Decided to try my hand at turning a file into a dual edged dagger

[tsellati]

As you can see, I am still in the very early stages of this new endeavor of mine -

After having read the stickies on the forum here and watching a few video tutorials on you tube, I decided to go with a slightly rusty and not so slightly old Nicholson file.

After annealing the file I have done some shaping of the tip, flats, and sides -

Now comes the tricky part, at least for a newbie such as myself. That is, applying a bevel to the edges. Would you suggest further use of the pictured grinding stone or is there a more ideal way of rough shaping the edges and tip prior to heat treatment? I am particularly concerned about achieving the best uniformity of the bevels that I apply.

Any advice is very much appreciated.

Tim

 

[SBuzek]

Scribe a center line down each side and use a file.Lot more controlable that the bench grinder.
Do a search for "draw fileing"

Stan

 

[Bill Hoffman]

If those are the only tools you have, grind slowly and gently. Develop the shape in an easy manner
and don't force the grinder or shape. "Listen" to your fingers. Pay attention to what they tell
you. Don't hurry what you are doing. Make progress slowly. Keep the stone from getting glazed.
Don't expect your early knives to be the best.

After 50 years, I'm still learning and pay attention to those who offer suggestions. Your skills aren't
going to bloom fully overnight.

 

[Hengelo_77]

I removed the bulk of the material by filing 'normaly' and finish off by drawfiling.
It gives a lot of control.
You can use a chain saw file to cut the plundglines. I like how that looks

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The stickys have a tutorial on making a knife from a file and making a knife in general.

Save this search engine and you can look up almost any topic discussed in Shop Talk.
http://www.google.com/cse/home?cx=011197018607028182644:qfobr3dlcra

By searching "Knife from a File" you get a lot of discussions and informatin....like this one:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/907667-How-to-Make-a-Knife-From-a-File

How did you anneal the file?

If you are skilled with a bench grinder, it can help remove some excess metal, but most folks do more damage than good with one. Using a flat bastard file is far better.

 

[tsellati]

The stickys have a tutorial on making a knife from a file and making a knife in general.

Save this search engine and you can look up almost any topic discussed in Shop Talk.
http://www.google.com/cse/home?cx=011197018607028182644:qfobr3dlcra

By searching "Knife from a File" you get a lot of discussions and informatin....like this one:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/907667-How-to-Make-a-Knife-From-a-File

How did you anneal the file?

If you are skilled with a bench grinder, it can help remove some excess metal, but most folks do more damage than good with one. Using a flat bastard file is far better.

First off, thanks to everyone for all the excellent suggestions and pointing me in the right direction. Regarding the annealing of the file, I accomplished this by setting the file onto a bed red-hot of wood "coals" generated in my fireplace. For good or ill, I did not quench the file and simply allowed it to cool overnight.

I definitely noticed a difference in the softness of the file before and after annealing. So, although I did not use a magnet to check for loss of magnetic character when it was still hot, I think the annealing worked.

I will likely go the route of using a flat bastard file to bevel the edges. I may also figure out a way to set up a file jig for myself so I can set an even bevel across the length of the pre-knife.

Tim