WANTED - Old Files or Rasps

john_aero · Jan 31, 2013

Ok looking for any old metal files, wood rasps etc as going do a bit of knife making.

so before start buying expensive material want try test the techniques on old files.

they are meant make very good blades for what they are.

cheers

Daithi · Feb 1, 2013

John, I've got a dozen or so old files of different sizes and most are chipped or worn, yer welcome to the lot.
Should keep ya going.... :hammer

BTW, I at last found the XChallenge disk. :thumb2

AberdeenAngus · Feb 1, 2013

Have you thought of using an old leaf spring which is half decent steel.
Cut out a blank using an angle grinder.......just stay away from the area around the mounting holes.

Daithi · Feb 1, 2013

AberdeenAngus said:
Have you thought of using an old leaf spring which is half decent steel.
Cut out a blank using an angle grinder.......just stay away from the area around the mounting holes.

Bastard

I was just about to suggest that, the springs from an old VW Beetle are already the right thickness and width.

I made a crossbow from one when I was younger, really nice steel.

harry · Feb 1, 2013

AberdeenAngus said:
Have you thought of using an old leaf spring which is half decent steel.
Cut out a blank using an angle grinder.......just stay away from the area around the mounting holes.

I stayed in an Iban longhouse for two weeks in Borneo, spent hours watching them forge parangs (machetes) from landrover leaf-springs.
They made me one which I treasured, unfortunately a burglar stole it a few years back. :tears

john_aero · Feb 1, 2013

well i didnt think get leaf springs for free to be honest as i see most flog them to scrpa metal yards

spring steel is best but as its learning curve i wil waste the files 1st them beg steal or borrow... leaf springs

JASONBC · Feb 1, 2013

john_aero said:
Ok looking for any old metal files, wood rasps etc as going do a bit of knife making.

so before start buying expensive material want try test the techniques on old files.

they are meant make very good blades for what they are.

cheers

Mate of mine in work used an old file to make a knife with, he's into bushcraft. The file worked fine but from start to finish it took him 400 hours to complete it and make and rivet a handle on it

david a hall · Feb 1, 2013

John I have made a few out of farriers rasps. I am a farrier and I get through a rasp a week so I have a pile of them. If you are anywhere rural in Ireland any farrier will give you a pile of them. if you are going to just grind them down then they will work but lots of grinding required. I fold them and fire weld them in a billet and then hammer them out. otherwise the tanged side always remains patterned.
Here is one in the fire.

fold it a couple of times

get it molten and forge a billet

them wheel in some muscle to forge it out.

Then grind it up

john_aero · Feb 1, 2013

Used know farrier but i moved away. I plan make small pit to fire everything it and hammer and fold it. I plan try learn the techniques and get good before but expensive metals

WANTED - Old Files or Rasps

john_aero

Well-known member

Daithi

Registered user

AberdeenAngus

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Daithi

Registered user

harry

Well-known member

john_aero

Well-known member

JASONBC

Registered user

david a hall

Registered user

john_aero

Well-known member

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