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Forums10
Topics38,939
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Most Online1,344 Apr 29th, 2024
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,134 Likes: 216
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,134 Likes: 216 |
This may be a little to old school for some people, on this side of the pond old good quality files that are past there best is a good source of quality steel for manufacturing gun parts. I cut the required length of the file with an angle grinder then heat to cherry red then allow to cool slowly to bring it to soft condition. I have found this type of steel will oil or water harden. In a short film about Holland and Holland works the stocker did mention that he made his chequering tools from old files, good to see the practice of making things from old files is still alive and well here.
The only lessons in my life I truly did learn from where the ones I paid for!
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4,566 Likes: 233
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4,566 Likes: 233 |
Kirk, Good luck, have fun. Mike
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 101
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 101 |
Damascus, nothing wrong with repurposing old tools. People should do more of that.
Thanks Mike.
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 388 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 388 Likes: 1 |
This may be a little to old school for some people, on this side of the pond old good quality files that are past there best is a good source of quality steel for manufacturing gun parts. I cut the required length of the file with an angle grinder then heat to cherry red then allow to cool slowly to bring it to soft condition. I have found this type of steel will oil or water harden. In a short film about Holland and Holland works the stocker did mention that he made his chequering tools from old files, good to see the practice of making things from old files is still alive and well here. Good thinking. I have some old Stubbs files that are sadly past their best, will not get files that good again so easily, but i can use their steel for something else. Have you seen the long (circa 1 1/2 hour) version of that Holland and Holland film ? Its on youtube.
Last edited by bonny; 01/08/18 05:02 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4,566 Likes: 233
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4,566 Likes: 233 |
My German gunsmith buddy made many of his screwdrivers from old files, I noticed because he twisted the shanks( I believe to keep them from breaking due to the torque), he also made his scrappers from 3 corner files. This is an old and honored tradition, it makes sense if you can't cheaply buy a section of steel that takes less work. Mike
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 9
Boxlock
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Boxlock
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 9 |
deleted
Last edited by John P; 01/10/18 04:25 PM.
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,134 Likes: 216
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,134 Likes: 216 |
I did recommend this small and reasonable costing book to any of my apprentices who took an interest in re-using Metals for other purposes. As a late friend of mine who was a Village Black Smith would say "it is a little information in the black art of metal bashing" the information is given in a straight and uncomplicated way, bearing in mind it was published in the 1950s and is just reprinted from then.
The only lessons in my life I truly did learn from where the ones I paid for!
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