Filing Stainless

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bikedave99

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Feb 9, 2016
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Can you file bevels on annealed stainless (AEB-L) like you can with carbon steels. I filed the bevels in on a few O-1 knives and would like take a pass at some small kitchen knifes next. I've looked around for the answer, but every tutorial/suggestion relating to filing bevels has folks heading toward O-1, 1084, etc. Thanks!
 
Sure you can. It can be a little harder to file than some carbon steels but AEB-L files just fine for example.
 
bikedave99 said:
Can you file bevels on annealed stainless (AEB-L) like you can with carbon steels. I filed the bevels in on a few O-1 knives and would like take a pass at some small kitchen knifes next. I've looked around for the answer, but every tutorial/suggestion relating to filing bevels has folks heading toward O-1, 1084, etc. Thanks!
Click to expand...
yes
try a diamond file,cheap on Ebay......
then there is always the Drmel or a good stone.
 
I have been filing stainless for years and actually find them pretty easy to file with a regular Mill-bastard file. I even file S110V with no issues.
 
Thanks all for the replies, sounds like it is a go! I wasn't able to find any annealed hardness numbers on the steels so was a little apprehensive about ordering it.
 
Somewhere I think I saw typically annealed hardness for SS around Rc 45 - 47. I could be wrong, however.
Tim
 
Some stainless will have unbelievably hard mill scale, and it's definitely harder on bandsaw blades. But with quality files (pferd, grobet, older American/Canadian Nicholson's, ect) it files easily
 
You don't need or want a diamond file to file stainless. Diamond files are not remotely aggressive compared to standard files, and the biggest issue with stainless is it's gummy nature, and tendency to clog files with chips that are extremely difficult to remove in some cases.

Just use the most aggressive files you have. Stainless is not particularly difficult to file annealed, lots of us do it all the time for fittings, shoulders, etc. If you have trouble with a double cut file, try something like a Magicut or similar.
 
^ That right there, is an excellent recommendation!
 
javand said:
You don't need or want a diamond file to file stainless. Diamond files are not remotely aggressive compared to standard files, and the biggest issue with stainless is it's gummy nature, and tendency to clog files with chips that are extremely difficult to remove in some cases.

Just use the most aggressive files you have. Stainless is not particularly difficult to file annealed, lots of us do it all the time for fittings, shoulders, etc. If you have trouble with a double cut file, try something like a Magicut or similar.
Click to expand...

Man, I've been trying to buy a magicut for a while, haven't had much luck.
 
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