Multiple questions about files - could use some help if I may ask.

[Diomedes Industries]

I would like to start making a few knives. I am going to move into this process slowly for a couple of reasons. 1) I don't know how much I will enjoy the process so I do not want to expend a lot of money on tools I may not use that often and 2) I have found with other handcrafts that making them by hand allows me to understand the process better and know what I am doing when I replace certain hand tools with electric powered tools.

So - here is my plan of attack. Start adding handles to blanks - or older knives that I want to refurbish. I have found a handful of 'Old Hickory' knives that I am planning on modifying slightly and redoing their scales as well.

With that goal in mind - what types, sizes, and make of files should I get in order to shape handles (micarta, G-10, and certainly - mostly - wood).

What types, sizes, and make of files are good for filing steel (say, annealed steel if I decide to make a knife from a file).

Also - what types of files are good for making knives OUT of?


I have no problem getting 'vintage' files - but I would need some good names when looking for those.

Thanks so much for your time.

TF

 

[Frank Niro]

You will not have much success working on "older knives" with files. The steel will be hardened and the files will not cut them worth a darn. Read through the stickies at the top of the page where there is a tremendous amount of information. Frank

 

[pullrich]

Look for Simmonds multi-cut and/or Nicholson Magicut. Much better than the regular files you get at your local hardware store, do a better job, and last longer.