I have read a lot of threads here about using old files for blades. I have a few questions that hopefully someone can answer. If you use a large file to make a bowie/chopper, will the blade be too brittle and chip when used? If so, how do you prevent this? Do you anneal the handle part before or after you grind the blade? How far do you anneal the handle (does it matter if you go a little ways onto the blade)? What does everybody use to hold the handles onto the knife? Has anyone tried making a blade out of some of the damascus billets that are being sold on ebay? Thanks for any info...................Malcolm
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Using files for blades
- Thread starter malcolm47
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2000
- Messages
- 1,494
Malcom,
It probably would be too hard for chopping. You can either temper the file or anneal it.(Annealing vs Tempering)
If you are using hand tools (i.e. files) to shape the blade, then annealing is probably your best choice. You will need to reharden and temper the blade at some point.
If you have some power tools (grinders and such) you can probably get by with tempering it to a lower hardness to reduce the brittleness. If you go this route see Sarge's "Project "Po' Boy Puukko"".
I have a page with links to some tutorials I've found that might help you here.
Regards,
Greg
It probably would be too hard for chopping. You can either temper the file or anneal it.(Annealing vs Tempering)
If you are using hand tools (i.e. files) to shape the blade, then annealing is probably your best choice. You will need to reharden and temper the blade at some point.
If you have some power tools (grinders and such) you can probably get by with tempering it to a lower hardness to reduce the brittleness. If you go this route see Sarge's "Project "Po' Boy Puukko"".
I have a page with links to some tutorials I've found that might help you here.
Regards,
Greg