Nicholson file set

[Jackman]

I am looking for a good file set. I work with wood and would like to try my hand with metal as well. Specifically I would like to make a knife out of an old file using a stock removal process.

Can anyone suggest what I should get. I would like a set, but not sure what to get to suit my needs. I saw a general 5 piece that looked nice. Handles or no?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Steevo]

I pick up used files at a second hand store for $0.25 each
I think a file with a handle, or one long enough to layout a handle bolster and blade on the file body is best for a starting point. You want to have the blade-through-handle for strength.

 

[Jackman]

I wasnt looking for info on what to use for the knife, but what to use when doing the actual removal. I've got some old beat up ones I will use already.

 

[Gtamazing]

I'm a little bit confused. You want to make a knife out of an old file? I know a guy that did that before but the heat treating was all wrong and it broke in half. What is your plan to shape the old file? Your gonna have to be good with a grinder.

By the sound of your post it sounded like you wanted to turn a file into a knife using another file.

 

[Jackman]

This will be my first try, so I imagine it will look pretty ******, but it is a good place to start. I plan to use files, a grinder and sandpaper. I have some great instructions about heat treating from bladeforums.

Should be a fun project and something I would like to get into. And yes I want to turn a file into a knife using a file ... and a bunch of other stuff. Once the file has been annealed it is a lot easier to work with.

This seemed like the place to ask about files.

 

[Gtamazing]

you can't use one file to cut another file. You can only grind the old file to shape it.

 

[Jackman]

When you anneal it (heat it until it is bright red for 3 minutes and cool it) the metal becomes much softer and can be shaped using a another file. When you are done shaping / grinding / sanding out your knife, you heat treat it using an oven. Voila. You have a knife.

I am sure it will probably look like ****, but maybe after many attempts, I could make something halfway decent. I've always wanted to try.

Tons of tutorials at Bladeforums. Check it out. Very cool stuff.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/907667-How-to-Make-a-Knife-From-a-File

 

[Gtamazing]

I understand now.

 

[Jim Johnstone]

I don't have a lot to add, other than I was always taught to never use a file without a handle. I'd try to get a set with at least one good coarse file for bulk removal, and some various shaped and sized files for finishing.

Sounds like a cool project, good luck and post some pics!

 

[Stephenw]

I used to like Nicholson, but not anymore. I would buy old stock that is marked "made in USA". I'm seeing files made in Mexico or Brazil hitting the shelves and the quality is dropping.

 

[marcusicp]

I used to like Nicholson, but not anymore. I would buy old stock that is marked "made in USA". I'm seeing files made in Mexico or Brazil hitting the shelves and the quality is dropping.

Agreed. Can you even buy USA made files anymore?

 

[archirelic]

Agreed. Can you even buy USA made files anymore?

Yes. I bought into the Nicholson file deals on Amazon awhile back, and even though there were a handful of files made in Mexico and Brazil, the bulk majority were still made in U.S.A.

 

[thesilverone]

Yes. I bought into the Nicholson file deals on Amazon awhile back, and even though there were a handful of files made in Mexico and Brazil, the bulk majority were still made in U.S.A.

yeah that amazing nicholson deal on amazon months ago? I'm sure there are still nicholoson made in USA files in mom and pop hardware stores, ace, true value, etc.

 

[Steevo]

There are several videos on you tube about making knives from files.
The basic rule is not to get the metal hot enough to lose it's tempering.
It should never turn blue, and you need to grind, cool, grind, cool, grind, cool to avoid that.
Belt sanders and carbide wheel grinders are the primary tools used.

A quick search on Google for "making knives from files" produces pages of hits linking to all kinds of tutorials and videos.