File help?

[ALW]

I'm having a heck of time with turning files into knives.  The first problem is that every time I anneal a file it seems to warp.  As I've discussed on another thread, it's probably my fault from one side cooling a little faster than the other.  A question I have is would it be advantageous (or a problem) to wire several files together while annealing so that there is more metal to hold the heat and hopefully they will cool slower?

The second problem is that my file knives tend to warp when I quench them.  I had one that I hammered flat (both cold and hot) and it still warped some when I quenched it.  I normalized it several times before quenching and quenched in 160 degree motor oil.  How are you guys getting this done without warping?

I am a novice at this am just into making simple knives from stock removal.  I'm still working on controlling my fire but when I quench I go straight from the fire to the oil and put the blade in edge down.  No side to side movement.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks.

Aaron

[beaver#1]

how thin are you grinding them?

[Lin Rhea]

Can we see a picture of the next one before you quench? You might get some suggestions based on how it's gound at that point. I'm particularly interested in the shape of the spine. Is it ground even? Lin

[ALW]

I'm just grinding the bevel down (and not all the way to the spine) and doing little grinding to the sides.  You can still see the file groves in them.  I've tried to leave the edge about as thick as a dime, from what I've read on here.  The last one did have the edge thinner due to me reworking the edge and blade shape.

The files I've used so far are fairly narrow and thin.  Maybe that's my problem.  Too small of a file.  I've got a couple of thicker files that may work better.  I think the small ones would work great for a little caper, but maybe they are too thin for my abilities.

Aaron

[Montauks]

I had the same thing happen to me yesterday, a slight bend in almost in the middle of my "blade" (cut off from a saw)..I reheated it in my coffee can firebrick forge then hammered it to flatten back out then annealed it again...when I anneal the blade I stick it in a bag of "*Vermiculite" with the point of the blade pointing to magnetic north.

* Vermiculite...found at garden centers, used to enhance soil but makes a good insulator.