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Post by hawkeyes on Nov 17, 2020 17:10:00 GMT -7
Did some work on numerous steel mountings today and had a moment of silence to reflect upon the importance of the file. Without a doubt the most widely used tool upon the bench of any maker and a tool that often gets little attention today as with most things. If one hasn't the patience for tedious file work, rifle work may not be for you! Every single part is touched by a file at some point. www.dhi.ac.uk/matshef/unwin/MSfilecutter.htmMy selection of old US made files, nothing beats the ole boys in good condition. Coupled with a filing card and chalk files can be kept in good shape. All casting marks, gates and slag removed to a rough finish. Final finish with fine Swiss files and an abrasive polish made from mineral oil. A fine barrel drawn to a smooth finish, all with a second cut and a fine smooth cut finishing file. Save those shavings! Fruits of all that work from drawing on the barrel. Just a little respect for a very underrated tool upon the bench. Without the long history of the file we certainly wouldn't enjoy those beautiful firelocks that we do today!
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Post by artificer on Nov 18, 2020 21:09:31 GMT -7
There is an old saying that if technology all of a sudden disappeared, the first thing you would need to make is a forge and some kind of tongs, next is a hammer, the next is chisel to make a file and finally files, themselves. With these things you could rebuild our technology.
To me, different files are addictive and I have many used for general purpose, some only on some guns and some only for one type of task.
A superb and inexpensive file I don't see in your kit is what Stanley designed decades ago, but I'm not sure if they still make it. However, Nicholson and Apex both make the same "Handy File" that Stanley did for so many years. I use it more than any other single file when working on guns. Home Depot, Lowes and other hardware stores carry them commonly. www.amazon.com/Nicholson-06601-8-Inch-Handy-File/dp/B00002N7RN and www.reflectwindow.com/products/8-all-purpose-handy-file?variant=29518489452662¤cy=USD&msclkid=ad142463e2661e0405197bd608aa9ab1&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping%20%7C%20Catch%20All&utm_term=4585238367648944&utm_content=Ad%20group%20%231
I always keep a minimum of two, if not three of them on hand. Each is stored in a cardboard sheath and marked for how I use it. First is marked BRASS, the second is marked STEEL. When the one marked STEEL wears out, I buy a new one and put it in the sheath marked BRASS and take the one from the BRASS marked sheath and put it in the STEEL marked sheath.
If you have never tried one, I highly recommend one, as I've found them so useful.
Gus
P.S. Do you shave the shavings for cannister forging or something else?
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Post by Black Hand on Nov 19, 2020 15:50:34 GMT -7
Slight disagreement - the hammer would be the first tool made after the forge as in its simplest form, requires no tools to make. Once you have a hammer, making other tools is possible.
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Post by paranger on Nov 19, 2020 16:41:14 GMT -7
Those steel filings are perfect for making vinegaroon, too.
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Post by artificer on Nov 19, 2020 22:20:36 GMT -7
Those steel filings are perfect for making vinegaroon, too. Yep, should have thought of that. There is a huge amount of surface area on filings, to get the reaction moving quickly.
Gus
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Post by hawkeyes on Nov 21, 2020 11:48:10 GMT -7
I do have two of those handy files, good beater tool for various works. I have one in my forestry box living in my chainsaw file roll. Use it for axes and such, then another in the wood shed with my splitting tools for licking the ole axes again when needed.
I save the shavings for aqua fortis mostly. I don’t regularly play with canister steels but when I have in the past always used larger chunks and powdered HCS for billets.
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Post by Black Hand on Nov 22, 2020 16:44:37 GMT -7
My question would be how the lead in the steel affects the final product?
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Post by artificer on Nov 23, 2020 0:16:24 GMT -7
I do have two of those handy files, good beater tool for various works. I have one in my forestry box living in my chainsaw file roll. Use it for axes and such, then another in the wood shed with my splitting tools for licking the ole axes again when needed. I save the shavings for aqua fortis mostly. I don’t regularly play with canister steels but when I have in the past always used larger chunks and powdered HCS for billets. I've also found the Handy File GREAT for filing the tops of front and rear sights flat and parallel to the top flat on an octagon barrel.
For the front sight, use a piece of flat stock or even a well cut parallel wood block laid on the barrel behind the front sight. Choose a thickness that raises the rear of the file a little higher than than the top of the sight, so it imparts a slight downward angle on the top of the front sight. You sort of glide the flat tang on the flat stock and only put mild pressure on the front of the file to cut the front sight.
On the rear sight, choose a piece of flat stock or block that is laid on the barrel ahead of the rear sight and so the tang is either even with the top of the rear sight or slightly lower. Again, sort of glide the tang on the flat stock and put mild pressure on the front of the file to get the top of the rear sight flat and parallel to the top barrel flat.
Gus
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