I am goin to make my next knife from an old file. Do people normally heat the file up first to soften the steel before they grind? It must wreck belts pretty quick if not. Softening the steel first would defeat the purpose of using a file if I have to harden it again wouldn't it? Is the only benefit of using a file, not having to buy steel?
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Questions about making a knife out of a file
- Thread starter stax
- Start date
I am goin to make my next knife from an old file. Do people normally heat the file up first to soften the steel before they grind? It must wreck belts pretty quick if not. Softening the steel first would defeat the purpose of using a file if I have to harden it again wouldn't it? Is the only benefit of using a file, not having to buy steel?
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2006
- Messages
- 2,415
There is an element of style for knives made from files, that dates back to when a blacksmith would make a knife out of a dull rasp. If you are not going for style just buy some steel, for someone new its is more likely to have a good outcome as shown in the link above. Admiral steel lists 1084 in their closeout really cheap.