Hand made chisels

[woodtrapper]

Hey chipnut,
I was looking at some of your photos and you are quite the diverse woodworker. I am interestated in the chisels you made.I always heard that files make good knives. Do you have a lot of labor in each and how do they compare to store bought chisels?Jester

[whitecree]

I'm not chipnut, but I make my own knives out of files. They work out rather good as long as you remember to temper after re-hardening.

I don't use any crappy old file, either. I buy a good quality file. I've never tried to make a chisel or gouge out of one, but now I wonder...

[Scott]

Good files are good tool steel. Brought to a medium cherry red, quenched in canola or olive oil. Make sure your oil is at body temperature.Temper in your oven it's easier and uniform. Bring the shined steel to a pale straw then quench. After this be sure to temper the shaft right down within an inch of your cutting edge blue or it will snap with a little pressure. Better steel is sawblade from a local mill. Most is Swedish, high carbon with a bit of molybdenum, chromium and nickel. Do a spark test for carbon content. It's a tough steel and keeps it's razor edge much longer. A 24' X 3'/16" will do you a long time. Traditionally carvers have made their tools as they needed them. I'm a bladesmith. My site is, http://www.caribooblades.com

[woodtrapper]

A good friend of mine in Kentucky is a ferrior of throughbred horses and has several cases of old files. They are pretty big but always wondered how much time is involved.Will a propane torch get the metal hot enough?

[Scott]

I use propane in my forge. I can get the metal just sparking. The trick is to corral that heat, set up some bricks with a roof of some kind, plate of steel with some insulation on top.
Don't let the steel go more than bright cherry or you will burn out the carbon.

[woodtrapper]

Thanks Scott,
I sounds like I have a little homework to do bofore I start hitting the metal.