Author Topic: I Hate Filing Brass....  (Read 3606 times)

Offline Tim Crosby

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I Hate Filing Brass....
« on: October 24, 2023, 12:37:11 AM »
 
 


  And I have two of these to do...

   Tim C.




« Last Edit: October 24, 2023, 12:49:45 AM by Tim Crosby »

Offline T*O*F

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« Reply #1 on: October 24, 2023, 01:08:31 AM »
It’s a joy.  Iron really sucks though.
Dave Kanger

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Offline Clark Badgett

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« Reply #2 on: October 24, 2023, 02:41:51 AM »
I would rather file steel, but polish brass
Psalms 144

Offline Steeltrap

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« 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.

Offline taterbug

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« Reply #4 on: October 24, 2023, 05:01:10 PM »
Tim, is one of those pieces broken? 

Offline Tim Crosby

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« Reply #5 on: October 24, 2023, 05:16:44 PM »
Tim, is one of those pieces broken?

  No, not yet.

   Tim

Online Pukka Bundook

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« Reply #6 on: October 24, 2023, 05:41:31 PM »
Get an apprentice, Tim!

Offline Daniel Coats

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« Reply #7 on: October 24, 2023, 05:48:11 PM »
I would rather use iron heat beat and repeat.
Dan

"Ain't no nipples on a man's rifle"

Offline wmrike

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« 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?

Offline Jerry V Lape

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« 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.   

Offline Jerry V Lape

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« Reply #10 on: October 24, 2023, 09:42:04 PM »
Also I can get a lot of the brass work accomplished using scrapers.

Online bob in the woods

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« 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

Offline Tim Crosby

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« 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   

Offline Stoner creek

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« 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.
Stop Marxism in America

Offline Bob Gerard

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« Reply #14 on: October 25, 2023, 01:35:55 AM »
I never imagined using scrapers on brass!

Online bob in the woods

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« Reply #15 on: October 25, 2023, 02:08:06 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

Online Pukka Bundook

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« 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..

Offline Daniel Coats

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« Reply #17 on: October 25, 2023, 04:38:16 PM »
Can someone post a picture of the scraper please?
Dan

"Ain't no nipples on a man's rifle"

Offline Tim Crosby

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« Reply #18 on: October 25, 2023, 05:02:24 PM »
Can someone post a picture of the scraper please?

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


Offline Bob Roller

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« 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

Offline Maven

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« 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.
Paul W. Brasky

Offline Daniel Coats

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« Reply #21 on: October 25, 2023, 06:19:52 PM »
Thanks for the picture
Dan

"Ain't no nipples on a man's rifle"

Online J Shingler

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« 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
Thank you
Jeff

Offline flinchrocket

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« 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.

Offline davec2

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Re: I Hate Filing Brass....
« 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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