Making Lathe Tools Out Of Old Files

Peter Shaw does some practical experimenting in his workshop.

- Peter Shaw

Many years ago, shortly after I became involved in this hobby, I read something about re-using old, worn-out files to make lathe tools. This I found intriguing, and did indeed attempt to make such a tool. It was a total failure! Nevertheless, I kept the idea in mind, and when some years later I had need of a replacement parting-off tool, I resurrected the idea with eventual success, but only after attempting an impossibly long blade.

Over the next few years, I picked up other hints & tips, some of which did not work for me, whilst others did indeed work but with a few provisos, and I now have five tools made from old files plus a quantity of spare sections for use later if required. This article is a discussion of what I found worked, and just as importantly, did not work.

Successful tools

At the extreme left of photo 1 is a parting- off tool made from a 4in x ½ inch x 1/8 inch file which works very well indeed provided the cut is flooded with cutting fluid and the tool is used firmly, i.e. no “tickling” of the work, otherwise chatter results. The actual blade itself has a tip width of 1.84mm and is about 10mm long. The holder for this tool is similar to that shown on page 21 of L. C. Mason’s book, Using the Small Lathe, albeit with a channel the same width as the height of the file. The tool is thus held rigidly whilst cutting.