Recommendation: Diamond Files?

oldmanwilly

oldmanwilly

Gold Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2014
Messages
3,099
Howdy,

Can anybody recommend to me a brand/model of diamond files that can be used to reprofile larger blades? I have an eclectic mix of diamond bench stones and plates in varying grits made by Worksharp, Eze Lap, and DMT that work well for small-mid sized blades. I would like to know if there are any diamond files (or at least long, lightweight plates) that would be ideal for free-hand sharpening larger blades and/or machetes. I can't seem to find longer plates/files that aren't also wider and heavier. Everything I seem to find is either a guided system (which I am not interested in) or is progressively wider, heavier and more cumbersome.

For reference, I am looking for a version of these that is 8-10 inches or more:

Any suggestions are welcome. If nothing else turns up I'll probably just order some of the linked plates and lash them to a makeshift wooden handle.

Thanks!
 
Machetes are usually simple steels and relatively soft. A mill file will do fine. Or a puck. Sharpal does make a diamond puck if you want diamonds. Clamp it (blade) down and have at it.
 
Thanks O Ourorboros I've got a few excellent scythe stones from Baryonyx Knife Co. that cover the simpler carbon steels. I am hoping to find some suitable diamond plates/files that are lighter and lower maintenance while being equally aggressive.
 
On E-Bay they sell various 10 inch diamond files.
I have 3 of the flat ones (120/180/300 grit) and they get used quite often, both for sharpening and regrinding.
Currently still busy with this vintage machete, the steel of which cannot be cut with a Swedish Öberg brand file:

Photos - Vintage Gebr. Weyersberg Corneta No.35 machete

Latest find is this vintage Gebr. Weyersberg Corneta No.35 machete, made in Solingen. It's going to get both a new handle and a new convex edge. Specs: Overall length: 28.74 inches (73 cm) Blade length: 23.62 inches (60 cm) Weight: 495 grams The blade tapers from 2.54 mm just before...
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The 300 grit diamond file is visible in post #4

These files also come in handy for regrinding, like this vintage Buck Strider 881 i had laying around:

Photos - Buck Strider 881 mini tanto convex regrind

For quite a few years this Buck Strider 881 mini tanto in BG42 steel was gathering dust in a drawer, as to me it was more a knife-like object, literally unable to cut anything. Over the last few weeks i changed that with the help of my Tormek SB-250 stone (for the point area), a 300 grit diamond...
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K kwackster I'm glad you chimed in. I remembered your thread about Sharpening an old talwar while envisioning what I wanted to accomplish. I'll take a look for those files.
 
This is what you want ....




I bought this for wanting to put a finger choil in one of my Beckers, before I realized that I didn't like choils.... Turned out Great, btw
I've also used it to clean up the dogsh*t ugly tip of my 1311 after I removed all that paint they use to hide the crappy looking grinds. Also did pretty good.
I now use it to smooth out my profiles on My blades that I make. I work with Very Hard steels, and this breezes through them all

I bought it on the big river, cheaply.

I'm going to buy another to keep it cleaner.
And as a backup.
 
I found a 10" Temo brand file with 60 grit diamond coating that looks just like yours, Crag the Brewer Crag the Brewer , except the one I found is flat on both sides (as best I can tell from pics). I may also try to find a 200 grit one for less aggressive sharpening of larger blades.
 
oldmanwilly said:
I found a 10" Temo brand file with 60 grit diamond coating that looks just like yours, Crag the Brewer Crag the Brewer , except the one I found is flat on both sides (as best I can tell from pics). I may also try to find a 200 grit one for less aggressive sharpening of larger blades.
Click to expand...

I haven't had a chance to look mine up yet....
It is coarse. But honestly works fine.
Although I'm comfortable with coarse grind sharpeninr, too
 
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