Lampwick Posted June 12, 2013 Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 Had a hankering to make a file knife for a while and heres my first effort which is almost there. Just got to get the blinking polishing sorted (OCD doesnt help) The handle is going to be made out of London Plane and the lump I have looks quite nice. Any tips for the polishing welcome. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_No Posted June 12, 2013 Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 Whats a file knife? Is it the shape that the name comes from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huffhuff Posted June 12, 2013 Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 Whats a file knife? Is it the shape that the name comes from? I'm assuming it's a blade made from an old rasp type file.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lampwick Posted June 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 I'm assuming it's a blade made from an old rasp type file.... Yes it was an old file. This one was made in Sheffield where all the best steel used to come from! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted June 12, 2013 Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 looks good, did you do that all by hand? I'm hoping to do the same soon, so need some advice on how to do the annealing, can you use a blowtorch? And can you harden in the same way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lampwick Posted June 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 looks good, did you do that all by hand? I'm hoping to do the same soon, so need some advice on how to do the annealing, can you use a blowtorch? And can you harden in the same way? Yes all done by hand. A blow torch will be ok (I hope) but trust me I'm not expert. Will it hold a sharp blade?? Time will tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted June 12, 2013 Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 Thanks. I don't think I've got the patience to do it all by hand, I may try to hash together some sort of jig and do it on a grindstone. I'd like to see the finished product when it's done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt fieldcrafter-uk Posted June 16, 2013 Report Share Posted June 16, 2013 Sorry guys a blow torch won't do it !! Annealing is a proses that's pretty specific . For a no tools home version , light a wood fire build it up so its 2x times the size of the object you want to soften . Place your file in the fire cover it with more wood and make sure it's hot and burning for about 20-30 mins then just leave the fire to burn out with the file berried deep in the coals . It needs to be suspended in coals the ash on all sides or it won't soften properly . The next day pull it out the fire ash and it will be soft , you can then with a hammer take out any warping ( it's pretty normal don't worry) There you go you have a billet ready to work !! Heat treating is a totally different thing and your go an need skills to get it right with a steel type like w2 which is what files typically are . Unfortunately not all files from Sheffield are good steel so be carful ! I can heat treat correctly for you guys as a one off free of charge if you pay the postage !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark@mbb Posted June 21, 2013 Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 There are a few furnaces on ebay that should do this but they are £ 200 so you would want to know that you can make a couple and maybe get very good i would work on a trial and error basis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt fieldcrafter-uk Posted June 21, 2013 Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 (edited) Or buy a forge off eBay It's very easy to burn the carbon out of steel . Iv made about 600 knives and blanks and alot from files . W2 steel is shallow hardening and can crack and warp and over heat , it becomes brittle very easily too . It's a simple very old steel but pretty involved to get a nice knife from . I personally love it and would use it for all my knives if I could get it in plate form . What ever you do enjoy it , make something wonderful and enjoy using it !!! Edited June 21, 2013 by matt . simmons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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