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Ed Caffrey's Workshop Talk to Ed Caffrey ... The Montana Bladesmith! Tips, tricks and more from an ABS Mastersmith. |
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#1
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coin edge texture on guards?
Hi Ed and all,
I want to try my hand at making a slim (1/8") oval guard and I want to "texture" the perimeter so it looks like the edge of coin (like a quarter). Is there an easy method to doing this? I would like to follow up, afterwards, with some hot bluing to finish it off. Many thanks, Dana |
#2
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Hi Dana!
If your really good, you can do it with a "knife edge" file, but I just ain't that good! When I do something like that I use a fine checkering file. You can hunt them down on Brownell's website, but hold onto your wallet....they are pretty spendy. I own a total of three different checkering files, the total value on them is just over $100 (that was when I purchased them). __________________ WWW.CAFFREYKNIVES.NET Caffreyknives@gmail.com "Every CHOICE has a CONSEQUENCE, and all your CONSEQUENCES are a result of your CHOICES." |
#3
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Thanks Ed!
I do own ONE of those files. I think I have the 20LPI size and I think that was the coarsest
one I could find. Is that what you would suggest? Are there any "tricks" to using this sort of file? Off subject: I ordered some of Chuck Bybee's G10 for spacer material and he mentioned that you either had or were going to try some yourself. I was just curious as to how you like the stuff. Thanks again, Dana |
#4
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Quote:
Just be deliberate with your strokes and file until you feel the file teeth hit bottom. You'll notice that there is no more resistance as the teeth of the file no longer have anything to cut! All of a sudden the file will just slide free. Now, move over, but leave one or two teeth of the file in the grooves you already cut! This keeps your spacing consistant. If the guard is oval, you'll need to sort of roll the file over as it goes around the guard. In other words, don't try to cut the entire width of the file at once, especially when you start a new section, as it is flat and the guard is not. My best advice would be to cut an oval piece of steel out of some mild stock and do a practice run FIRST! __________________ Blade Show Table 8-Q What do you do when you see your ex in pain, limping and bleeding? Relax. Take a deep breath. Reload and then shoot again. http://www.andersenforge.com/ |
#5
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Karl would you happen to have a picture or 2 of the way you described filing those grooves? My dyslexic brain is having trouble visualizing that.
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#6
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Thanks Karl!
Got it. I will definitely do some practicing first.
Best regards, Dana |
#7
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I have used a thread cleaning file for cutting serations before. You get eight different tooth pitches to choose from on each file. I think the file cost around $20 at the local harware store.
As Karl mentioned I used a traingle file to start one guide groove so I had an indexing groove for the teeth. Otherwise it will skate all over and leave a mess before getting clean grooves started. The finer TPI seem to work better. Last edited by B.Finnigan; 03-06-2008 at 11:01 AM. |
#8
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Thanks Mr. Finnigan!
A couple more good tips to add to the process. I like the idea of the thread chasing file.
I'll have to go get one. It might be nice to try the next size up from 20tpi to get a slightly coarser texture. Best regards, Dana |
#9
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I bought the file just for that purpose. If I need to clean threads I will chase them with the appropriate die and do a much nicer job.
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#10
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Now I am tracking! Seeing the thread chaser helped me figure out what a checkering file might look like. Sounds like a checkering file can only cut so deep. I really like that coin edge effect on bowies.
Thanks for posting the pic B. Finnigan! |
#11
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Here is what the serations look like on copper (20 tpi). Even on that soft gummy obnoxious metal it still cuts pretty clean. You could always hit them with a triangle jewlers file to get them spiffy clean or modify the pitch if needed. The file also cuts somewhat unidirectional so you stay in the grooves better. When it starts to slide real smooth then you have bottomed out and hit the max depth.
Last edited by B.Finnigan; 03-08-2008 at 05:31 PM. Reason: spelling, always spellig |
#12
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Quote:
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/sto...488&st=file&s= __________________ Blade Show Table 8-Q What do you do when you see your ex in pain, limping and bleeding? Relax. Take a deep breath. Reload and then shoot again. http://www.andersenforge.com/ |
#13
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Here is a close up of one, the teeth look identical to the thread repair file teeth. It looks like they size them by TPI also which would make sense.
Last edited by B.Finnigan; 03-17-2008 at 01:39 AM. |
#14
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Just ordered a set of 5 from Brownells. Like Ed said they are pricey. I looked at the thread restoring files and did not like the coarseness of the teeth. It seems they work better than I thought. I may have to try them since they are a bit cheaper.
__________________ http://www.woodchuckforge.com Avatar, Scott Taylor Memorial Scholarship Knife Photo by Bob Glassman Chuck Richards ABS J.S. |
#15
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McMaster carries a thread repair file that has 9, 10, 12, 16, 20, 27, 28, 32 TPI teeth for $10.48. For another $10.48 you can get the other one that has the in between pitches and have all the bases covered for $22.
I personally would rather have a small file to do small jobs and larger ones then a large file that can only do large jobs. |
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blade, knife |
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