Knives out of files

[frank22]

I picked up some old files at a junk shop. They're too beat up to use as files but I thought I'd try turning them into knifes. Does anyone have a receipe I could follow for this project?

 

[MaxTheKnife]

Depends on the steel Frank. Most U.S. made files are either 1095 or W1. Both are good knife steels. Just heat em and beat em till they turn into knives. Heat treat like high carbon and there you go.

 

[RHINOKNIVES]

frank, i have made a few from files mostly when i started knife making. for a stock removal blade heat the file cherry red with any butane torch. then stick it in sand over night. this should anneal the steel so its soft enought to grind. when you get that done come back to learn how to heat treat the steel so you have a working blade. good luck and have fun

 

[davebolton]

1. Grind teeth of file if possible.(heat stress risers)
2. Forge to shape.(red to orange)
3. Normalize. heat steal until it is non-magnetic.
4. Forge cool.
5. Heat until not magnetic- raise 50 deg F.-hold 5 min.
6. Edge quench in oil-goop (check edge-file should skate)
7. Draw 1 hr. 400 deg F., air cool
8. Draw 1 hr., air cool.

However it depends on the steel but this should work with adequate results.

 

[Michael Bennett]

http://www.primitivearcher.com/pages/articles/drawknif.html

Have fun!

Mike