Haynie
Member
Can you chop an old file to size, grind it down and make a skew out of it, or is it the wrong type of steel?
Is this possible?
- Thread starter Haynie
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I don't see why not. As long as you dip the file in water as you grind it, before it starts turning blue it should keep it's temper 
. I piece of clod rolled steel might be a better option (Lowes/ Home Depot, etc.); high speed steel would be better. I'm not sure where you could get that though.
. I piece of clod rolled steel might be a better option (Lowes/ Home Depot, etc.); high speed steel would be better. I'm not sure where you could get that though.
its_virgil
Member
Wrong type of steel. Don't do it. Files can break if you get a catch.
Do a good turn daily!
Don
Do a good turn daily!
Don
jjjaworski
Member
Files are brittle and subject to breakage. You can use an old file for turning tools but beware of this factor which is inherent to the heat treating process of files.
I have seen lots of tools made from files. They do work fine and you only invest the time to grind them.
Old planer blades are better if you can find them since they are HSS.
I have seen lots of tools made from files. They do work fine and you only invest the time to grind them.
Old planer blades are better if you can find them since they are HSS.
Wildman
Member
Wrong type of steel, file steel very brittle. Many people recommended making scraping tools from old files when first got into woodturning. Today most folks with more knowledge than I about steel say no-way. I agree, life too short to risk hurting yourself!
Roy Underhill did a show where Irish turner made his skew from old Chevy truck springs. He also forged other tools from that steel, but man has blacksmith experience.
As much as I would love a carbon steel skew, life too short to make my own. I own about five or six various size HSS Skews. My two carbon tool steel skew too short to do much damage these days.
Roy Underhill did a show where Irish turner made his skew from old Chevy truck springs. He also forged other tools from that steel, but man has blacksmith experience.
As much as I would love a carbon steel skew, life too short to make my own. I own about five or six various size HSS Skews. My two carbon tool steel skew too short to do much damage these days.
edstreet
Member
Files are generally W1 tool steel. W1 is W2 without the vanadium so essentially 'high carbon' but with chromium and moly.
edstreet
Member
vehicle springs are normally 5160 ish from what I have been hearing.
Haynie
Member
Bummers. I need a short skew or angled scraper, not a full length one for what I want to try. I only have one set of tools and I'm not chopping any of my turning tools.
I have some scrap cold rolled I can shape, but I assumed it would not hold its edge. Is that right? Local metal place does not carry HSS or tool steel that I know of. The only way they will order it is if I by 10 lengths. A length is 20 feet. I don't need 200 feet. I am sure that is how they avoid dealing with little people like me.
I have some scrap cold rolled I can shape, but I assumed it would not hold its edge. Is that right? Local metal place does not carry HSS or tool steel that I know of. The only way they will order it is if I by 10 lengths. A length is 20 feet. I don't need 200 feet. I am sure that is how they avoid dealing with little people like me.
edstreet
Member
use the cold rolled to form the body and create some type of holder for the small cutter head. broken lawn mower blade would suffice for most of this actually.
Haynie
Member
Ooooo, I have a broken lawn mower.
Joe S.
Member
I just saw a lightbulb over Haynie's head.
Haynie
Member
That is surprising. It is usually very dim.
NewLondon88
Local Chapter Leader
walshjp17
Member
ROFL:rotfl::rotfl:
Dale Allen
Member
Curly
Member
If you are thinking of making a tool like the Japanese pen turners use go ahead with the file. My Dad used a number of files for turning including a Farriers rasp and it was old age at 91 that took him. Not a broken file. Then again maybe old Danish
woodworkers are just incredibly lucky.
woodworkers are just incredibly lucky.
Wildman
Member
Many folk have made 1/4", and larger round skews from drill rods and HSS rods for not much money. Same with HSS bars. Take a trip to the grinder & homemade tool handle & you are in business.