Want to cut file .

K

Kevin the grey

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Aug 26, 2005
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Is there a hacksaw blade that would cut a hard file ? Either that or a jigsaw blade . A hacksaw might be easier to get a straight line .
 
Maybe there is a hacksaw that would cut a hard file but I believe the best way to cut a file is to anneal it first and then you have a fighting chance of hacking at it. Jigsaw, unless it is variable speed and you go very slow, would likely burn up the blade even on an annealed file using bimetal blade. But this is a good question and I am curious as to what the bladesmiths use to cut their hc billets for stock removal projects.
 
Kerry I don,t want to anneal it first . I guess I should have mentioned that . Don,t you think a fast jig saw with very little pressure put on the blade would work if a suitable blade could be found ?
 
i dont know of any blade that can cut a hard file. if your just anting to cut off a chunk then use a dremal tool and a cut off wheel. you can cut half way through and then break it with your hands.
 
I would say try to snap it rather than cut it if you dont want to anneal. Files are made to cut other metals, so its tough to find things that will cut them, especially without heating them up enough to ruin their hardness...
 
JTKNIVES that sounds interesting . My dremel clone came with a variety of cut off wheels . Is there a guideline as to which cuts what ? I only need to cut about a two inch length . How would I stop the dremel from dancing/drifting from the line ?
 
Have you seen that crazy knife thingy they are advertising on tv now with the diamond edge? Cuts ceramic tile or tomatoes :) Get one of those and tell us how it works.

I bought bimetal saber saw blades that are suppose to cut high carbon steel and I burned up 2 blades(one going slow, one going fast) while trying to cut 1095/15n20 dumbasscus. If there are good blades for doing this for saber saws, inquiring minds want to know.
 
Kerry could it be that they are for cutting high carbon steel depending upon how they are hardened ?

I imagine an angle grinder would work well . The question is how do I cut a nice straight line ? I find those suckers always dance around on me a bit .
 
I bought a cheap cutoff saw at one of those traveling tool shows and I've cut a few files with it with no problem.
 
Kevin the grey said:
Kerry could it be that they are for cutting high carbon steel depending upon how they are hardened ?

I imagine an angle grinder would work well . The question is how do I cut a nice straight line ? I find those suckers always dance around on me a bit .
Click to expand...

You just have to take your time and not try to get it done yesterday. Clamp the workpiece down and go slow and steady.
 
I'm with TikTok on this one. I've snapped many files this way. If you only want to cut 2" off, then stick it in a vise with 2" sticking out. Wear safety glasses and gloves of course, and just smack it with a big hammer. It will probably only take one shot. Then you can just clean up the profile from there.
 
I'd just use an angle grinder, as that I don't trust myself with breaking a file.....
 
Whit said:
I'm with TikTok on this one. I've snapped many files this way. If you only want to cut 2" off, then stick it in a vise with 2" sticking out. Wear safety glasses and gloves of course, and just smack it with a big hammer. It will probably only take one shot. Then you can just clean up the profile from there.
Click to expand...

I want to cut the front of the file at an angle . What if I cut a line at that angle both front and back with a dremel ? Then I could put it in the vice with the line just above the jaws of the vice . Would this not serve to have the file snap cleanly or at least cleaner ?

I will either do it this way or just take my time with an angle grinder as suggested .
 
Kevin, you should be able to score it with the dremel and then snap it in the vise. I have done this before and it worked; just make sure that you put a hefty cut on both sides and clamp the jaws just below the score (make jaws and score parallel).

Good luck and have fun. Wear your glasses, and make sure you don't cut yourself where it shears. Sometimes it will leave a very sharp "prong" sticking up.
 
A dremel and cut off wheel will work. Or someone makes a carbide rod saw (don't know the proper name for it) that fits a frame hacksaw. That should work.
 
Stevomiller thanks and I,ll scare up some glasses . I guess any debris coming off of that would have to be classified as shrapnel . (It would be fun to run it through a chrono)

I have used the carbide rod/hacksaw blade mentioned to cut a circle inside a ceramic tile . Cuts/abraids like a charm . I don,t think that will be the way I go . I will still check out the instructions as to what metals it would cut for future reference .
 
Kevin - Lets think about this for a minute.You want to cut a blade out of a file.If you just want a shorter piece of file - break it off in a vise.If the purpose is to save the hardness of the file (and avoid heat treatment) the cutting and grinding will destroy the hardness anyway,and you will end up with a poor blade. If the purpose is to save money,the cost of the discs and wheels used will be much more than the cost of a few cents worth of propane,not to mention hours of time.
One of the things about learning to do a skill ,like knifemaking, is learning to do it right.Anneal the file. Then you can cut, saw ,grind, sand, etc. Then harden it properly. This can be done with very simple tools (propane torch). It may not be the worlds best HT,but it will be a world better than trying to get around HT by grinding a hardened file. What makes a piece of steel into a cutting tool is the HT.Master that and you will be a knifemaker.
Stacy
 
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