Ed,

A file guide is a tool that I wont be without. I use it to file the shoulders on most of my blades. If you are equipped, make it yourself, but be sure and build it with guide rails. A friend made mine as a gift a few years ago and I still use it a lot. Wise investment, for sure. Uncle Al makes a nice one and John Perry MS makes some too. I favor the larger ones because I make some large knives once in a while.

Thanks Lin!

I'll check out Uncle Al and John Perry (if on the web).

Ed

Hi,

I have two of these guides. One from uncle al. It works very well for filing the blade. However, I like to use one for filing the slot in the guard also. On my uncle al's, the space between the guides is too short to put a long bowie guard in it horizontally. So, I recommend one with narrow guides for blades (maybe more precise?), and one with wider guides for gaurds. If you just make single guards, one should do both just fine.

Dan

Ed,

If you're like me, on a budget, you may want to make your own. I made this one in a short amount of time. All it took was a trip to Lowes for cap-screws and nuts, some elbow grease cutting and drilling the two O-1 plates, and a little home heat treat time. They aren't nearly as professional as Uncle Al's, but then again, they only cost me about $2.00 and a little time to make them.

To make one, just cut two pieces of whatever harden-able steel you might have laying around the shop. The thicker the better. I say this because the thicker pieces will give a wider platform which will help keep your file stable. Pre-drill the holes for the screws, just barely over-sized of your screw diameter. Temporarily screw them together and true up the face with your grinder and radius the corners so you don't gouge your fingers when in use. Once everything is to finished sizes and has been trued up, harden and temper them. I tempered mine at 350 for an hour. (A file will bite into them slightly but it's easy to true them up again if need be, but at least they don't break when I crank them down on a knife.) The last step is to weld the nuts on the back side of one of the pieces. What I did was, bolt them together and then tack the nuts in place. By the way, it doesn't do you any good to use Nylock nuts... The welding process just melts the nylon liners and you want to be able to hand tighten the screws any way. Ask me how I know <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> Once they are welded, just clean them up at least on the inside so that scale isn't biting into your ricasso when you tighten them on your knife.

Guide rails, like Lin mentioned, would be easy to add and will keep the faces true. My next guide will definitely have them. Just drill a couple of extra holes in both pieces. Tap the holes and thread the end of some round stock that matches the hole diameter. Then after everything is heat treated just thread them in and maybe use a little Lock-Tite to keep them where they belong.

Rick,

Yeah, I'm on a budget <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//rolleyes.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':rolleyes:' /> That is a very nice looking tool you've made there...I'm on my way to Lowe's tomorrow!

Thanks for the kind words Ed. It's really quite simple. I'm sure you won't have any trouble but if you get stuck, don't hesitate to give a shout. Make sure you let us know how it turns out.

Have fun with it,

Rick

Rick,

I'll post pics. About welding the nuts on...should I be concerned with what type of nut/steel and what gases it will give off? Seems like I have trouble finding nuts without zinc in them, and isn't that that item in galvanized steel that causes the hazardous gas? These things concern me... By the way, I'm also going to use the other tool in that pic you posted...very smart...Thanks!

Ed

Ed,

One thing I forgot to mention in regards to the file guide construction. The next time I make one, I'm going to tap the holes on the back plate and eliminate the nuts altogether. If you have a tap or can afford a cheap one you may want to go that route.

When I welded mine, I did it outside, I used a fan to blow the fumes away, wore my mask and held my breath. Like you, I wasn't sure about the zinc fumes and I wasn't going to take any chances.

Thanks but I can't take credit for the other tool, I got the idea from Bill Moran's video "The making of a knife". He's the real genius. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

I look forward to hearing how it turns out for you. Good luck!

Rick

Rick,

Thanks for the heads up. I actually was going to tap the threads into the back piece to avoid the whole "welding zinc" thing, and if the threads eventually wear out. I'll just back it up with a nut then. I'mm using a piece of car spring that does harden well (whatever steel it is <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//blink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':blink:' /> ). Just got finished grinding it and it is anealing as I write this. I'll post pics...

Ed