File work questions..

BluegrassBrian

BluegrassBrian

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Apr 20, 2015
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While I'm no stranger to knife collecting and I have a decent understanding of knife making, I've never designed or created a blade or knife myself. The most I've done is a couple forced patinas.
I'm interested in trying to further customize some knives i own by doing some ornamental file work on the tangs or blade backs.

1. What kind of files are best for doing filework?
2. Is filework usually done before or after heat treat? Can it be done to a "finished" knife?
3. Any links to good resources or how-to's on the subject?

Thanks smiths, artists, makers..
 
Hardened steel like finished blades, tangs, locks, etc can easily be filed with diamond files.

I bought a set of diamond needle files off amazon awhile back for $12. I liked them so much I bought a second set just to have extra. They are small, and they require a 'holder", but those are also available. I already had the holder, it's blue aluminum and came with a set of regular needle files that I bought from Knifekits.com.

Just in case you're interested, I'll find a part number or something for the set of diamond needle files I was referring to and report back.
 
I think it's against the rules to provide a link to Amazon (not a Bladeforums sponsor), but if you go to Amazon and do a search for FIL-974.00 you will see them. That's the part number. It's a 10 piece file set.

I'm sure there are higher quality files out there, but at a much higher price. I've bought several brands of diamond files over the years, and one particular set I was looking for was a set of fine grit diamond needle files. Out of the various ones I bought, I like the FIL-974.00 the best. I like them better, and they are better quality, than ones I bought that were three times the price. What I really like about them is the fine grit. It works really well on hardened steel. Some of the more expensive files I bought were described and marked as fine, but they were actually very coarse, and no good for detailed work.

By the way, the blue holder I mentioned is also available on Amazon. It might take a bit of browsing to find it. I think I saw it listed as a mini screwdriver handle.
 
Yep, I meant a handle.

Amazon has more of those files, just one vendor only had one left in stock. Amazon often has multiple vendors selling the same product at different prices. The vendor with the lowest price is the one that shows up first when you do a search. If you do another search for the same product, you'll see there is another vendor with more in stock.

I hope you like the files as much as I do. If you've never used diamond files, use light pressure. Let the file grit do the work. And one of the nice things about diamond files is that you can file back and forth, where as with a regular file you can only file in one direction.
 
Right..at that lowest price there was one left.

I've used diamond rods for rebevelling so I'm experienced in that realm. Looking forward to getting creative.
 
It is much harder to do file work on a blade after heat treat even with diamond files...that has been my experience any way.
I bought my diamond files as my standard files at the local big box and they were also just a few bucks and work well.
I do not like the finish of the diamond files...I find because of how the files are made...impregnated diamond dust/chips...they leave a rougher line at the edge and I prefer a crisp line...perhaps I can improve that with more experience but compared to the standard files I find it so.
I use the diamond files as my starter files when working on a project...they make the basic cuts and shapes...far easier and faster than the standard...then for the finish work and the crisp lines I prefer I use standard files.

As I am just a hacker at this I have only worked on finished knifes. I removed the scales when possible and not when unable...just working more carefully. I've done jimping and a lot of decorative work...it's a lot of fun...
 
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