Friction engravings to spine -How to do?

[clearblue]

Would appreciate any tips/info/links-- on how to do the splinal tap type friction engravings such as Ferrous put on the spine of Nasty's blade.

What tools are most efficient?

Would a chain saw file for the grooves and a dremel cutoff wheel for the channels work o.k.?

I've got a 16" $9.95 India Special with no temper I'd like to practice on.

 

[Nasty]

Toolmaker's files (about 6" long, usually come in a set) were used on mine...any good grade should work fine on the unhardened spine. I imagine a steady hand, good eyes and some creativity for using them in different ways. You might want to us a piece of aluminum for practice...no sense in dulling the files if you're just doing design work.

ps: The "official" name of such an engraving is a "Nasty Pad"

 

[Yvsa]

Use a triangular file, or a standard file turned on its corner, either will work. Or you can use your Dremel with a cutoff wheel.
Since you've got a cheap one to practice on try several different combos and pick the one you like best. A Dremel with the 1/8" carbide bit would also make a nice option along with the cutoff wheel.

 

[Bri in Chi]

Various size chainsaw files work great. Easier to use than the standard half-round needle files, since they are parallel, not tapered. Get a file handle for each one to make things easier. Just keep a consistent angle and even spacing. Practice on a suitable sized piece of mild steel or aluminum bar stock from the hardware store until you get the feel of it. Good luck.

 

[clearblue]

Thanks for the input!

Ya'll have sparked an idea.

I'm headed to Ace Hdw tomorrow and pick up a set of the chainsaw sharpening/grinding bits so I won't have to push that file back and forth foe an hour.

 

[Nasty]

Ferrous Wheel (Keith) actually only used one file on mine. He has a bunch of different patterns he's designed for the work, all of them *very* nice. Mine happens to be double "u's" sort of like this u U u U u U You can use all of the edgeds and surfaces either straight or angled to come up with all kinds of variations. My favorite pattern of his uses a square corner overlaid at an angle...makes a sort of beautiful leaf pattern, but leaves (pun intended) an edge a bit sharper than I wanted...so I went with the u's.