WHen to do filework??

[John L]

I make slipjoints. I fit up closely and then heat treat...but I always have some fitting and spring adjustment after tempering. Can I successfully file the blade and spring after heat treat? How do others do it? Thanks

 

[JTknives]

You will not be able to do file work after heat treating unless you use diamond files. I do all my file work befor heat treating. I get everything done on the knife first befor doing any file work. Its the last thing i do befor heat treat.

 

[John R. Fraps]

Sure you can fit and modify/"fine tune" after HT, but you will "spend" more belts than doing so before HT. I make mostly slippies also. I profile, surface grind, and bevel blades/springs all after HT.....
If you are talking filework, good before HR, takes diamond files after...
It is really your choice, and a matter of preferance....
One thing, grinding after HT, suggestion is do so without gloves, and heed carefully the heat build-up.....dip alot....

 

[John L]

Thanks JT and John for your replies. My problem is that I have never made two slipjoints from the same pattern....sooo...I don't make patterns and never know exactly where dead flush is as far as back of liner, spring, etc....also where all the filework is to be done. Hmmmm? I have made about a hundred slipjoints and wanted to do some filework but I guess I will have to make one, make a pattern from it and then filework the preformed shapes. If, for example, you have a vine pattern running up the spring, and you must grind a bit to flush? Filework is now screwed up. Hmmmmm.

 

[SteelSlaver]

You can do the "file work" with small carbide burrs and a dremel and a firm steady hand. (or a milling machine) I have done a couple hardened blades this way. Use one of the cutter disks to score the places you want to "file" then use a small rounded cone bur with fine teeth. you can make the thorns on the vine with the cutter disk. Clean up with diamond files and pieces of dowel wrapped with sand paper.

 

[4ever3]

I don't make slip joints at this point, I only emblish, so all of the file work I do is post heat treat and I have no problems doing file work on the back springs using standard files.

 

[Barkes Knife Shop]

I do my filework after heat treat. It works for me here in my shop. I use diamond files for the job. I feel I can layout my work better. But you can do it before. It's just the way I do it here. It's something one would need to play with and see what works for you.