File guide

A file guide for what? I have several that I made and I think George made a few also. To give a short answer on making, grind it to the shape you want and harden but do not temper it.
 
I have one from Koval, it a bit less expensive than the Riverside Machine unit, but I don't think it's as good.

Make sure you use a file with a safe side where it slides against the guide. Saves on files and guides.

If you don't have, and don't want to buy one, just grind the teeth off the edges of one of your files.
 
I've used the one from Riverside for several years and it is a really great tool. Years of passing a file over it has had no effect other than polishing the surface. I asked them how hard that steel was and as I recall he said about Rc80. Whatever it is, it' hard. Precision tool, also. Spendy, but worth it.
 
You absolutely cannot beat the one from Uncle Al at Riverside Machine. I paid around $100 for mine, and it has paid for itself countless times.

If you are particular about guard fit, and want a perfectly tight joint, the shoulders MUST be square and flat.

This is one of those times when the cheap version will just cost you more time and money in frustration (IMO) :)
 
Does anybody know what is wrong with http://www.kovalknives.com/ ?
I tried to send them an E-mail to order the file-guide, but there mailbox is full.

Does anybody know an alternative address to order a fileguide other than Koval or Riverside? The $95,- from Riverside is a bit expensive for me.
 
I make mine out of 5160 and i do temper them. After snapping a couple from over tightening it became obvious that some tempering was needed. Two of my files have had ONE side ground smooth. You can still use the other side if needed just by flipping the file over.
 
Henglo,
Yes, Koval Knives, owned by 2 of the finest folks in the knife business was closed and their inventory and name were sold to Jantz Supply last year.
Unfortunately, both Mick and Judy Koval passed on in 2005. They are missed by many who knew them.
Try www.jantzsupply.com
or "bite the bullet" and spend what it costs to buy from Uncle Al.
 
I make mine from worn out files by putting two together with a piece of PG 01 sanwiched at one end. I anneal the large end of the files, and either drill and tap for bolts, or just rivet them together. Then I grind the teeth from the working edges, squareing them at the same time on a flat table sander. Works well for me, and I make very good guard to blade fits, if I do say so. I also don't worry with using a safe edge file when using them. I seldom use the edge teeth on a file anyway, and have experienced no wear on the guides in twenty-five years of using them. I also use them for making a nice pair of matched ricasso borders, when I do high end work. I have a set of guides that cover most all the blade thicknesses I generally use. It does not take very long to make this type of guide, and they do work.
 
I am one of them "typed description challenged". LRB...can you post a pic so this will make some sense? I understand the need for a file guide to get nice, straight, even edges for the guards. Just can't picture how you've used old files to make one...

Rick
 
pennyknife017.jpg
[/IMG] These are non-adjustable, you make one for each size steel you use. They are dirt simple, but work fine. This one is for 1/4", and was made around 1977. I still use it, and it is still true to a machinist square.
 
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