Author Topic: I Hate Filing Brass.... (Read 3639 times)

Tim Crosby · « **on:** October 24, 2023, 12:37:11 AM »

And I have two of these to do...

Tim C.

T*O*F · « **Reply #1 on:** October 24, 2023, 01:08:31 AM »

It’s a joy. Iron really sucks though.

Clark Badgett · « **Reply #2 on:** October 24, 2023, 02:41:51 AM »

I would rather file steel, but polish brass

Steeltrap · « **Reply #3 on:** October 24, 2023, 04:34:40 PM »

Everyone has their likes\dislikes. I love the look of steel......not a big fan of brass. Then again, finishing up steel is, to me, much more work than brass.

taterbug · « **Reply #4 on:** October 24, 2023, 05:01:10 PM »

Tim, is one of those pieces broken?

Tim Crosby · « **Reply #5 on:** October 24, 2023, 05:16:44 PM »

Quote from: taterbug on October 24, 2023, 05:01:10 PM

Tim, is one of those pieces broken?

No, not yet.

Tim

Pukka Bundook · « **Reply #6 on:** October 24, 2023, 05:41:31 PM »

Get an apprentice, Tim!

Daniel Coats · « **Reply #7 on:** October 24, 2023, 05:48:11 PM »

I would rather use iron heat beat and repeat.

wmrike · « **Reply #8 on:** October 24, 2023, 08:32:25 PM »

I am about to start on a couple of those and not looking forward to it. Has anyone tried annealing the brass to help the job along?

Jerry V Lape · « **Reply #9 on:** October 24, 2023, 09:40:30 PM »

I keep a separate set of files for brass. Files previously used on steel don't cut brass very well for me. But you probably know that.

Jerry V Lape · « **Reply #10 on:** October 24, 2023, 09:42:04 PM »

Also I can get a lot of the brass work accomplished using scrapers.

bob in the woods · « **Reply #11 on:** October 24, 2023, 10:51:18 PM »

As was said , I prefer to use scrapers first, and then follow with files. The files are used for brass only and cut extremely well. If I grab one of my files that I normally use for iron/steel , I can tell the difference immediately

Tim Crosby · « **Reply #12 on:** October 24, 2023, 11:29:04 PM »

I'm trying a scraper to bring out the facets. Should it, the scraper have a burr on it or a square edge. I have found that on horn and wood I get a smoother finish with a square edge.

Tim

Stoner creek · « **Reply #13 on:** October 24, 2023, 11:48:10 PM »

I use stones. Garret Wade made stones in a variety of shapes and grits for this kind of work. I have no idea how to get them. Maybe check with them first.

Bob Gerard · « **Reply #14 on:** October 25, 2023, 01:35:55 AM »

I never imagined using scrapers on brass!

bob in the woods · « **Reply #15 on:** October 25, 2023, 02:08:06 AM »

Quote from: Bob Gerard on October 25, 2023, 01:35:55 AM

I never imagined using scrapers on brass!

I can't remember the reference, but one of the long rifle experts had made mention of examining originals and seeing signs of scrapers being used , especially on the inside surface of the trigger guard . The outside surface was filed and finished, but the inside still had the scraper marks

Pukka Bundook · « **Reply #16 on:** October 25, 2023, 04:23:03 PM »

Woods Bob,

I was going to mention scrapers yesterday but was in a bit of a rush.
Good sharp square corners..

Daniel Coats · « **Reply #17 on:** October 25, 2023, 04:38:16 PM »

Can someone post a picture of the scraper please?

Tim Crosby · « **Reply #18 on:** October 25, 2023, 05:02:24 PM »

Quote from: Daniel Coats on October 25, 2023, 04:38:16 PM

Can someone post a picture of the scraper please?

Here is what I'm using, both with square edges:

Bob Roller · « **Reply #19 on:** October 25, 2023, 05:36:44 PM »

Polishing the inner curve of a trigger guard is a pain in the neck and rump.IF it is a common job or if it's not here is a way to do it.
Buy a Jacobs or that type of chuck and make an adapter to thread it to a bench grinder and then a set of expanding rubber wheels
with abrasive sleeves.Harbor Freight was my choice because there is a new one about 5 miles from me.This will NOT work on a rectangular trigger guard. It is also good on a crescent butt plate in brass,silver or steel.
Bob Roller

Maven · « **Reply #20 on:** October 25, 2023, 06:10:14 PM »

Not a builder, but abrasive [impregnated] rubber wheels in a variety of shapes and grits are marketed by Cratex and I'm sure others. Dentists use them, but they have their uses for some of our jobs as well.

Daniel Coats · « **Reply #21 on:** October 25, 2023, 06:19:52 PM »

Thanks for the picture

J Shingler · « **Reply #22 on:** October 25, 2023, 07:42:53 PM »

I enjoy brass but the old Bronze sucked. Yes good sharp files are a must for me. I hope to never get cheap "brass" again. Ever.
Jeff

flinchrocket · « **Reply #23 on:** October 25, 2023, 11:37:39 PM »

I knock the flashing off with a File, then switch to 150 grit emery paper backed up with a flat file. After that I use progressively finer grit wet/dry paper.

davec2 · « **Reply #24 on:** October 26, 2023, 04:54:56 AM »

Tim, from an old post of mine........ (original here.......https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=75691.msg751768#msg751768 )

After initial shaping with files, etc., I scrape most of the surface of brass and some steel parts. I use the non sharpened edge of a utility blade. This is a blade being used to scrape brass. I use the same tool for brass, wood, and steel. I stone the two 45 degree edges to a sharp 90 and use both sides of those. Scraping a large butt plate takes about 30 minutes. Scraping a whole stock to get out file, rasp, or carving tool marks takes about an hour...more if there is a lot of intricate carving to scrape around. Then I use sandpaper where ever necessary or useful.

Here I am scraping a butt plate with the angled edge of a box cutter blade. It takes off brass more rapidly and more smoothly than a file and leaves a finish that does not take too much more work with the abrasive paper or sticks. I do the inside of the trigger guard bow like this as well. If the part is investment cast, I can start right in with the scraper. If it is sand cast, I usually hit all the surfaces with a file to knock down the roughness, and then start with the scraper.

Wood comes off really fast and I have to be careful not to take too much.

As I said, I scrape some steel parts as well. You just have to refresh the edge of the scraper much more often.

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Author Topic: I Hate Filing Brass.... (Read 3639 times)