Making Knife from file

[jolson]

I am thinking of making my first knife from a old file but after watching videos on heat treating I need a little more clarification. One guy heated the file red hot first and let it cool naturally before starting to shape it. Then, after shaping the blade he heat treated and quenched it again and then hardened it. Others didn't bother with the first treatment. I understand the heat / quench / bake process but what was the first treatment for, and is a good thing to do?

 

[danbot]

I am thinking of making my first knife from a old file but after watching videos on heat treating I need a little more clarification. One guy heated the file red hot first and let it cool naturally before starting to shape it. Then, after shaping the blade he heat treated and quenched it again and then hardened it. Others didn't bother with the first treatment. I understand the heat / quench / bake process but what was the first treatment for, and is a good thing to do?

That is to anneal the steel to bring it back to a soft state and relieve internal stresses.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I am thinking of making my first knife from a old file but after watching videos on heat treating I need a little more clarification. One guy heated the file red hot first and let it cool naturally before starting to shape it. Then, after shaping the blade he heat treated and quenched it again and then hardened it. Others didn't bother with the first treatment. I understand the heat / quench / bake process but what was the first treatment for, and is a good thing to do?

That would've been to anneal it making it soft, this way it's easier to shape and won't use up as much of a grinding belt.

What kind of file are you going to use ?
If the file isn't too large you could just grind it and keep it cool , then you won't have to worry about heat treating it.

If you tightly wrap the blade with a wet towel you can soften the tang with a torch allowing you to drill holes in the tang.

 

[jolson]

Just some standard Nicholson files that I found at a yard sale for $1 each. Good tips! Thanks!

 

[danbot]

Just some standard Nicholson files that I found at a yard sale for $1 each. Good tips! Thanks!

If you can get a bucket of chalk or ash or vermiculite, that will cool the file much slower and assure a good full anneal.

 

[Hickory n steel]

If you can get a bucket of chalk or ash or vermiculite, that will cool the file much slower and assure a good full anneal.

I hear sand works pretty well too.

 

[danbot]

I hear sand works pretty well too.

I don't see why not! Unless it works too well and takes far longer than necessary?

 

[marcinek]

I am thinking of making my first knife from a old file but after watching videos on heat treating I need a little more clarification. One guy heated the file red hot first and let it cool naturally before starting to shape it. Then, after shaping the blade he heat treated and quenched it again and then hardened it. Others didn't bother with the first treatment. I understand the heat / quench / bake process but what was the first treatment for, and is a good thing to do?

I bet this would be a great question for one of the knife making subforums here. You should check them out.

 

[Natlek]

I am thinking of making my first knife from a old file but after watching videos on heat treating I need a little more clarification. One guy heated the file red hot first and let it cool naturally before starting to shape it. Then, after shaping the blade he heat treated and quenched it again and then hardened it. Others didn't bother with the first treatment. I understand the heat / quench / bake process but what was the first treatment for, and is a good thing to do?

You didn't mention what kind of tool you have ? If you have belt grinder , no need to anneal file .... just temper twice say on 400-450 far , 40 grit ceramic belt will do job with easy .But , before you start check file , nowadays most of them a case hardened and no good for knife ..........
I like to make knife from file , so clean work ..no mess with HT ..........just grind them in shape you like

 

[Onies]

Nicholson Files make very good blades. I would recommend annealing first, as previously stated, it softens the steel and makes it far easier to grind. It also lets you drill holes for handle pins. The file teeth can create stress risers, so absolutely, when you re heat treat, do not quench in water or brine. I have had success using heated canola oil and also hydraulic fluid heated to 150 deg F. I assume the hydraulic fluid is a faster quench, as the blade fully hardens, but with canola oil I have had a couple of cool hamons. The files are similar in composition to 1095 or W1. Temper at about 400 degrees, maybe as high as 425. Most of all, have fun!

 

[Natlek]

What kind of file are you going to use ?
If the file isn't too large you could just grind it and keep it cool , then you won't have to worry about heat treating it.

Good 40 grit ceramic belt and crazy fast speed don t care how much thick is file ..................... Look this .................

 

[Natlek]

Nicholson Files make very good blades. I would recommend annealing first, as previously stated, it softens the steel and makes it far easier to grind. It also lets you drill holes for handle pins.

This one is from small Nicholson file .............took me two hours from start to finished knife . Tempered twice on 200 celsius .AFTER I grind blade ........I hate to temper first and then make some catastrophic error , it s hurt more that way
PS . Nowadays it s so easy to drill hole in ANY hardened steel ..............

 

[Natlek]

Hey ............this topic is in wrong forum

 

[midnight flyer]

Hey ............this topic is in wrong forum

Maybe not. It's kind of nice to see a new topic in the general discussion area. I have enjoyed seeing the work others have done that aren't real knife makers by profession. But, that may just be me.

Robert

 

[jolson]

This one is from small Nicholson file .............took me two hours from start to finished knife . Tempered twice on 200 celsius .AFTER I grind blade ........I hate to temper first and then make some catastrophic error , it s hurt more that way
PS . Nowadays it s so easy to drill hole in ANY hardened steel ..............

 

[jolson]

That's a great looking knife! What kind of wood is that?

 

[jolson]

You didn't mention what kind of tool you have ? If you have belt grinder , no need to anneal file .... just temper twice say on 400-450 far , 40 grit ceramic belt will do job with easy .But , before you start check file , nowadays most of them a case hardened and no good for knife ..........
I like to make knife from file , so clean work ..no mess with HT ..........just grind them in shape you like

Are ceramic belts better for knife grinding? I only have a 1 x 30" sander. Will that work?

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

Are ceramic belts better for knife grinding? I only have a 1 x 30" sander. Will that work?

1x30 works fine. It'll just take longer and the belts won't last as long. They're a good, inexpensive way to get into the hobby. Just go for it.

 

[eisman]

you could just grind it and keep it cool , then you won't have to worry about heat treating it.

Not always true. Many files are case hard on the outside edges but soft in the center.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Not always true. Many files are case hard on the outside edges but soft in the center.

It is known that the old Nicholson files were not just case hardened, I assumed this is what he planned on using.
I guess it should be specified not to use the modern imported ones.
Modern imported Nicholson files as well as many if not most others are in fact case hardened.