For many, a knife from a file is something incomprehensible. However, to make such a product with your own hands is quite possible. It is only necessary to have a file of the appropriate size, a machine with a grinding wheel, a gas stove (stove), several wooden bars for the handle, sandpaper, stainless steel for rivets and wax.
In order to make a knife from a file, it is also necessary to prepare a clamp. If you need to cut off any details, then you can use the grinder. Work begins with the preparation of the metal for processing. That is, the file must first be warmed up for 6 hours. At the same time, it should be cooled gradually. It is better to sprinkle those areas on which heat will act, with salt, which is a kind of indicator of the quality of heating (if it is processed well, it will melt).
Next, the knife from the file should be treated with a grinder. That is, it is necessary to shape the existing workpiece. If you will fasten the handle on rivets, then you should pre-cut holes for them. Now you can proceed to the next stage - hardening of the metal. Here you need to consider several features. If you brought a magnet to the file, but it no longer sticks, it means that the workpiece has reached the optimum quenching temperature. After its achievement, the procedure continues for several minutes, after which the metal drops sharply into the water.
So the knife from the file will be strong and strong. During hardening, be extremely careful, as you will work with open flame. Be sure to wear protective clothing, glasses and gloves. It should also be noted that after hardening, it is necessary to spend a vacation and relieve the internal stress of the metal. This procedure is quite simple. You just need to put the workpiece back into the oven and warm it for 2 hours.
The manufacture of a knife from a file involves the processing of metal using a grinding wheel and sandpaper. It’s great if you have a special machine for this purpose. The surface should turn out to be even and smooth. The blade is polished last. Now you can start making pens. To do this, attach two thin wooden blocks to the blade and secure with rivets. The holes in the tree must be greased with wax or resin. Next, the handle must be clamped in a vice for several hours.
Last of all,
homemade file
knives are etched in ferric chloride and polished with a piece of felt. If there is no special tool for
pickling metal , use ordinary vinegar. After that, the knife is again ground with fine-grained emery paper and rubbed with wax until a uniform shine.
The final touch is the sharpening of the "newly made" knife. This should be done very carefully so that there are no nicks on the cutting surface. Basically, this is the whole procedure of turning a file into a neat and nice knife. Good luck