Filework made easy......well,.....easier.

Mark Williams

Mark Williams

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I was having trouble getting my spacing right even when marking my blade spine.
So off to the shop.I found some steel rods that were the same diameter as each chain-saw file that I use.I drilled some holes in several pieces of 3/4 x 3/4 x 1 1/2" aluminum. The holes are the same diameter as the file and rod. Press the rod and file into the holes on each end and Presto. You now have evenly spaced cuts much like a checkering tool.You can space the holes differantly for each matched set of file/rod holders. It works great. Just make your first cut, then lay the rod into that cut and so on. You could probably get real fancy with this if you wanted by making the distance between the file and guide rod adjustable with a split block. Hope this is of help to someone.

Mark:)
 
That's a great idea! Here's another method if you're lazy like me...just draw the pattern on a mailing label, cut it out, and attach it to the spine.
 
That's a good idea Mark. I have also found that marking with a pencil and making a notch with a small tri file helps me be precise.:)
 
I bought a pair of shears that cut a nice, even squiggle [sorry about the technical terms :) I think they are called pinking shears]pattern. I just cut the pattern on paper and then tape it onto the spine and file away.

I start each cut with a very thin file; it is easier to get them even, then follow up with my cobalt spiral bit in the router.

I find it much easier to control tyhe cuts with the cutter fixed and the blade in my hands.

This really throws a lot of needles, and I don't recomend ayone else doing this :)

Dave
 
Thanks Dave...a new way to hurt myself. I've used the router to mill aluminum but I hadn't thought about it for filework.:eek:
 
Gee......wonder if anybody's tried using an old key cutting machine for fileworking........naaaaaah......be much too easy!;)
 
Measure and mark where you want you file cuts with a scribe. A very sharp cold chisel will "feel" the scribed line on the corner of the spine. Ding the scribed lines gently with a cold chisel on the corner of the spine. You now have a notch that will hold your 3 square needle file to make the starts for your cuts.
 
the only times i've tried it, was on a hardended blade.

i tilted the table on a 1 in belt sander and used the edge of the belt to cut the patern. It goes quick, a little tricky to control, and realy easy to screw up and go to far....Eric..:D

I'm going to try files one day, but i'm a tool maker not an artist.
 
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