After the side discussion on @Daniel Macina knife post .. @Bruce McLeish showed a DIY version so I thought I’d start this. I’ve seen file guides for over $100. Seems a bit pricey to me. If I cut one from scrap and tap ... would heat treat and temper be advised to extend the life? Just curious .. seems like an easy project
DIY file guide?
- Thread starter diverdale
- Start date
Bruce McLeish
Well-Known Member
I didn't heat treat. Like you say it's a fast ,cheap solution to a vexing problem.
Daniel Macina
Well-Known Member
I would certainly think it would help. The one I have is just heat treated steel.
Bruce McLeish
Well-Known Member
Wouldn't hurt but why bother?
Because .... FIRE ... lol
Daniel Macina
Well-Known Member
Well when I’ve used mine it’s always been to file shoulders and with it hardened the file won’t bite in so that’s my thought. If you’re just using it For plunge lines it might not matter as much.
Bruce McLeish
Well-Known Member
If you use a safe edge file, it doesn't Matter.
Nick Schreiber
Well-Known Member
I have a like new file guide with replaceable carbide sides. $100 shipped
Drew Riley
Well-Known Member
I used to think that $100+ for a carbide file was a lot, until I made one. I think I had nearly $50 in materials before I even started cutting and drilling. Carbide isn't cheap. Then there's the time and skill it takes to put together and make sure everything lines up.
I'm not sure why you would want a file guide that isn't hardened though. Seems like it'd wear out pretty fast the way I've used them.
Yes, you can make one for well under $100 (and I did), but I don't think I'd be able to sell one for much less than that. Not if I thought my time and skills were worth anything.
I'm not sure why you would want a file guide that isn't hardened though. Seems like it'd wear out pretty fast the way I've used them.
Yes, you can make one for well under $100 (and I did), but I don't think I'd be able to sell one for much less than that. Not if I thought my time and skills were worth anything.
Bruce McLeish
Well-Known Member
Fellers, all I'm saying is that one can make probably 150 file guides that are perfectly serviceable for the cost of one. The original post was concerned about getting straight plunge lines.
Daniel Macina
Well-Known Member
I completely agree with this. Not saying they’re not worth the money at all. Even with a safe edge file that would keep me from cutting into the tang maybe but the point of the hardened guide is so you’re not cutting into the guide itself. There’s not a file you could get that you could file shoulders and not cut into an unhardened Guide.
Bruce McLeish
Well-Known Member
the safe edge goes against the guide.
tkroenlein
Well-Known Member
I use a very similar "guide" to Bruce's, save I used FHCS and a countersink so it would center the same every time and be parallel. It just bumps the side of the platen, and never hardly picks up a scratch from the belt so long as you don't have it tracked over the edge.
But, the plunges are never really even or pretty until after I take the guide off anyway and free hand the plunges. It's really about how you roll the belt over the platen and do them enough to work out your preferred speed, grit and pressure.
But, the plunges are never really even or pretty until after I take the guide off anyway and free hand the plunges. It's really about how you roll the belt over the platen and do them enough to work out your preferred speed, grit and pressure.
yeah ... all you guys with your fancy grinders
... I’m still hand filing for now. I am currently working out of a 12x12 shop that is so multipurpose that it’s painful. I’m working on getting a proper shop built on my property that will hopefully be online in the spring....that will be a game changer for me
John Wilson
Well-Known Member
Okay- there are files guides, and file guides.
Originally a file guide was for squaring shoulders for hidden tangs. You file the shoulders down flush to the carbide strips. Hence the name “file guide”. You absolutely want hardened steel if you don’t have carbide strips or else the file will eat it up.
A bunch of us use a file guide for grinding plunges. I use a very simple one made from 1075 or whatever I had laying around. Just basic steel that would harden. I run my belt over the edge of the platen so the guide does get abused. I just flatten it when need be. I can’t see tearing up a fancy carbide guide using it like I do my cheapy one.
I made my carbide one, and as Drew says $100 is more than fair. I couldn’t sell them for that.
Originally a file guide was for squaring shoulders for hidden tangs. You file the shoulders down flush to the carbide strips. Hence the name “file guide”. You absolutely want hardened steel if you don’t have carbide strips or else the file will eat it up.
A bunch of us use a file guide for grinding plunges. I use a very simple one made from 1075 or whatever I had laying around. Just basic steel that would harden. I run my belt over the edge of the platen so the guide does get abused. I just flatten it when need be. I can’t see tearing up a fancy carbide guide using it like I do my cheapy one.
I made my carbide one, and as Drew says $100 is more than fair. I couldn’t sell them for that.
Bruce McLeish
Well-Known Member
I'm hand filing too. My shop is 6 x 9 so I know of what you speak.yeah ... all you guys with your fancy grinders
Drew Riley
Well-Known Member
I should perhaps clarify, that often when I'm using a file guide, it's on my belt or disc grinder, so the carbide is pretty necessary. I've also used it (big surprise coming) for filing... I've used both "safe" files and regular, so the carbide does help a lot.
BTW... a slightly cheaper option (or two) for file guides that I've also used in the past: clamp or bolt a couple of 1-2-3 blocks together. You have to do a little finagling to make sure they line up just right, but these are relatively hard, so they work pretty well. You can also just put your knife in your bench vise if it has hardened jaws that line up (or even with soft jaws if you're using a safe file.
I've used both "safe" files and regular, so the carbide does help a lot.BTW... a slightly cheaper option (or two) for file guides that I've also used in the past: clamp or bolt a couple of 1-2-3 blocks together. You have to do a little finagling to make sure they line up just right, but these are relatively hard, so they work pretty well. You can also just put your knife in your bench vise if it has hardened jaws that line up (or even with soft jaws if you're using a safe file.
Daniel Macina
Well-Known Member
Oh. So you’re talking about coming in from the side instead of filing down from the top?
Bruce McLeish
Well-Known Member
Yeppers.
i also figgered somthin ' out. The apparent confusion is that (my being entirely tool-challenged and somewhat intellectually challenged as well !) I am talking about guiding a file while y'all are talking about guiding a knife against a grinder. On which case, this becomes one of those discussions where we both are correct . I apologize if I ruffled any feathers.
J. Doyle
Dealer - Purveyor
^^^ This.