat, I thought it might be possible to add jimping with a checkering file, creating a series of evenly spaced grooves all at once (rather than filing or grinding one groove at a time).

Only trouble is, the blade would already be heat-treated (obviously). The steel choices, I believe, are D2, 154CM and S90V.

Would a checkering file (or two) stand a chance of getting through any of those metals, after they've undergone heat treatment?

Cheers
 
probably will ruin your files, but they might do the job, depending on the hardness of the blade and the file. you might look at diamond files, they'll cut hardened steel, but they wear out fast too.
 
Priced checkering files recently? $30 -$50 is common. That'll be some "espensive" filing on a not so espensive knife. IMHO you'll wear out a checkering file's tiny ridges before you accomplish your objective. I think those steels will eat a checkering file in no time.

One thought................. a cheaper (but, admittedly, much more complex) approach might be grind the jimping in using a thin cutting wheel in a Foredom or Dremel. Just my, off the cuff, 2 cents.

Corey
 
Dang, it sounds like filing is out -- except maybe for diamond files, but I haven't been able to find any in a checkering pattern. As to the Dremel, I've long wanted one -- it'd cost more than a file, but would last a lot longer. Thanks, guys.

EDIT: Might a checkering file with high HRC (66-67) stand a chance -- and if so, against which steel (D2, 154 CM or S90V) might the file best fare? Or is this just wishful thinking on my part?
 
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I wouldn't do it.
I doubt if it will work and if it does I think the result will de disappointing.
Also I think it will ruin your checkeringfile and they are not cheap.
I'm more thinking diamond files or dremel cut off wheels.
 
There aren't many manufacturers of checkering files much less a "high HRC (66-67)" version.
 
For me, even the way I use a checkering file relies on the steel being soft.
I will start on an angle hitting just one edge until I have grooves to run in, then I slowly lower the angle until I'm level across the surface.
It is a total non-starter with a hardened blade.
 
I have done it on hardened O1 tool steel. However, I can tell that my checkering file has never cut the same.
 
Hengelo_77 said:
I wouldn't do it.
I doubt if it will work and if it does I think the result will de disappointing.
Also I think it will ruin your checkeringfile and they are not cheap.
I'm more thinking diamond files or dremel cut off wheels.
Click to expand...

Yes, the Dremel is a possibility, or diamond files, if I were confident I could achieve a uniform result.
 
"....EDIT: Might a checkering file with high HRC (66-67) stand a chance -- and if so, against which steel (D2, 154 CM or S90V) might the file best fare? Or is this just wishful thinking on my part?..."


Refer to post #4.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
"....EDIT: Might a checkering file with high HRC (66-67) stand a chance -- and if so, against which steel (D2, 154 CM or S90V) might the file best fare? Or is this just wishful thinking on my part?..."


Refer to post #4.
Click to expand...

Still no bueno, huh? Well, it was worth an ask -- I thought maybe a higher HRC could make the difference.

Okay, here's another long shot: I think I saw in a thread earlier today -- here, or on another forum -- something about briefly heating with a flame the spine of a blade to locally undo some of the heat treatment, making that section of metal easier to file.

Don't quote me on the accuracy of that description -- I just glimpsed at the post.
 
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edgecentricity said:
Dang, it sounds like filing is out -- except maybe for diamond files, but I haven't been able to find any in a checkering pattern. As to the Dremel, I've long wanted one -- it'd cost more than a file, but would last a lot longer. Thanks, guys.

EDIT: Might a checkering file with high HRC (66-67) stand a chance -- and if so, against which steel (D2, 154 CM or S90V) might the file best fare? Or is this just wishful thinking on my part?
Click to expand...
I have several Pferd Corinox file , but I never tried them on hardened steel over 44-48 hrc ........
Quote is for Pferd Corinox file ..........
have a surface hardness of 1200 HV (70-72 HRc), therefore a higher wear resistance and longer service life. That allows filing of hardened and tempered steel up to 60 HRc, hard-to-file materials like heat resistant steel, exotic alloys
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http://www.corradishop.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=42
 
You can't spot soften an air-hardening steel.
Quite simply- you will ruin a checkering file on hardened knife steel.
The Pferd files are probably industrial hard chromed to have that hardness. Regardless they will wear quickly on hard steel.
Do your checkering before hardening.
 
Richard338 said:
You might contact Josh at razor edge knives. He seems to have added serations to production blades.
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I did ask him sometime back about a different knife, but at the time, he was able only to add wider-spaced jimping. And unfortunately, even if that's changed, with the CBSA's absurd interpretation of what constitutes a "prohibited weapon", there's a greater chance that my modified knife could be confiscated on its way to Canada. That would be a very expensive modification.

Perhaps I could acquire the knife, disassemble it, send Josh the blade and have it ship it back, ha ha -- but I'd probably be looking at at least as much in labor and shipping as the knife itself is worth. Bah.
 
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