Beginning file-work advice?

[Cereal_killer]

Hello guys, I'm wanting to try my hand at some decorative file-work, mostly along the spine and I'm looking for advice... I've been adding jimping to different parts of knives, especially handles by using files for a while now and got comfy making straight-across cuts (in Ti and thinner steel liners and spaced at even intervals) but the artistic aspect of decorative file-work scares me as well as cutting the hardened steel of the blade. Anyone want to share any tips or stories or photos for easier to do beginners patterns thatll be good practice? Of course the super intricate ones look the coolest but being my first fortay into making offset cuts and patterns and such I'd like to K.I.S.S. it.

I guess I'm making this thread just cause I don't even know what I don't know yet! There's lots of threads full of absolutely beautiful file work but most of its just "Hey look what I did" and I'm looking for more reading on the "how to" of it.

 

[Chris "Anagarika"]

I read long time back this one from Bruce Evans (posted here @ BF, can't find it though) ... hope it helps
http://beknivessite2.homestead.com/vinefilework.html
Similarly, good tutorial from googling it:
http://rocketknives.com/tutorials/tutorialfixedbladeknifefilework.html

I didn't have any diamond files back then, and the result wasn't any good.
It's easier for pre-HT blanks, post HT definitely requires being clamped, more steady hand and good files.

 

[Guitarist7.62]

Practice, practice, practice, like anything. Get some round and triangle files and just start practicing on stuff like wood, then up to metal and start on cheap(er) knives. Buck makes some nice $25 knives that would be good to practice on.