Knife Making: How To Make A File Knife
Get started with knife making by making a knife from an old file! Metal working files come from the manufacture very hard since they need to cut into steel; with some grinding and tempering they can make great knives.
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00:00 - Template / Intro
00:58 - Profiling
01:59 - Pre-Temper Grinding
02:59 - Tempering
04:11 - Grinding Bevels
04:44 - Slack Belt Rounding
05:16 - Cleaning Flats
05:29 - Kydex
06:36 - Sharpening
07:02 - Final Thoughts
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#knifemaking
#fileknife
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The information provided on this channel is for entertainment purposes only. Any action you as the viewer takes upon the information on this channel is strictly at your own risk, and Red Beard Ops LLC will not be liable for any losses, damages, or personal injuries in connection with the use of this content (including injuries, damages, or losses sustained while you were trying to emulate the actions and projects on this channel). Attempting to emulate any of the actions or projects put forth by this channel should not be done without training and even then, at your own risk.
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This template is legit
Dang if I got that in a white elephant, I would lose my mind! That came out great!
Thanks man!
My father built knives and chisels for wood in the same way: I still have 2 or 3 with me for almost 40 years! Great job, Ty very much!!!🙏
I am a newcomer to making knives and found your channel. Thanks for the videos because even an old goof like me can understand them. I appreciate them and thank you.
Welcome aboard! Good luck with your builds!
Such a great idea for folks starting out. Love how you called out even using the Harbor Freight 1” grinder. 👍👍👍👍
Love to watch you create!!
I made my first Pukko knife out of a file it's still my go to knife when I'm hunting, camping, and when I hiked half of the Appalachian trail.
Very nice!
I just really like the look of it. The remains of the file structure give it such a high end look and feel. Looks very purposeful.
Thank you greatly! I agree!
Good job.
Great project like you said for someone looking to get into knife making! File knives, along with RR spike knives, always seem to sell quickly as well! Fun quick projects!
Agreed! Cheers sir
Superb minimalist design. Turning a scrap file into such an elegant and useful (ie non "tactical") knife was great to watch. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I made my first knife this way and returned to this process a few times already. Files make very nice utility knives.
They sure do! CHeers
That knife looks like something I would love to have! There's projects I would definitely use it for. Also, I think the sheath is fine. It looks nice and performs its function well.
Thank you! Cheers!
That looks awesome!
Thank you!
Thanks for showing it. My first DIY file knife was completly disappointing. Because of the video I should try it again, there are some old rusty files in the garage yet:-)
Good luck on number 2!
Great idea
Thank you! Cheers!
Loved it.
Thank you!
Great job, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
beautiful and aesthetic
Thank you! Cheers!
Nice build!
Thanks!
I am just a home handy bloke, and during CovID19 lockdowns, I made 2 knives for campcraft activities, from old files ,and also 2 draw knives for woodworking projects. I used timber for one knife handle and Micarta from the leg of a pair of old jeans for the other one. I used an angle grinder, flapper disks and a cheap belt sander for all the grinding activities.
Very nice ROb!
There are some cool grinding jigs you can make yourself. Several channels on here have vids. Great job/tutorial. Another winner.
Thanks James, Cheers!
@@RedBeardOps Thank you. Really digging what you’re doing.
Very nice!
Thank you! Cheers!
Knife looks hella dope, @RedBeardOps. Now you've gotta stitch up an equally dope sheath as well!
Your videos have me wanting to try this as a new hobby. Great commentary!
You should! Good luck sir!
Be careful, it could turn into the dog house. Before long you'll start finding excuses to get sent to the dog house....... just saying
@@greenchiliforge1059 lol
That is cool, I would buy one if you made another one!!
I'm going to have to give this way a go on making my seax knife. I have a bunch of old files and wood wrasps, most being way too thick to work with this style but I do have around 100 or so close to that thickness that I could use for different style of knives with this method.
Bloody Nice knife mate!
Thank you!
Nice project! Something we can do at home without going broke on equipment.
Very true! Cheers Rich
finaly.. no forge, simple and efficient :) thnx man
Glad you like it!
@@RedBeardOps yes i did. i have one such project on my shelf for the last half year because of a missing forge. now i know how to finishit :D thnx again
Good job
Thank you! Cheers
Fantastic ❤
Thanks 🤗
Who's else watching this it was awsome back in 2012
Great video sir!! I been thinking about making a blade this vid gave me plenty of info your thoughts at end are very appreciated!! Keep up the great work 👍
Glad it was helpful!
WONDERFUL, I have no words, always super perfect and unique precise product, wonderful work and video, well done and good luck, respect from old BG.
Thank you very much!
cool that you can go back to one of your tutorials to see what you did ...i make temples of my knives to and it helps... thanks for this cool learning experience...smiles
Man, it's kinda funny, but I find myself doing that pretty frequently... it's a note system that I didn't expect! Cheers William!
Id love to see a video about using a knife sharpener, like the work sharp precision adjust, to put a secondary bevel on a knife.
Here is one - kzhead.info/sun/hZ2EZ82cepqViY0/bejne.html
awesome
Need to give yourself more credit n be nicer to yourself that’s not just a throw away gift you made a really great knife man.
Thanks!
So in final review, the knife is perfect in every way but the sheath is only almost perfect, but not really, it's perfect too. I agree! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
LOL, thanks Ted
Nice build. I do like neck knives. My go to sharpener is my Worksharp Ken Onion with belt grinder attachment. Small and simple to use.
Awesome, thanks for the idea! Cheers sir
Ты чудо в ножах не прешь
Смотри Архангелького
Nice job. I have a couple of old files kicking around somewhere, now I just have to find them....
Heck yeah, make them useful again! Cheers Nortic!
Belo trabalho ❗️🇧🇷
Obrigado!
Preety knife... I loved 👍👍👍
Thanks!
That would make a nice edc knife
With that sheath, I think I would use it as a neck knife. Very nice!
Glad you liked the build! Cheers!
Actually, it looks great 👌 I really hope if I can get it 🙏😊
Glad you like it! This knife has already been sold though. Cheers!
You should get the Ameribrade sharpening system. They make it for 1.5 inch tooling arms as well as their proprietary 2 inch. I have one and it’s fantastic! Plus, if you get it and review it, I’m sure I’ll learn something new about it.
Thanks for the suggestions Jason! I saw the Walter Sorrells video on it. Very cool! Looks like good kit
Less is more, as in a Porsche 911, this knife is is a brilliant combination of function/form. I would pay you at least 125$ for this knife with sheath. Well done sir!👏👏
Cheers John!
Молодца! Без комментариев
Спасибо!
If you use an angle grinder and a belt sander and go slowly even if the metal heats up in places you can sand it off if you don’t take it back the entire way and cool it using water
In my eyes if you change the color past straw it needs to be re-heattreated (for use as a knife).
I wondered where you'd gotten to, brother.. Great to have you back! Everyone likes to revisit their knife-making roots with a file knife video! 💪🏻🇬🇧🇺🇸
Thanks man! I'll be around. May be a little slower on releases than normal with some non-knifemaking-related-stuff going on. Nothing bad. Cheers sir
@@RedBeardOps Glad to hear it! Still wearing the RBO hoodie!! 💪🏻
knife verry good you
Thank you!
Any suggestions for a cheap starter belt sander. I've been wanting to dip my toe in knife making for a while and this seems like a good place to start
Man, if you're really just looking to get going, just about any 1x30 will save you time. Note that they generally run pretty fast, so you need to make sure to use nice sharp belts. Preferably ceramics. Here is a good video on it - kzhead.info/sun/gKidctSFmHloh30/bejne.html
I have a bunch of scrap files from yard sales for this purpose, and this video is good motivation to just do it. Would you say that tempering first makes the profiling process substantially easier?
I guess it depends on the tools you're using for the profiling. I could see it going either way.
When hollow grinding you want to try and line up your edge with the center axle of the grinding wheel. I understand exactly what you said about having the edge thicken and can be very frustrating to figure out. Also Travis wuertz does several excellent video explaining hollow grinding and they are worth a look. Nice work as usual on the build.
Thanks man, I'll take a look. I think I would of been better off free handing it and dipping the tang down during the grind. Allowing the edge to land at the same point on the wheel when grinding the belly and tip of the blade. That's I've I've done it in the past with good success, but wanted to try the work rest.
@@RedBeardOps that works well. It is similar to free hand flat grinding in that way with moving your pressure where you want to grind. It is just a little different working off a tool rest but is quick and effective once you get your tool rest height adjusted. I’m sure with a little practice you will have it down in no time.
Please review the Wicked Edge sharpener
Thanks for the suggestion Greg; on my radar for sure.
What file did you use? Not all files are hardened all the way through so it's nice to know which one's are able to be tempered!
I actually don't remember where I got this one.... Older files made in the USA are a good bet.
Thanks for making these videos. I am super interested in starting to make knives. This looks like a really great first project. Is there a list of moderately inexpensive tools and equipment I could get off one of your videos? I don't mind spending several hundred dollars to get started. I don't want to do just an angle grinder alone. I've seen videos like the one you did with just an angle grinder. Thanks for any help you might be able to give.
Hey man, this video shows a few different methods for multiple operations with varying tools. Mayby helpful - kzhead.info/sun/oc9wptlqiYuuqYE/bejne.html A drill press would be #1 followed likely by a cheap belt grinder and maybe a bandsaw,.
@@RedBeardOps thanks so much man. Really appreciate it.
do you happen to remember where you got your eyelet tooling for the arbor press?
Kydex Eyelet Dies - amzn.to/2JujjzE Best Kydex Eyelets - amzn.to/2LeLlkI cheers!
@@RedBeardOps dude, you're my hero. Thank you so much! Eyelets have been my nemesis, but now I will overcome.
Great tips on making a knife without using a forge. I really didn't know anyone could make a knife without a forge. Just pop-it in the oven at 400, too easy.
Nothing to it! Cheers sir!
Most modern files are case hardened as that's all a file needs, hard teeth, and it's easier and cheaper to manufacture. So best to test by cutting a bit off.
Good point!
The file in its current state is brittle and vulnerable to brake. Put it in an oven for two hours, at about 180-200 degrees Celsius and you will get steel that is already where you need it. This will allow you to save abrasive materials and you can skip all the heat treat and thermal treatment steps.
...... 3:00
Nice knife. Kinda a short way to build a knife.. Oh, was this knife the one you pictured on Instagram?
It is for sure a quick build. Good starter project. Yep, this is the one I posted on Instagram today. Cheers will
Where were you able to find a file as wide as this for knife making? I have looked everywhere and can only find a file that is 1" wide. I would like to have one that is nearer to 2" wide, and 1/4" thick. Thanks for any help.
A "12 inch bastard file" is around 1-5/32'' wide - Like this one amzn.to/3K0zCTS
@@RedBeardOps Thanks! I appreciate it!
Which type of the equipment wanted for a begginer start a small knife making workshop
This video may help you get an idea of what you'd need - kzhead.info/sun/oc9wptlqiYuuqYE/bejne.html
Can you try making a Yakuta knife? Am not sure if it's a camping/bushcraft knife or just a general purpose knife
Seems like a fun build!
@@RedBeardOps Ikr! Looks quite unique
Very nice job.!!make me one.?
Thank you! I'm not taking custom orders current, but I appreciate the request!
What's the HP of that 1x30 belt sander? Does that power even matter as long as you're patient with it?
I'm not sure what the HP is, but good belts go a long way! These guys make good ceramic belts for 1x30 - trugrit.com/product-category/abrasives/abrasive-belts/abrasive-belts-by-size/1x30/
Do you ever sell any of the file knives like this one ?
Hey man, I really don't turn out a large quantity of knives. So honestly no. When I do have a knife finished up for sale I put it on my website.
Yeah i know someone that cut themselves pretty good on a scotchbrite wheel
I believe that!
What belt grinder do you use? I'm looking to purchase one
I'm using the NorthRidge Grinder. Big fan; but honestly it's one of the only belt grinders I've used so I could be bias
@@RedBeardOps thankyou so much
Can you use a rasp for these too?
For sure!
Atleast i think so...
Wouldn't it be easier to reharden the blade after doing the cutting than constantly worrying about overheating the metal?
If you have the capacity to do that
Torek sharpening system
Why temper the knife if you aren’t quenching it for hardness?
Files are hardened and need to be tempered to perform as a knife. Too brittle otherwise
I would have kept the handle at full hardness so it is a useful file. 🤔
not a bad idea
Казалось бы ничего особенного, но такая красота
Большое спасибо
How much would this cost to buy??
I'm not making these for sale, but thanks for asking!
@@RedBeardOps That's a Stunning 🔪
I definitely think you accomplished what you sent out to do with this video I think this will as you said get the wheels turning in those on the fence about making a knife this is totally accessible and very inexpensive Route to go... ⛔🐰🕳️ VERY Deep
Very true! Cheers Travis
@Red Beard Ops how long do ya temperature the blade for and what temperature
@@joestlouis2110 3:00 - Turn on the audio
Привет из России.
Ваше здоровье!
Isn't it after all cheaper to buy a few ovenstones for a small forge than f***ing up your sanding belts with a metal this hard?
Belts are cheap. I grind hardened steel often. Cheers
口钉是铜的吗??😊
护套连接器是黄铜的
Ameribrade 2x72 knife sharpener attachment
Thanks Danny
In the mean time... looks like Walter just came out with one - kzhead.info/sun/gsaScbeyfWt-rJs/bejne.html
Some blood on that paper
I lived!
Tormek t8
+
nice but not a fillet knife.
nope... sure isn't
SO important to get a file that isn't case hardened ! The center is soft, and can not be hardened, Total waste of time. don't ask how I know.
That's a very good point!
Why do all yanks call a G clamps C clamps if you draw a capital G with a tail vertical it's a G clamp 😂😊
Lol, G does make more sense !
So this is a tutorial for people who have an awesome workshop, but have never made a knife.....
kzhead.info/sun/oc9wptlqiYuuqYE/bejne.html
Когда кончится это бормотание на чужом языке? Моразм какой то! В России на ин.язе! Чушь!
Извините, я не знаю русского!
Вы очень хороший мастер. Я тоже занимаюсь в свободное время. Но у меня нет такого нáвыка. Удачи, здоровья ВАМ!!! ПОДПИСКА И БОЛЬШОЙ ЛАЙК!!!
Большое спасибо! Я не уверен, насколько хорошо этот инструмент перевода передаст мое сообщение; но я хочу сказать спасибо за вашу подписку и зрителей.
Thanks for the great tutorial video I decided to make my own using your method here is the result if you are interested in seeing it kzhead.info/sun/bLeifpaklnmVZqM/bejne.html
Good job.
Thank you! Cheers!