Need advice, thick at ricasso edge interface, draw filing

I

IrishSteel

Joined
Nov 12, 2012
Messages
88
Hello all,

Working on my first knife here and I'm creating a full flat grind using draw filing. I'm using a mill file and I'm both pushing and pulling as need be. I'm having trouble getting the grind thin near the ricasso/plunge lines, and I know this is going to be a problem when I go to sharpen this thing after heat treat. Right now the thinner section of the edge is at 0.03" and as you can see it tapers wide fairly gradually. Does anyone have any tips as to how I can get the thick section thinner? Should I just keep draw filing? I've been pushing the file from about half way up the blade towards the ricasso to try and get a harder pressure near that thick bit. Any input is greatly appreciated!

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Work on the thick area only for a bit. What happens is that you don't bear down on the file until it is moving.
File the plunge with spine to edge strokes and it should all get straightened out shortly. Do one side a bit, and then the other. Sneak up on it and it will be fine.
 
Thanks bladsmth I'll do that. When I first tried making my knife with spine to edge strokes I found it difficult to keep the file from rocking and ended up with gross convex grinds, but I just tried it and it is easy going now that the grind is partially established from the draw filing. It didn't even cross my mind to go back to spine to edge filing :confused:
 
It just takes practice and patience. Relax, we've all been there :)

Take Stacy's advice, and slobber on some magic marker or layout dye on the parts that are already thin/acute enough. That will help you see when you're getting the thick parts down to right level/angle.

It's a lot easier to start out right than it is to adjust things later. On your next blade, take your time from the very beginning and get the edge thickness consistent all the way down the blade, at a fairly wide angle (like 45 degrees on each side). Use that as a reference point and grind/file the bevels back further.
 
Great advice James. We who just do things automatically on the grinder, often don't think of the needed extra step in hand filing.

To restate James' advice:
In the future, file the edge at 45° to set the edge width. Then file the bevels until you get to that reference width
 
Wonderful advice gentlemen! I will most certainly try a starting bevel on my future knives and then work it towards the spine. The marker trick will definitely come in handy too with this thick section.
 
Also, I cut my plunge lines in with a chainsaw file, this will give you a nice round transition from the edge to ricasso. I use the same size round file as the blade is thick, i.e. 1/8" stock, 1/8" round file. I still cut my ricassos this way because I get better control over using the grinder.


-Xander
 
Here is a fact that can help you do better work and that is most files are meant to cut going on the push stroke. So push , draw back in the air and push again. Frank
 
When I did my first knife with files, some people told me to draw file in both directions, and some told me to only file in one direction. I found that the single direction method worked best for me. Also, it depends on whether you push or pull the file by which hand you are holding the handle in. Some people also told me that chalk on the file would help keep the file from clogging, but I didn't find that worked for me. Like James said, layout fluid is a huge help when filing. Dykem is your friend.
 
Right now I hold the file in my left when pull draw filing and in my right when push draw filing. I definitely found that people who claimed that you could draw file back and forth with the file in your same hand ended up wearing out their files quickly. I actually ended up getting a myriad of new files and a book with instructions from Robert Loveless for Christmas and that is helping immensely. Also, coating my files in chalk has been noticeably helping me; it's pretty much eliminated ugly gouge marks due to debris in the teeth.

I'm also going to see if I can put some safe edges on a few of my files now that I have about a dozen of them.
 
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