help!!!!!

[yip]

  i know i read here the way to clean files with vingar.. i searched for that topic but couldn't find it. i must be stupd! any help?

[rich pierce]

Degrease by washing with a brush and Dawn soap. Rinse. Put your files in a PVC pipe or something like that to stand vertically, not touching. Pour vinegar on it to cover all. Overnight may spit. Chemical reactions are temperature dependent. 2 days may be too much. Take out, rinse with spray from a hose, see if cleaned up and dull gray all over. Fresh out the teeth with a fine brass brush. I smear baking soda paste on it to kill any acid. Rinse again. Dry using a heat gun. They will want to flash rust. The finest files must be taken out with a shorter disk time.

Others do it other ways with success.

[ettoreR]

A stiff wire brush and some vinegar will help, don't fall for the tale of restoring files in an acidic solution, it doesn't work, get yourself a file card and definitely place a very very light coat of oil on them where you're done. Once a files done, it's gone for good in my experience

[Ross Dillion]

I use this method all the time. I’ve even restored horribly rusty files to the point where they’re serviceable again. A new jug of vinegar may only take a one day soak to restore. Just check them every day.  This has saved me a bunch of money by not continuing to buy new files. I’ve pulled files out of the scrap bin at work and put them back to use.

[bluenoser]

A stiff wire brush and some vinegar will help, don't fall for the tale of restoring files in an acidic solution, it doesn't work, get yourself a file card and definitely place a very very light coat of oil on them where you're done. Once a files done, it's gone for good in my experience

I too was a non-believer, but I have to say this is DEAD WRONG!
It not only works, but works well. I have more files than any sane person would likely own up to.  I am also too cheap to easily turn loose of a dull file, but finally bit the bullet a couple of years ago and sorted the good from the dull - with the intention of pitching the dull ones into the scrap metal bin.  Having nothing to lose, I decided to put what I had been reading to the test and proceeded to soak all the dull files in high-strength cleaning vinegar.  To say I was favorably impressed would be an under statement.  Nearly all of them were sharpened to at least nearly new condition.  The two or three that were still not worth keeping had damage that exceeded just being dull.
Here is a good example of the results:
I have an old 12" lathe file that was so dull that I considered it unusable and it was one of the files I soaked.  I also have a brand new Mexican Nicholson 12" lathe file.   I know - not the best quality.  A well know local builder was visiting in my shop just yesterday and, by coincidence, he brought up the subject of sharpening files. After explaining the process, I chucked a piece of mild steel in a vise and handed him the two lathe files.  He was surprised to discover the sharpened file cut noticeably better than the new one.
I was once in denial but am now a believer
On the subject of file cards:
I no longer drag hardened steel pins across the teeth of my sharp files.  I cut pieces of plastic laminate counter top (Arborite, Formica, etc.) into roughly 1 1/4" X 4" strips and use them to clean my files.  Just push the narrow end across the teeth.  It will just take a few passes to cut the tooth pattern into the laminate.  The laminate is very effective at cleaning the gullets and will not dull the teeth.
OK, I am going to get off my soap box now.

[flehto]

I was a tool and diemaker for many years and my files were supplied by the company. These were quality files and never had to "clean" these files. When I retired, the files went home w/ me and after buidling approx. 2 dozen MLers, these same   files still have never  been cleaned or sent out for sharpening as they're still sharp. Went to the hardware store and bought an 8" bastard file which shortly dulled up.....evidenly the quality of files has really deteriorated.

I started my 5 yr  apprenticeship in 1954   and  at that time files were used alot and most of the soft  tool steels {espcially the air hardening tool steels} were a  lot harder than cold rolled steel. Time is money in a toolroom so dull files are not used......so the company supplied files lasted a long time and were always sharp while in use......Fred 

[bluenoser]

flehto,
It would be much appreciated if you could give us some pointers on the proper use and care of files. Speaking for myself, I know I likely have more than my share of bad habits.  My files are segregated into those used exclusively on wood and those used on metal.  Regarding cleaning, I have the greatest problem with files loading up when used on wood.  To a lesser extent, it is pinning when filing metal.  I have read that one should be able to clear the teeth by tapping the end of the file against something solid - like the vise, but that doesn't seem to work very well for me.

[Daryl]

A brass supository ctg. case is also a good file cleaner. The larger the calibre, the more teeth cleaned at a time.
Pinching the case mouth of a .30 cal ctg. case closed, then running it over the file to engrave the tooth spacing will make a 3/8" wide file cleaner.

[Pukka Bundook]

Same as Daryl here..but should try the vinegar on some old hags of files I have around!

[Bob Gerard]

I had meant to say "thank you" for this thread a while ago. I did this vinegar process with my 30 year-old rifler files and they seem like new again 
Thank you!

[mikeyfirelock]

I have used the vinegar treatment with success for some time now and recommend it.
It won’t produce miracles, but will extend the useful life of a file appreciably.   I also use a file card frequently, and run a piece of brass sheet edgewise across the face to remove small flecks of filed material from the file teeth ( works quite well actually )  I  soak in vinegar for a day or two  when the files feel like they aren’t cutting as well.   I feel these procedures do extend the useful life of files , but will not miraculously return a file to its original state.   

[sdilts]

A stiff bristled hairbrush works really well for cleaning. No damage to the teeth.

[Pukka Bundook]

Chalk is good to stop file teeth loading with softer metal too.
Grandfather always used it.

[P.W.Berkuta]

The chalk method was taught to us in shop class, but it did not work well for me. All it did was leave a bunch of chalk powder all over  . I have two of those file cards that have steel bristles on one side and nylon bristles on the other that I put to use often. I also use a "pointy object" on the stubborn particles .

[Daryl]

Stubborn particles is where the ctg. case works perfectly.

[smylee grouch]

I have used the cartridge case method for years and have had fair luck on single cut files doing so.

[GrizG]

One time Lynton McKenzie gave a little informal presentation at Gary Brumfield's house. During that presentation he suggested using a stiff brass brush and a pointed piece of brass to pick out stubborn chips. He told a story of being admonished by one of his mentors for using a steel file card... It all sounded reasonable to me and that has been my practice ever since.