simonds files

J

jvholt

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Mar 2, 2008
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I know "use a known Steel" and I usually do mainly 1084. But I recently recieved three Simonds Mill Bast files that belonged to my grandfather. He passed away in 1986. But my grandmother passed away last week, that is when I got the files. I would love to make a knife out of one of them to put in the auction at next years family reunion. I have been to Simonds website and didn't see anything about what kind of steel the files are made of. I was wandering if any of you guys had any experience with this particular file. I plan to anneal it and make a stock removal knife then heat treat, but would like to know if anyone has any experience heat treating one of these files. The knife will mainly hold sentimental value to the final owner and it will be made clear that that is its purpose. I thought it would be a great item for the auction and family funds at the reunion. Thanks
 
It is probably pretty similar to 1095 or W1. Depends when it was made and who you ask. If it's not too wide and thick, I recommend tempering it back some so it's not brittle and grinding it to shape while it's hard. There's not much sense in going to the trouble of annealing, shaping, and re-hardening good steel that's already HT'ed unless you have to forge it.

Use this link http://www.google.com/cse/home?cx=011197018607028182644:qfobr3dlcra to search for "file knives", you'll find more info and opinions than you shake an old file at. ;)
 
I've used some before. I treated them like 1095 and had good results. Now I will not say I got it exactly right, however the blades I made with them do hold an edge and my friends and family that have them really like them. Notice I am not claiming to be an expert. I also have used Nicholson and Heller brand files with good success. Good luck and post some pictures when you finish.
Dan
 
I am no expert either, but while I was researching the subject to make my own file knife I found the Simonds has a low carbon content and thus will not be able to keep an edge long. I used a nicholson file which has 1.28% carbon instead. If its just for sentimental value and wont be used hard, I don't see why you couldn't make a knife out of it; its a great idea to keep grandparents in your thoughts.

Here is a link to the simonds files MSDS. The Carbon content is .32%

http://www.simonds.cc/publications/msds-files.pdf
 
I just made a knife from a Simonds Farrier file and had to quench in brine to get hard. It hardened up well I didn't know it was only .32%. Seemed to get harder than HC railroad spikes which are about the same. I did a fair bit of annealing, hardening and tempering with some test pieces. First few pieces I threw in a camp fire at night and I think it ruined them. Would not harden hardly at all in oil and did a little in brine. I still could bend it quite a bit before it snapped. The next try I just heated to 1500 and stuck it down in a bucket of ash. Worked out great. The piece got pretty hard in oil (McMaster fast quench) but I could tell it needed a little faster quench. Brine worked out well, hard as hell it snapped just tightened down in my vice. Very nice fine grain too. I fixed up a few pieces like those and tempered 2 at 400 for 2 hours, 2 at 350 and 2 at 325. I could not tell any difference with the 325 and 350 but the 400 seemed too much edge testing it with a brass rod. With the knife I was a little scared of the brine but I normalized 3 times, the same as my test pieces, and at 1500 I quenched. No cracks or bends but a farrier file is pretty thick. I tempered at 350 for 2, 2 hour sessions. After it was all done I edge tested it and the blade turned out great. The guy uses the knife quite a bit for deer hunting and loves it so far. Even with the low carbon content with a proper heat treat the knife will still be better than most production carbon blades.
 
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Thanks a lot guys. I got three files so maybe with your help and some trial, error and practice I can get at least one good knife.
 
I worked at the simmonds file plant in ohio before it closed. Have made many knives from those files. You can just temper them at about 400 deg or anneal then grind your blade and harden in oil then temper either way will work. Makes a great knife that holds a great edge.
 
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