Restoring old files

[Mauser06]

So my mother was at an estate auction tonight...I saw the flier and saw a tool box with files in it.  Told her to snag it if it's cheap... Figuring there was maybe 10 and I could get 1 or 2 usable ones....


She bought it...For $5. 


There's gotta be about 40lbs of files in this tool. Box...Maybe 100.  Giant ones...Small ones...Doing ones...Triangles, half rounds, rifles, round ones, you name it and it might be in there. 



Like most old tools, they need brought back to life.  Nothing major. Mostly just dirty, oils, light rust etc.


Any ideas on the proper way to clean them up?? 


I was thinking degrease, pressure wash, vinegar soak. But maybe that's not the answer for files. I've done it with old rusty traps and they look brand new after I am done.   


Thanx!

[dogcatcher]

The  ones that just need cleaning etc., there answers are in this link.  https://woodworking.stackexchange.com/questions/3566/how-to-restore-old-files

If they need  sharpening, I use this company, real reasonable in price and great customer service.  http://boggstool.com/

If you want references on Boggs, read the comments on this link.  http://thogamecallsforums.com/index.php/topic,21038.msg161513.html#msg161513

[Mauser06]

Thanx!!   


I tried Google and must have to word the search properly.  All I found was computer file stuff lol.



I think the first step will be to clean them up...Then see what is what.  Pick out some of the better ones, if there are any, and have them sharpened.


I have to do some research on the cuts.  To me, a file is a file and at a glance they all look the same lol.  Now I know there are differences...


Hopefully there are some good ones...$5 for somewhere around 100 pieces... Probably worth atleast that much in scrape prices lol.

[dogcatcher]

Some knifemakers would love to find a deal like that.   Just using the vinegar soak will help a dull file, but sending them to  Boggs is worth every dollar spent on postage and sharpening.  That is if they are good brands which if I was guessing I would say they probably are.

[moleeyes36]

Second the Boggs Tool recommendation.  Many on the ALR forum use them.  Great service, quality work, very reasonable prices.

Mole Eyes

[David R. Pennington]

Send them to Boggs. Great service.

[David R. Pennington]

Also look at the cleaning files post in the shop made tools section. Some just might need cleaning. I sent some really rough looking files to Boggs and was amazed how they came back.

[JBJ]

Another resounding vote for Boggs! I would sort them out noting the brands of files. In my opinion, older USA made files and Swiss files are worth serious consideration. My experience with Boggs on a fairly large shipment was outstanding. The folks at Boggs thought several files could not be salvaged and they did not charge me for those. They color coded the tangs of those files and returned them clean! The They were great to deal with and the files preformed almost like new. Price a new large file - say 10 inches or more and you will quickly see that sending files to Boggs is cost effective - even with the shipping. Super nice folks!!!
J.B.

[Dphariss]

So my mother was at an estate auction tonight...I saw the flier and saw a tool box with files in it.  Told her to snag it if it's cheap... Figuring there was maybe 10 and I could get 1 or 2 usable ones....


She bought it...For $5. 


There's gotta be about 40lbs of files in this tool. Box...Maybe 100.  Giant ones...Small ones...Doing ones...Triangles, half rounds, rifles, round ones, you name it and it might be in there. 



Like most old tools, they need brought back to life.  Nothing major. Mostly just dirty, oils, light rust etc.


Any ideas on the proper way to clean them up?? 


I was thinking degrease, pressure wash, vinegar soak. But maybe that's not the answer for files. I've done it with old rusty traps and they look brand new after I am done.   


Thanx!

If its oil and grease use some sort of solvent.
If the are plugged with material a brass brush or a piece of sheet brass will remove it. If they are really rusty or worn they are probably not worth the trouble.
Dan

[Dphariss]

Boggs looks interesting. Have some files I might send off to a test...

Dan

[David R. Pennington]

Dan, when I sent my first bunch of files to Boggs I threw in one old large lathe file that I new was rusted beyond repair, just to see what they would do. They cleaned it anyway and only charged a small handling fee. Even it cuts better than a new chinese file.

[Nick Bachtel]

I scored a handful of rusty US made files and wooden handles at an antique shop the other day. I just wanted the handles really.

Soaked the files in white vinegar for 24 hours and used the brown scotchbright pad to clean them up. Took off the rust, found out they were never used and still really sharp. Then I finally gave them a little spray of oil to keep them from rusting again.

Nick

[FDR]

and here is the link.
http://boggstool.com/page74.html

Fred

[Stan]

Clean the files with a good solvent & then dish soap & ammonia. After they are well dry immerse them in a acid bath.
Depending upon the strength  of the acid it may take 10 minutes or overnight. Radio shack sold a mild acid for circut boards, that works well over night and isn't real strong. When finished ( you can tell by the sharpness of the cut) neutralize the files in a bath of baking soda , dry well & oil. easy as pie

[Mauser06]

Thanx all!



Hopefully i have some good ones in there! 


The tool box was full and lots of dirt and grime on them so was hard to tell what's what.  Didn't look like any abuse and they seemed like good tools. 



Maybe I will do a before and after and maybe a write up.

[ron w]

"no abuse", you say,......stored correctly in the box, or just piled on top of each other ?. the worst thabuse you can do to a file is to throw it in amongst more files with nothing in between them.