Any tips for making serrations?

Ivan Campos

Ivan Campos

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Apr 4, 1999
Messages
2,501
Some customers have been asking me for bread knives so I have been trying to make serrations but so far with no success. Seen a few vidoes on YT but nothing worked very well- it takes too long and the blade ends up getting too hot (I grind my blades after HT)
Any tips will be highly appreciated!
 
I have never put serrations on a blade before, but, what about using diamond files to put them in?
 
Take a file the size and shape of the desired serration cut. Round chainsaw type files (no taper) are best to use. I find 1/4" and 3/8" chainsaw files work perfect. You want a file with no taper.
Cut a matching length plain steel rod of the same diameter.
File the first serration at the ricasso with the file.
Tape the file and plain steel rod together at the ends.
Place the plain rod in the first serration and file the second serration.
Move the plain rod to the new serration ... repeat... repeat.
You can use the same method to sharpen or hone the serrations after HT with a diamond file or ceramic stick.
 
Thanks! I have to put this project aside for a while but will be bak at them soon and will post the results.
 
Depending on the serration pattern I use a checkering file or the method Stacy outlined.... only, I added two more round files to the lineup, for a total of one guide and three cutters. If you add files, you have to adjust your technique a bit, but it's definitely faster.
 
Ivan, if you're making any quantity, this company makes professional wheels with many profiles that get the job done. I've done business with them for many years, but since I don't need serrations, I have not built a machine for that. Picard is a company I highly recommend. https://picard-kg.de/en/produkt/wellenschliffscheiben-fapi-serra/
 
Thanks Kevin, but I don´t think Ill have that much volume.
 
Understand but you might want to save the contact info, Picard is a very good supplier, many firms in Solingen are their customers.
 
Well, I received the diamond file (round,, 3/16" wide. First attempts didn´t went very well as it went super slow and the resulting finish as very rough. :(
Guess I have to put some more time on the process.
 
Ivan Campos said:
Well, I received the diamond file (round,, 3/16" wide. First attempts didn´t went very well as it went super slow and the resulting finish as very rough. :(
Guess I have to put some more time on the process.
Click to expand...
I imagine that has a lot to do with you doing it all after HT. It's like cutting a dozen little choils on hardened material....makes my hands hurt :)
 
Also I have cursed my week´s quote so I have to wait a while before I try again.
 
Ivan Campos said:
Well, I received the diamond file (round,, 3/16" wide. First attempts didn´t went very well as it went super slow and the resulting finish as very rough. :(
Guess I have to put some more time on the process.
Click to expand...
:)

Best way to sharpen serrations?

I've searched the forum and can't find a best way to sharpen serrations. I have a spyderco sharp maker and it pretty much shows sharpening serrations in the same manor you would a straight blade. I've done that and it worked. Sooner or later the serrations will get ground off. I think. ...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
 
Well, it looks like the damond file works!
I have made some tests and then heat treated and ground a 52100 blade to see if it would work and the result was quite positive.
I am finishing it and will post pics in a day or two.
 
There is a diamond coated Serration Wheel on one of the knifemaking supply houses, but it's $450! Yikes! Diamond files may be the way to go!
 
Here is the first finished serrated blade. I went with a very plain bread knife style with clear imbuia wood handle slabs as I wanted to have it finished quickly to see if it would work and althogh filing hardened 52100 is way different than my test blades in 1070, the resulting serrations were fully functional. Next time I'll make them a little higher and deeper.
Anyway, I now have learned ( a little late in my career I admit :cool: ) a new trick and I can apply it to any blade.
Thanks to all of you for your help!
serr1.jpg
 
And, as I posted this pcture, I noticed a hairline crack at the end of the handle slab that I could swear was not there when I finished it. :(
Off went the imbuia and a new set of morado slabs is going to replace it. Fortunatelly it had not been shipped to its owner yet.
 
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