Files

[pso]

I have a question about files. I am currently filing the flats for a flat ground kitchen knife made from a piece of 1/16" thick, annealed 1074. The Nicholson and Sandvik second cut files that I am using consistently accumulate "little blobs" of steel after about 8 to 10 stokes (pushing) after cleaning with a file card. The blobs are about 1/32" to 1/16" across and tend to be arranged in columns along the length of the file. They cause the file to "skate" instead of cut and they also seem to leave gouge marks in the steel. I am using the files in the workshop at work. They have probably been abused in many ways in the past. The points of the teeth on one of them looks shiny.

Is there anything I can do to prevent this? Would it help to rub chalk on the file before using it. Is it time to get a new set of files? If so, what files should I be getting? Flat and or half round? Second cut and or smooth? Grobet and a Swiss made brand called Laure, or something like it, are available in my area (small-town New Zealand).

Lastly, is there any truth to the statement that one should not touch the working surface of a file with ones hands, except at the ends, because the sweat will corrode the file and dull it over time?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Phil

 

[Bob Sigmon]

Chalk is definitely the answer. It makes it much easier to clean out the chips, but you do still have to use the file card. You might try a bastard file for roughing out the material and then progress to finer files.

After filing spray down the file with WD-40 to inhibit the rust. It is hard to keep proper pressure on the file, whether light or heavy without touching the file.

Hope this helps,

Bob Sigmon

 

[Chang]

You might as well try getting new Nicholson files. Sharp files will cut more evenly and much faster. Nothing is more frustrating than a dull hacksaw blade or a dull file. A flat file and a half round file should work great, and get a finer file to clean up after using the bastard file, or it takes a long time to sand.

 

[peter nap]

8 to 10 strokes sounds about right. The gouges you see are the result of the globs of steel in the file. You want to avoid these like the plague. They will really screw up a good file job. No matter what file I'm using, when I rough file I turn the file over every 4 or 5 strokes. After I've filed on both sides I clean it chalk it and start again. When I've gotten to the finish files I turn or clean on every stroke and brush the blade with a bench brush in between every stroke. You will be amazed how little sanding you need to do with proper filing technique. Someone posted the other day that they could file to about 220 grit. I expect that's` about right.

 

[sattley]

Get a double cut bastard file. The bigger the better (up to a point). Nicholsons are good, Grobets are better. Use lot of chalk or soapstone and clean it often.
good luck

 

[m l williams]

pso,I used to do a lot of filing; try this. Every other stroke make a couple of strokes across the heel of your hand. If you pull out the chunks before they become large and imbedded your filing will go much smoother. You can also feel the any big ones and card them out before you stroke the file across the blade. It's much easier to keep the gauges out of the blade than to get them out once they are in. Least it works for me. mw

 

[Bart student]

grobet and sandvik make basically the same files, just stamp'm differently. I have several files here which carry both stamps, one on each side of the file. Laure I do not know of, but the best files on the world are those by Valor, also Swiss.

Yes, your sweat will corrode the steel of the file, even if you can't see it, namely the very tips of the teeth.

I file a lot too, and those sandvik files I have just don't stop cutting.. I use chalk, and rub them over my lefthand after every two wipes or so. every 8 - 10 wipes with the filecard.

Lately however, i got my greedy paws on some 20 inch rough steel files by Sandvik, they work great for heavy stock removal. Then I finish the surface with a ultrafine single cut file, by grobet. After that I can continue handsanding at 150 grit, as there are hardly scratches left.