hand-filed edge bevels

bjr

bjr

Joined
Sep 23, 2006
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I am (slowly) working my way through my first lock-back folder. With the exception of the drill press of course, I have shaped every piece by hand with files and sweat. I am ready to start the edge bevels now. I have scribed the center line down the profile of the blade and I have marked out the height of the bevel up the face of the blade. I'm a little nervous about acctually cutting these bevels. Helpful tips are greatly appreciated.
 
You can clamp the blade to a board so the metal doesn't bend on you; c-clamp and 2x4. Then clamp the board to your workbench with another c-clamp. Do some on one side and then flip it over and do the same on the other. Keep flipping. Don't start all the way back at the ricasso at first; give yourself a little 'fudge' room. Frequently sight down the edge so you know you're keeping it even. Clean the file frequently to remove debris. You can lubricate the file with some chalk to keep it from loading.

Hope that's some of what you seek....

Good luck. Have fun!
 
Dont start at the ricasso? I'm glad I checked back. I was getting ready to clamp a file guide down and start at the ricasso. Thanks for the tip. I'll post pics...if it's worth showing off...
 
Start maybe 1/8-3/16 in front of the ricasso. Leave a tiny amount of room for evening up after you get into it. Ricasso tends to creep backwards as you try to even them up..... :) It's easy to overdo it. Give yourself a little 'error correction" zone.

Some people start the ricasso with a chainsaw file, too. That works well if you have a filing guide and "safe" an edge on the file.
 
I did my first kit like that. If you are patient, you should do fine. As with anything hand made, the faster you try to go, the worse it will look.

I personally would roughly begin the bevels across the blade, then draw file the blade lengthwise to flatten it out.
 
This was my first scratch project and I used a file to make the bevels. It can be done. Main thing is to not get in a hurry.
Dscn3979.jpg
 
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