File work,files skating across surface

T

The Zodiac

Joined
May 30, 2001
Messages
243
Hi
when I go to do file work the starting of the cut the file want to skate across the face,the blades are not heat treated yet,
I need some input in to how to stop this problem,I would be thankful for any input.
Thanks Nathan ><>
 
I tape my thumb in maskingtape and use that as a guide when starting to file. Just press the file against the thumb and locate the first cut.
 
I always start the cut with a small riffler file, and make the first couple of cuts on the pull stroke. Once the cut is established I move to the final file, but again I often make the first couple of cuts on the pull.

Hope this helps.

Dave
 
I use a dremel with a small aluminum oxide grinding bur, about 3/16" in diameter, and make a small groove. Thats for larger files. For small files I use a cut off wheel to make the initial groove, and sometimes the entire cut. Filwork goes pretty quickly if you can do it this way.
 
A word of caution on using the Dremel cutoff wheel- I have had it bite on the edge and run right down the face of a blade, deeply enough to preclude error recovery (that means it went into the trash heap). Use both hands to hold the tool, and have the knife clamped firmly in a vise.

For what it's worth, I don't use the Dremel for this job any more.
 
thanks for all he input, I like the trick with the tape on the thumb and the cutting on the pull stroke,I will pratice on some scrape
before I divee in on on a good blade.
Nathan:)
 
Good point on the dremel. I run mine at about 10,000RPM and work from the side of the knife that it will ride up the blade instead of down. If it catches, it skips across the spine where your more likely to be able to hide it somehow. I pretty much take my time and let the dremel do the work too. Hardly any pressure involved. Do one side and then turn the peice and do the other side so that you never have the wheel trying to run down the blade.
You could probably tape the bevels of the blade also.
 
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