Thread: Files - drag or lift when going backwards?

Here's a dude doing pretty neat and convincing testa on effectiveness or otherwise of dragging or lifting files when going backwards.

Originally Posted by BobL

Here's a dude doing pretty neat and convincing testa on effectiveness or otherwise of dragging or lifting files when going backwards.

I think he should repeat the test with coupons made of something hard. Perhaps the results would be the same but it would be more convincing - metal that can be filed with the file backwards is not likely to damage a file.

Jack

Originally Posted by Jack Ryan

I think he should repeat the test with coupons made of something hard. Perhaps the results would be the same but it would be more convincing - metal that can be filed with the file backwards is not likely to damage a file.

Jack

I disagree.
Files aren’t intended for use on hard material, so it wouldn’t be a very relevant test for typical file use.

Steve

Originally Posted by OxxAndBert

I disagree.
Files aren’t intended for use on hard material, so it wouldn’t be a very relevant test for typical file use.

Sure but lots of files are used for sharpening, eg chainsaw chain (HRC about 57), wood working tools (HRC ~50) so I reckon it would be worth repeating the the test on something harder.

Originally Posted by OxxAndBert

I disagree.
Files aren’t intended for use on hard material, so it wouldn’t be a very relevant test for typical file use.

Steve

Yes, OK. I should have said harder - not hard. A good blade steel or a stainless steel for example.

Jack

Originally Posted by BobL

chainsaw chain (HRC about 57).

Well that explains why my chainsaw files go blunt so quickly.

Originally Posted by jack620

Well that explains why my chainsaw files go blunt so quickly.

The steel used in chainsaw chains is relatively soft so they can be sharpened with a file.
On nost modern chains the cutter tops and sides are Cr plated and filing the steel underneath the Cr causes it to come off forming a hard edge..
Sometime the Cr plate comes off in bigger flakes than usual like this.

Ripchip.jpg

When a chain goes blunt that means the Cr edge has had gone and the edge rounds over like this.
Vold.jpg