Checkering file question

C

Craig Daniel

Joined
Feb 17, 2016
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Has any of you ever tried to remove some ridges on a checkering file to make thumb serrations wider on the spine of the knife? If so would you share your method? Thanks in advance for your help.
 
Checkering files are really expensive - aside from making the sides safe, I wouldn't ever modify one. If you need wider spacing, just mark them out and do them one at a time with a three square file, or whatever file would provide you with the cut you're looking for. Just my take on it...
 
Take the checkering file and make on pass on the spine. Use a sharpie and mark every second ( or third) line. Use a three-square file to cut these in for the jimping.
 
They make as low as a 10TPI checkering file, if I'm not mistaken. If you need wider than that, mark out what you need with a fine sharpie or some dykem and a scribe, and use a triangle file or even a small chainsaw/needle file. Stacy's recommendation is also good.
 
I would like to know where those 10 lpi files come from, too. I could only find 20 lpi.
Tim
 
Stacy's suggestion is the best course of action. You're not supposed to use checkering files for anything other than laying out the pattern anyway. They set your lines so you have something to follow with a needle file, and you use the needle file to bring the points up.
 
kuraki said:
Stacy's suggestion is the best course of action. You're not supposed to use checkering files for anything other than laying out the pattern anyway. They set your lines so you have something to follow with a needle file, and you use the needle file to bring the points up.
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Yes, and that's the part I REALLY suck at.. I have never been able to make them perfectly spaced myself. Before I knew checkering files existed I was contemplating making a jig that clamped on the blade with a slot a file could slide through and using a dial indicator to set the distance to move it and re clamp it. Still might go this route as then I wouldn't be confined to what ever file(s) I've bought.
 
Craig Daniel said:
Hey Andrew, Can you give me a link to that 10 lpi checkering file?
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pleasanthill said:
+1 on that. I can only find as low as 20lpi.
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tim37a said:
I would like to know where those 10 lpi files come from, too. I could only find 20 lpi.
Tim
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melsdad said:
Same here I bought mine from Brownells 20 LPI. I never seen less than that.
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Well, I don't know what I was thinking, but apparently I made that up. I could have sworn that I saw 10LPI somewhere last time I was looking for some files. My apologies to everybody.

I did find this post from about 14 years ago though :D
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/257097-Checkering-file-help?p=2137169#post2137169

Mike Hull said:
This place is going to be stocking 10LPI, I believe. They also stock the rest of the sizes. I use a 35-40 LPI(#1), and it looks/works great.
I don't like serrations to look like sawteeth.
http://www.boggstool.com/

Their toll free# is, 1-800-547-5244. They are in Paramount, California.
They sell checkering files for $24.50, and 25.50, depending on LPI.
They also resharpen dull checkering files for $5.00, and they come out sharper than new. They sharpen regular files, end mills, taps, carbide rotary files, etc.
Call Mark and get a catalog, he'll send you some coupons good for two file resharpenings at N/C.
Edited to add; Here is some normenclature on checkering files.

00 = 20LPI
0 = 30LPI
1 = 40LPI
4 = 75LPI
Hope this helps.:D
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I shot them an email, although it's an AOL.com account, and I wasn't aware anybody still had or used those. :D

Sorry if I got anybody's hopes up, though now I'm wondering if we could convince a file maker to knock out a pile of coarser checkering files if the demand seemed to present itself...
 
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