Thread: Sharpening Auger Bits

subscribing and coming back to this later


Dave the turning cowboy

turning wood into art

Would have liked to see him using an augur file instead of the three corner one he uses.

Originally Posted by Kidbee

Would have liked to see him using an augur file instead of the three corner one he uses.

He actually addresses that in response to a question asked

3.) Do you see any advantages in the dedicated auger mill files or do you always just use the triangular file.

• Answers to above:
  ........
  3) I have never used and auger mill file because the saw files work so well.

I bought an auger bit file about 35 years ago, & have virtually never used it - mostly because I can never remember where I stored it after the last time I used it. However, I always have three-cornered files right on a rack, right in front of my nose, so that's what I've always used, too. You do need to be a bit careful because the 3-corner lacks the 'safe' edges, but I've never found it a major problem. The auger file I have ('had', rather, I haven't seen it for years, now that I think about it! ) is a bit coarser than I like, and too wide for the smallest bits I have. So I'm in complete agreement with Mr. Sellars, on this one.....

Cheers,

I use a needle file on mine. I'm just mindful of the lack of a safe edge when I sharpen.

I got an auger file because that's what I thought I needed. It works ok I guess on everything over 12mm or so but even there the taper is such that I feel I can never get a good a stroke in before it wedges on a spur or screw somewhere. I think I might send my auger file off to find IanW's and start using a saw file too.