How to file evenly (by hand)

ahlangle · Feb 24, 2016

Making first knife from a file, and using a file on it currently. It's taking forever (thinking I may not have annealed it enough if that's a thing), but having trouble filing the blade evenly.
I've read about file guides but what does a file guide do exactly and do I need one while filing my blade by hand?
Thinking I'll get a cheap bench grinder for my next knife project: faster than filing all of it by hand but not as expensive as belt sander, which is out of my range.

i4Marc · Feb 25, 2016

Make your life easier by making one of Aaron Gough's file jigs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9iNDRwwBQQ

Hengelo_77 · Feb 25, 2016

You need well annealed steel.
I never used a file guide, just go free hand and then draw file.
Give it a shot

ohaple · Feb 25, 2016

i4Marc said:
Make your life easier by making one of Aaron Gough's file jigs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9iNDRwwBQQ

This. I made my first couple blades this way. The filing jig allows a consistent angle. If you are paying attention, you could do it without a jig, but this allows you to be less engaged over the potential hours that you will be hand-filing. Do yourself a favor and download some podcasts or something, it can get tedious after a while. Did an 8'' chefs knife with a shallow angle as my first one and it took a very long time. Also be sure to take breaks as not to cramp up your forearms too much.

samuraistuart · Feb 25, 2016

I use files exclusively. No jigs, no need. Use draw filing to even everything out, and of course, use good large coarse files. The Pferd 14" Chipbreaker is awesome for this. I also use a Simonds 14" MultiCut.

ohaple · Feb 25, 2016

Also I just read that you said you are using a file to make a knife out of a file. You need to make sure to soften up the file that will be a knife or else you will ruin files and not get very far.

Natlek · Feb 25, 2016

ahlangle said:
Making first knife from a file, and using a file on it currently. It's taking forever (thinking I may not have annealed it enough if that's a thing), but having trouble filing the blade evenly.
I've read about file guides but what does a file guide do exactly and do I need one while filing my blade by hand?
Thinking I'll get a cheap bench grinder for my next knife project: faster than filing all of it by hand but not as expensive as belt sander, which is out of my range.

Make it , you will not make a mistake.Advantage is a constant angle and it is much easier with file guides to come to perfect blade. And fast, you just need a really good one file .You can use sandpaper too , for finish look . You can even sharpen the knife under the angle you choose .....

Here is mine , in less than an hour I can make full flat grind blade 4 inch long from annealed steel , I use Pferd magic cut file .
PS . arrows indicate my tool for use sandpaper .......

This is the last one I make on this tool .....from 15N20 steel and 45HRC hardness when I filing fith file .

Here is after HT and sharpening ......

Natlek · Feb 25, 2016

ohaple said:
Also I just read that you said you are using a file to make a knife out of a file. You need to make sure to soften up the file that will be a knife or else you will ruin files and not get very far.

From of M2 and M35 steel in over 64 HRC I make several knive with my file guide set .Instead of file i use silicon carbide sand paper ....

Natlek · Feb 25, 2016

One more thing , you can make perfect convex grind with this file jig . And hand filing have some advantages , you can not overheat steel , it is easy to set the right angle for filing , you can not make mistake when filing like on belt grinder , one wrong move and you will destroy blade .....

alasker00 · May 10, 2016

Natlek said:
Make it , you will not make a mistake.Advantage is a constant angle and it is much easier with file guides to come to perfect blade. And fast, you just need a really good one file .You can use sandpaper too , for finish look . You can even sharpen the knife under the angle you choose .....

Here is mine , in less than an hour I can make full flat grind blade 4 inch long from annealed steel , I use Pferd magic cut file .
PS . arrows indicate my tool for use sandpaper .......

This is the last one I make on this tool .....from 15N20 steel and 45HRC hardness when I filing fith file .

Here is after HT and sharpening ......

Do you happen to have plans for that jig or a list of materials used?

Natlek · May 12, 2016

Of course , square pipe is 4 x 3 centimeters , length is 36 centimeters . Bolt is M12 thread and 25 centimeters long /including uni ball joint / feel free to ask if there is a need .....

I just finished one blank on this jig /1.2519 steel /