HELP... I think I screwed something up! Annealing Old Files!!

Normark

Normark

Joined
Nov 7, 1999
Messages
6,651
Hey Guys...

Could use some advice here.....

I picked up some large old farm files at a yard sale, and plan on making them into knives...

I was told that I probably should anneal them by heating them up to cherry so they were easier to grind.

I stuck one in the vise and heated 3-4 inches at a time til it was cherry red, then moved onto the next few inches.

When I was done,, I only did half the file and now noticed a slight warp or twist in the file....

Should I be concerned about it, or will flat sanding take it out?

Should I try to get the twist out with a vise ???

I realize that the blade will be much thinner than it sharted out...

Is there a better way to do this?

Should I be annealing at all ??

If you could please explain to me what I'm doing wrong or should be doing,, it would be a great help. These are nice big files and want to make as many knives out of them as possible.

Thanks for your help in advance....

ttyle Eric...

------------------
Eric E. Noeldechen
On/Scene Tactical
http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel
Custom made, High Quality
Concealex Sheaths and Tool Holsters
Canada's Only Custom Concealex Shop!

 
I think you need to make sure that you heat the file evenly. Steel warps when it is put under high pressure, just like anything else, and allowing it to cool 3-4 inches at time is going to give it a lot of pressure from heat expansion.

Also, don't forget to let it cool slowly.. Prefferably under a cover of ash or another insulator, such as vermiculite(sp?). This way it will be much softer when you are ready to work with it.

Good luck,
josh
 
Hey Eric,

Heating the file evenly and letting it cool slowly is essential - Letting it cool in a bucket of dry sand works well.

Another thing, when your using files as a blade material be sure that you have removed all of the files teeth, if you don't your most likely get some very bad cracks after H/T .

Good luck on your blades , keep us posted!!!!
smile.gif


L8R
Eric
cool.gif
 
I have heated old files by laying them on a block of steel heating one end with a torch until it turns cherry(viewed in dim light) and then "paint" the color up the file the steel block helps to hold the heat. When heating in a vice most of the heat escapes into the air, takes longer more fuel. Flip the file over do the other side put in a bucket of wood ash (slowest cooling medium I know of) sand or vermiculite,and kitty litter will work (fresh is better). when you heat a piece of steel on one side it will move a lot. The best method would be to use a forge to get a nice even soaking heat. Try this method though if you don't have a froge. The twist and warp can be taken out easily after it is cooled, but you should have less warp this way.

------------------
If God did not intend for us to eat animals. Why did he make them out of meat?
 
Hey Guys....

Thanks for the help..

I'm going to have to figure something out.. I'm not sure the O/A torch I'm using can heat it up enough...

Probably going to have to put the large cutting head on it,,but not hit the Oxi so I can get a bigger flame out of it....

Do I still keep it clamped in a vise,, or should I heat it laying flat on some fire bricks ???

ttyle Eric....

------------------
Eric E. Noeldechen
On/Scene Tactical
http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel
Custom made, High Quality
Concealex Sheaths and Tool Holsters
Canada's Only Custom Concealex Shop!

 
Eric,
I have anealed using a propane torch so the O/A should be enough heat. If you can get the soft insolutating bricks (kiln supplys) to bring the whole piece of steel to non-magnatic at the same time, then into the insolutating medium such as ashes.
Hope it helps, even if I can't spell.
Lynn
 
With what you've described, I'd try this.
Do this outdoors if you have the option. It's hard to ventilate enough indoors. Lay down some firebrick, put a file on it, make sure the file only overhangs with the tang area. Put firebrick on either side of the file, and one at the top. Heat the file with the torch, turning it every now and then. You'll get the firebrick hot as well, this is good. When you've got the whole file cherry red, put some firebricks on top of it, sealing it like a coffin. I'd pump a bit more heat into the open end, just to be sadistic and thorough, then block that off as well. 24 hours later or so you should have an annealed file.
As for the twist, I'd straighten it first in the vice. Put it in solidly, heat it up and have a pipe wrench handy. If it doesn't move, it needs more heat.
Hope this helps.

------------------
Oz

"This is your life, and it's ending; One minute at a time."
http://www.freespeech.org/oz/

[This message has been edited by Osbourn (edited 05-22-2000).]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top