Making a knifemaking file guide for for two dollars
For my current dagger project, I am worried about getting the plunge lines straight and equal; that and the edges of the ricasso where they meet the guard. I have known about file guides for a while but have a hard time spending fifty dollars to get one. Or even $150 to get the really nice carbide faced one from Uncle Al’s.
Here is one I made last night in the shop.
The most expensive parts on this jig were the bolts. Two of them for $0.98. The rest is scrap from around the shop. I spent a couple hours getting it together.
The jaws are O-1. The guide rods were scrap 3/8″ rod stock. I drilled four holes and tapped two opposing holes in each piece. I checked that everything was ground flat, square, and parallel as I could get by hand. I don’t have a mill. I hardened with straight soybean oil from the grocery store. I just barely tempered the O-1 (350 for an hour). I wanted to leave the face hard so files will not wear thorough them.
These are not as pretty as store bought but I think they will work just fine.
Make Stuff With Your Hands 
July 29, 2011 at 2:47 am
and you got to make the tool too… that makes it even better!
Steve
July 29, 2011 at 12:40 pm
Yeah Steve – do your ever get stuck in that thing where you spend more time in a day making tools or jigs than making stuff?
July 30, 2011 at 9:18 am
I have been thinking about this for some time. I have one of Fred Rowe’s bubble jigs and this would work nicely in conjunction with it while grinding/sanding knives as well as file work. Great idea…thanks !!!
July 30, 2011 at 4:17 pm
Eugene,
Let me know how it works out for you. I would love to see a pic when you get it done.
February 27, 2012 at 10:24 am
thank,s these is most helpfull for hubby guy,s keep em comeing
January 22, 2014 at 1:53 pm
hello please could you give me the measurements of your files
thanks
pier giovanni
January 22, 2014 at 1:55 pm
hello,
please could you give me the measurements of your file guide?
thanks
pier giovanni
January 22, 2014 at 3:23 pm
My jig is 3 1/2″ by 1 1/8″ and the sides are 1/4″ thick. It is only that size because that is the steel scrap that I had. I have plans to make one out of 3/8″ thick stock to get more of a flat platform to work off of.
February 6, 2017 at 4:08 am
How did you make it flat and square?
February 6, 2017 at 1:41 pm
I used a machinist square, files, sandpaper, and a caliper.