makin a knife

Just wundrun if anyone can give me a nickels worth of free advice. I'm thinkin on makin a knife from a old file. Never attempted anything like this. Not sure if its true but I have heard file steel is good for knives. I also think it would look cool to leave some file marks on the body of the knife.

 

File steel is very good for knives. Needs to be heated to soften the metal first. I have a few Anza knives made from files. The file marks are cool but can be kind of hard to clean.

 

Scotty Overkill might be able to give some insight into temps and metal colors. Definitely needs retempered as files are so hard.

 

Agreed, Scotty Overkill creates his majic at the forge on occasion and has some working knowledge with steel

 

If you can, go over to iforgeiron's website for tips. There are a few sections there for bladesmithing. Do you have a forge? There is a bit to do. Tool steel is much harder than mild. From what I understand there is a lot of grinding and sanding involved. It will hold a better edge than mild steel. It is a whole 'nother facet of forging that has a lot to it. Have fun and show us what you make.

http://www.iforgeiron.com/

 

I will check that link out. I am hoping that I can accomplish enough heat in my fire pit outside and if I need a kicker I can use a hair dryer and a pipe to crank it up a notch.

 

Basic forges are made exactly that way. They can even be made on the ground using a hairdryer with a metal tube going into a small pit with charcoal. Adding forced air to charcoal will make it pop embers. Forced air charcoal fires are very hot, even to the point that it can melt steel.

You can also make a soup can forge for short money using basic materials from a hardware store. It uses a MAPP torch from the side, and being open ended, you can put the blade right through if necessary. I made one and use it to heat small pieces quickly, so I don't have to set up the coal forge. There are videos on Youtube on making these.

 

I have been thinking of making one of these. What did you use for your insulating material?

 

A mix of sand and plaster of Paris. I think clay kitty litter can work too. I'll see if I can find the youtube video somewhere.

 

Thanks. That's what I was thinking of using but read that it doesn't work that well.

 

I believe some smiths that use gassers use kaowool or some type of ceramic blanket as a forge lining.

 

Yea that's what I've read, I only want this for occasional use nothing serious.

 

Here is a thread on AS that I remember reading. Some of the pics are gone though. http://www.arboristsite.com/communi...ives-giving-design-a-think.50435/#post-703351

 

Once safe to do so I will take some pictures. Tested an old file I found in the garage to see that it was pure high carbon steel and not just surface hardened. Threw a cluster of bushy sparks and not single string sparks so it is HC steel. Fired up the pit and tossed it in heated it to non magnetic and is now slowly cooling while the fire dies down. Was gunna try to take a pic of glowing file but had tough time holding it and operating my phone's camera so quit before the phone or me was blistered. Just wish I wasn't going into a 7 day stretch of work so I wouldn't have to wait on working on the knife. Being responsible sucks when you want to play.

 

Wow, cool stuff. I didn't realize a mini forge could be made that easily, I might have to try one out some day.

I made a knife out of a small file when I was in my teens just using a bench grinder to shape it. I slapped an antler handle on there and still use it on occasion to open letters with.

 

I have made some and didn't use a forge. Just went slow on a bench grinder and a belt sander.

 

Did you have to retemper it any due to the hardness of the file?

 

Nope, just made sure I didn't get the file to hot when grinding.