? for Draw file bladesmiths

Tommegow

Tommegow

Joined
Dec 16, 2004
Messages
678
I recently watched Hall of Famer Don Fogg (congrats Don BTW) Forge then file a knife in to existance. It was a thing of beauty. I have some 1/8" X 1.25"
0-1 flat bar stock I was going to try try filing myself. After I cut it into a knife blank do I need to create a quick secondary bevel (.020 thick) then drawfile/ file to that edge?
Thanks
 
It would be agood idea to set the bevels. You may want to do it a bit thicker than .020, say .04, this will allow for additional clean up and you will not be too thin for heat treat.

Chuck
 
Tommegow said:
I recently watched Hall of Famer Don Fogg (congrats Don BTW) Forge then file a knife in to existance. It was a thing of beauty. I have some 1/8" X 1.25"
0-1 flat bar stock I was going to try try filing myself. After I cut it into a knife blank do I need to create a quick secondary bevel (.020 thick) then drawfile/ file to that edge?
Thanks
Click to expand...


I assumed in my last post that you are beginning in knifemaking. If you are then I suggest you get a couple of books. Wayne Goddards $50 Knifeshop and How to make Knives by Richard Barney and Robert W. Loveless. Thes two books cover just about all you need to know about making knives. Waynes book covers how to do it with minimal tools while How to Make Knives does stock removal, forging and a good section on filing a knife. if you can only affor 1 then go with Waynes but I would really recoomend both. Don Fogg's website has to be one of the best informational point I have found. Use this as a good place to start. I have only done a coulple of blades fully with a file. It just teakes way too long and if you get impatient you may get discouraged.

Keep at it a little at a time it will come thogether. if you need a little more help let us know and we'll try to help out.

Good luck
Chuck
 
There has got to be something that I am totally not understanding about drawfiliing. I have tried to follow the written instructions of those who know and understand, but all that I seem to accomplish is to mess up. All that I do is create a monument to scatches and gouges. I really need to see someone who has mastered filing so that I will understand---HELP
Thanks Tom Hollowell (Cooter DeGraw)
 
hey cooter,I have filed all my blades so far,and one thing that helps keep the scratches and gouges to a minimum is to clean your file with a wire brush every few strokes.some steels seem to cause burrs and hold onto them causing some serious gouges-especially when your cut is not perfectly straight.
shawn
 
when u set your offset center lines for your master bevel file to that line and switch to sand paper. thats how i do it, i was trying to go all the way with files before and had the same problem with gouges even though i would clean the file every few passes. 80 grit sand paper is amazingly effective at removing metal. and what is nice is knowing that u can only make a 80 grit scratch nothing deeper. so what i do now is file to my lines, 80 grit, 180 , grit , 320 grit then 400 then heat treat. this last knife i did like this came out very clean and was real happy.
 
Thanks guys--I have read and re-read a short tutorial that Primos wrote in Mar./ Apr. of 05 ---even fabbed a filing jig like uses--used the same files--followed the recipe to the letter--the only thing I didn't try was his brand of tooth paste--still no sucess, but I will not retreat nor will I lay down my arms and surrender--if I keep trying and try to do as as I am told --I will suceed Thanks Tom (cooter)
 
Cooter,

You are experiencing pinning. This is when the file gets clogged with steel and it gouges the material rather than cut. I still have this happen from time to time. Dakota is right on that you should clean your files every few strokes. Another method is to load your file with chalk. Just fille away on a piece of chalk until the teeth are full and then cut on your blade. This will help keep the teeth free of swarf and it may help. Also use a lighter pressure especially on the non-cut stroke. I even go as far as lifting the file slightly. Then when you have practiced for a few hundred hours you will still gouge it and need to sand out the grand canyon. Good lucka nd keep on filing

Chuck
 
Drawfiling, this is how I do it:
drawfiling.JPG
 
get a new file, get a long angle lathe file if you can find one ,
Enco and Wholesale tool has em.

Personally I like a square file for draw filing intead of the traditional flat file, maybe its just me but I can keep the square file flat to the work, much better than I can a flat file.
 
I spray my files off with brake cleaner just to make sure any oily gunk is gone. I also sprinkle powdered graphite on the files, it lubricates and keep the teeth clear a little longer so you don't have to card as much. I have not tried chalk yet but I am sure it works as good as graphite powder.
 
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