File Knife Problem

A

alasker00

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Dec 10, 2015
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So I had just finished making some mic a tracker that turned out real nice (an almost OD green color) and I was working on finishing up making a blade form an old file a neighbor had given me. I think I must be cursed when it comes to file knives cuz this might be the second one I have messed up. I was trying to drill a hole for the pins and really could not get it to go through. I Tried to start one with a center punch ( I had seen that before, oops), and lo-and-behold the darn thing cracked right in half. Im trying to salvage the thing but I am still having the drilling problem. Is there some special thing you have to do to be able to work with files? I thought you had to anneal it, so I made a fire in my yard and through it in there and got it the next morning. IT ended up taking all the carbon out of it, cuz it will barely make sparks on the sadner. Im looking for any tips at all on this stuff, second project I have screwed up. Course this is only my third project anyway.
Thanks
 
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Well, I think you just found your way on how to work on files. You have made it soft in the fire overnight. Now you can shape it and then re harden it. The carbon is still in it. I believe if you read the "stickies" above you will find all you want for this one.
My best on getting it made.
Frank
 
A few misconceptions you're dealing with.

You can't drill holes in a hardened file with a regular drill bit, and you can't punch it with a centerpunch.

You can throw a file in a fire, and it will be softer. It will also be less predictable, and predictability is what generates good results.

Softened steel sparks different than hardened steel.

Stacy has a good "file knife" instruction set in the sticky post.

Here's a bullet point version...
- Kitchen oven, 450 for two hours.
- spot temper the pin locations and drill the holes.
- grind and polish, careful not to get it too hot. The steel should not change color while grinding. Dip in water to cool.
- Handle
 
OK thanks, sorry to add another thread to this looking back I bet its all over the place. However, could you tell me how exactly you "spot temper" just the pin locations? And I really am new to this, ut I was wondering if any type of wood is suitable for handling.
 
By spot tempering/annealing, he means with a torch. If you can keep the blade area relatively cool, you can try to use a torch around the pin/handle area to draw some of the hardness out.

Now, personally (if I absolutely had to work with a file), I'd just temper the full hard file to where I wanted the knife to end up, and do all my drilling with some carbide bits.

If you're not worried about exact tolerances on the tang holes, you can actually get away with using a carbide masonry bit, and save a few dollars.
 
Ok thank you I just got that done. It worked perfectly, and I am using the micarta i made for the handle material. However, i got another question. Is the only way to get those nice long bevels by filing by hand? would i use a bastard file?
 
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