Thread: Fancy File work

Just wondering...I've seen some interesting file work on some of the pictures I've seen here (Billy seems to like some sort of wheat pattern). How does he do it (really...how?) What kind of file do you need? How would do set the pattern (sharpie)?
I have a razor that is beyond redemption (big ol' chunk missing in the middle) so I'm thinking...why not give it a try.

I take it you're talking about filework on the blade. Bill posted a bunch of pics of Josh's razor along with descriptions when the razor was being made. It's slipped my mind what, if any process he used to layout a pattern though.

The thing is, that adding some sort of filing/worked back to a razor is usually done before the razor is heat treated. This way, the steel is soft and can much more easily be filed off. I'm sure there's a way to do it on a finished razor, but I don't think standard files would cut it.

Originally Posted by ToxIk

I take it you're talking about filework on the blade. Bill posted a bunch of pics of Josh's razor along with descriptions when the razor was being made. It's slipped my mind what, if any process he used to layout a pattern though.

The thing is, that adding some sort of filing/worked back to a razor is usually done before the razor is heat treated. This way, the steel is soft and can much more easily be filed off. I'm sure there's a way to do it on a finished razor, but I don't think standard files would cut it.

Ah... that makes sense. After the metal is treated, it would be a lil' bastard to file. Good point!

Anyone else got any ideas or thoughts?

There are diamond or tungsten carbide coated files you could use to modify a hardened blade. Expensive files, though.

This might be a frustrating reply, but I had an 8/8 Henckels that had it's spine filed 'after the fact'. However, I do not know what files were used....only that it can be done. So, it IS possible. I know Bill knows how to do it, and Robert Williams too (I got them in contact with the guy that did the work, I believe his name was Dave Thompson), but from what I know from their conversations, it is best or easiest to file prior to hardening....Maybe Pappabull could chime in on this?

Incidentally, it's the razor that Bill Ellis works on in his Blog on making custom scales.

C utz

I use swiss files made by valorbe on my knife spines when I do file work, but as I differentialy harden my blades the hardest my spines are going to be is about Rockwell 52, I don't know what razors are hardenend to.