Filing technique

Jason Fry · Jun 13, 2008

New to the knife game. Havnen't filed much before with the exception of an occasional axe or lawnmower blade. I was working on the bevel of a knife last night that I'm making out of an annealed file. As I filed, the file kept picking up metal chips from the stock, and the chips would make deep scratches in the knife. Is this a function of my files being worn, of my filing technique, or what? How do you prevent and/or deal with this problem?

Steinerj · Jun 13, 2008

I assume you are drawfiling. Some use chalk to keep the teeth clean. This is the challenge of drawfilling, preventing galling. Good luck

Guy Thomas · Jun 13, 2008

Chalk works fairly well but you definitely need to get a file card. This is a type of wire brush specifically for cleaning chips out of files. You can also lightly tap the file on your wooden workbench periodically as you work to knock loose chips. Another trick I learned here years ago is to save spent brass cartridges and run the open bullet end back and forth along the teeth. The teeth cut into the thin brass and the cartridge quickly rides down into the space between the teeth clearing any hard to remove fragments. If you don't draw file yet I highly recomend the technique. You can remove a lot of steel fast.

Mark Redmon · Jun 13, 2008

Guy Thomas said:
Another trick I learned here years ago is to save spent brass cartridges and run the open bullet end back and forth along the teeth.

That's a great tip! And I'm going to be making some "empties" tomorrow!

-Mark

Phil Dwyer · Jun 13, 2008

stefanj · Jun 13, 2008

Use chalk or soap stone on the file (soap stone metal marking sticks from welding supply) on the file.
This helps prevent the metal filings from sticking to the file. Avoid touching the file with your hands or putting any oils on them. Just something I've picked up from here.

silver_pilate · Jun 13, 2008

Clean the file OFTEN; a lot of makers rap the file against the work bench every stroke to clear the larger debris and use a card for cleaning every several strokes.

Great tip on the cartridge cleaner.

--nathan

Phil Dwyer · Aug 19, 2008

This subject just came up again in another thread, so thought I'd bump this thread back to the top for those who are interested. -Phil