- Joined
- May 20, 2000
- Messages
- 198
Many articles make reference to file testing for checking hardness of metals. What is the Rockwell-C of files off the shelf today?
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File hardness
- Thread starter Rick Leeson
- Start date
It kind of depends on what type and quality of file you speak of...a good Nicholson(?). I'm sure that there are enough metalurgists on this page to tell you exactly what the hardness should be for any given file but my experience is that if the file is expensive then it is of the highest usable hardness available. The less expensive files are usually a little softer and are less likely to be consistant from file to file.
There is a set of files that are used to determine a metals' hardness that was offerred by most tool and die houses as an inexpensive way of determining work hardening and tempering.
I'm not sure if I answered your query but I'm sure that there will be a hue and cry from the ranks if I didn't!
All the Best
Dileas Gu Brath
There is a set of files that are used to determine a metals' hardness that was offerred by most tool and die houses as an inexpensive way of determining work hardening and tempering.
I'm not sure if I answered your query but I'm sure that there will be a hue and cry from the ranks if I didn't!
All the Best
Dileas Gu Brath
- Joined
- Nov 17, 1999
- Messages
- 676
Hello,
I asked the file-question some time ago to a mettalurgist, this is not his field, but I couldn't find any better. This is about what he said.
A file.... there are two types of files. The good ones are all the way hardened and the bad one are just surface hardened. Any good, fresh file (Grobet, Sandvik, Nicholson..) will have a hardness exceeding 60 HRC. About 61-62. I doesn't really matter which file you'll take, as all are high carbon steels, and are hardened to file-hardness. But, a bad file will wear much much faster. And when the suface is compromised (wear of theeth), you'll end up with a worthless piece of steel.
I am not sure about the exact numbers of hardness, but about 62 should be right, maybe a little higher for better files. I always use the same file for this (a sandvik - very good files) and never use the file for something else. So it stays constant, and when the file doesn't cut, the steel needs tempering untill the file cuts as much in the steel as the steel cuts in the file. If you practice a little bit, it will be OK. I also temper more for bigger blades, less for smaller. It takes practice. Al there is to it.
I am a beginner, so I can be wrong. Somebody please say so if I am wrong !
greetz, Bart.
Feel free to mail me, reply guarantied.
I asked the file-question some time ago to a mettalurgist, this is not his field, but I couldn't find any better. This is about what he said.
A file.... there are two types of files. The good ones are all the way hardened and the bad one are just surface hardened. Any good, fresh file (Grobet, Sandvik, Nicholson..) will have a hardness exceeding 60 HRC. About 61-62. I doesn't really matter which file you'll take, as all are high carbon steels, and are hardened to file-hardness. But, a bad file will wear much much faster. And when the suface is compromised (wear of theeth), you'll end up with a worthless piece of steel.
I am not sure about the exact numbers of hardness, but about 62 should be right, maybe a little higher for better files. I always use the same file for this (a sandvik - very good files) and never use the file for something else. So it stays constant, and when the file doesn't cut, the steel needs tempering untill the file cuts as much in the steel as the steel cuts in the file. If you practice a little bit, it will be OK. I also temper more for bigger blades, less for smaller. It takes practice. Al there is to it.
I am a beginner, so I can be wrong. Somebody please say so if I am wrong !
greetz, Bart.
Feel free to mail me, reply guarantied.