First try

[Goose Gossett]

So because I ran out of osage to make bows and haven't ventured into the hot box level of bow making I was looking around for some other "tinkerin" opportunities.  I found greenpete's knife making on the tube and figured I could try something along those lines.

I had a couple of files laying around that weren't all that great and so I thought I would give it a whirl making a knife out of a file.

I made a fire using briquettes and red oak charcoal and stuck the files in.  

 

I started it last night, let it burn down, and checked it this morning.  I'm confused because I see some shiny spots in areas of the metal and was going to see if I could get any feedback about what might have happened.  My guess is I didn't get it hot enough in those areas to anneal the metal but that's what a year and a half of chemistry in college and no experience will get me.  Thoughts???

 

[Lin Rhea]

Goose,
       It could be the other way around. The spots may be soft and the rest hard.

Are you going to try again?
Are you going to forge the blade or just grind it to shape? Lin

[Goose Gossett]

I won't have a chance to see which is soft/hard by filing until maybe late tonight (Sunday is my busy day).  If it is the other way around would there be any suggestions for ways to efficiently anneal it using a charcoal grill?  Best way to place the file in the fire, what charcoal to use, who to buy a knife from when I mess up to get frustrated    etc.

As far as shape goes grinding is going to my avenue of attack with my first Guinea pigs.  I figure to stick with one walkthrough all the way through and greenpete's seemed simple enough with the tools at my disposal.  

Thanks for the wealth of knowledge that is already at my disposal on this site!

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I'll be watching this as I am also considering ruining some old files.      :rolleyes:

Take us along please!

[WRV]

Can't wait to see more.......Randy

[Goose Gossett]

Okay because charcoal is about $5 a bag and I had enough left over to heat the files up again I did so.  This time I left the ash from the previous burn in the bottom and even tried to pile it up around the files a bit.  
 
The burn seemed more even this time but the unique thing I forgot about I learned after the fact.  When not using a grate on the bottom where the coals go the files bent with the heat and the curve of the Weber.  You can see the slight curve here in this picture.  Maybe others will learn from my mistake.
 
While the files were still warm I was able to bend them back to near straight and because this is a learning opportunity I wasn't too worried about ruining something.  
 
They seem to look good so I took them over to the vice and tried to file some of the metal off and sure enough it came off and fairly easily I might add.  
 
I went ahead and checked the rest of the file and for this rookie's eyes it looked good.  Now off to work and maybe I'll be able to do some shaping up later this afternoon.

[Goose Gossett]

oh no I thought I resized those pictures... let me know if I need to change them up.

[razorback]

Looks like a good project, similar to my first. The pictures look the right size, by the way. Good luck and have fun.

[Goose Gossett]

I had some time to work around the other day and I'm now just getting to the pictures.  I used a grinder with 80 grain on it and it was able to shape it out and smooth it up real well.  I haven't heated it up to non magnetic and quick cooled it yet and I figure I'll drill out the handle before doing so.  Let me know what ya'll think and any suggestions for the next process.

 
 
 
 
 

[skullworks]

I think you'll want to drill the pin holes for sure before you harden the blades.