Files?

[Schmidtster]

Hey I just picked up a few files on a local classified site. ones made by Jet, the other by Black diamond (the first is a flat bastard, second a mill) and the third one is a really old rasp 2" wide and about 16" long mabye more. I know the first two should make decent blades but the last one I'm unsure about there are no markings on it. Am I right to say I should heat to critical temp, quench and hit it with a hammer and see what it looks like inside? Oh by the way these will be my first knives I've ever attempted.

[kbaknife]

No, just hit it now - it's already hard.
Without some super fast oil or brine, if you heated it up to critical - which is about 1500 degrees, and then cooed it off, it would go dead soft.
And no, you don't know that the first two would make good files, the newer they are, the more suspect they would be. Seems industry has found more ways to only surface harden steels and such these days which makes the older files better - in my opinion.

[beaver#1]

ditto on what KBA said.  dont be disapointed if the rasp or any of them dont turn out to be good.  every rasp i have messed with did not turn out to be more than another addition to the scrap pile.  but who knows

[Lin Rhea]

It's been a while since we discussed "mystery steels". I cant seem to find that thread now. Can someone help me bump it back up? Thanks, Lin

[Bladepeek]

Here's one thread along that line, Lin
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=110;t=000988#000002

[Lin Rhea]

Thanks Ron, but that's not the one I was thinking of. I think I started the thread. But I cant seem to find it.

[Schmidtster]

Hmm ok after beating on the rasp, couldn't seem to break it, that being said I'm a mechanic and forgot my big hammer at work haha.but took some pictures mabye they will be of help if someone has worked with these type of files. I did a little research on the Jet site they say it is made with high chrome content and hardened to the core. and the black diamond claims to have a carbon content of 95%.

[Schmidtster]

Also Lin I think I found that thread on mystery steel and how you should start your tempering at 350 for 2 hours twice and so on, that will be the way I'll try one of these. probably the black diamond. I'm also getting a couple of files from the 50's from my welder at work on monday. He's going to take a look at the rasp and tell me what its made of (he has gone to school for metalergy as well) he said he should be able to tell by spark testing it. Anyway getting pretty excited to give it a try!! And knife black I ordered just showed up today too!!!!WOOHOO

[Lin Rhea]

Nathan,
       Could you add a link to that thread or send it to me?

[Schmidtster]

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=110;t=002974

Here it is. Awesome info!!

[Lin Rhea]

That's it thank you.