Yep, another wire wheel thread, this one a little different...

[mkdive]

Ok I got a pretty good CL score the other day. :bounce:

I will post about that in the morning. But one of the things I picked up was a box FULL of various hand files. 99% of them made in USA. Lots of them are Nicholson. Almost all of them have varying degrees of surface rust.

My question is what would you guys use to remove the rust? :headscrat

I have a couple gallons of muriatic acid, I have naval jelly & I have a brass wire wheel on my bench grinder. Im just thinking the wire wheel would sure make quick work of getting the rust off & Im guessing wouldnt hurt the files in any way? We are talking maybe 75+ files that I want to de-rust.

Now I have way more hand files than I need....(never have to buy a file again in my life). I LOVE CL sometimes!:beer:

[Merkava_4]

4 parts water, 1 part muriatic acid.

[mkdive]

4 parts water, 1 part muriatic acid.

I tried a quick soak of a acid bath last night on these...They were in the bottom of a $20 box I got from the same CL guy. The muriatic worked great! These are also my first Plombs. :thumbup:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_WSP85dvpytQ/SZSXkRkKzAI/AAAAAAAABt8/sXg8wx3WIPA/s912/IMG_2073.JPG

[Merkava_4]

They're supposed to be submerged for 3 hours.

[Nealcrenshaw]

With 75+ files to de-rust go to the dollar store and purchase a pitcher maybe a two gallon size, then stop at your local grocers and get a gallon of White vinegar. Let them soak in the vinegar for about 3-5 hours depending on the amount of rust. they'll come looking like new money. Of course place handles up.

[Uncle Buck]

Ok I got a pretty good CL score the other day. :bounce:

I will post about that in the morning. But one of the things I picked up was a box FULL of various hand files. 99% of them made in USA. Lots of them are Nicholson. Almost all of them have varying degrees of surface rust.

My question is what would you guys use to remove the rust? :headscrat

I have a couple gallons of muriatic acid, I have naval jelly & I have a brass wire wheel on my bench grinder. Im just thinking the wire wheel would sure make quick work of getting the rust off & Im guessing wouldnt hurt the files in any way? We are talking maybe 75+ files that I want to de-rust.

Now I have way more hand files than I need....(never have to buy a file again in my life). I LOVE CL sometimes!:beer:

I have been the most outspoken supporter of wire wheeling tools on the board for a long time, with that said I have never found a wire wheel to be very effective with rusted files, at least they were not cleaned to my satisfaction.

In the end I came to the decision to avoid rusted files completely and only buy files new. This, coming from the guy that will buy almost anything used, many times in a bit less than desirable condition.

I would think unlike other tools using a chemical to clean files would attack the teeth of the file and dull the file. Those are just my thoughts.

[billymade]

If removal of the teeth is a primary concern; then maybe this is another case where evaporust would a be good candidate for this paricular situation; rust removal without damaging the metal itself! I saw a gallon at my Harbour Freight for $20; more expensive then acid based solutions but wouldn't ruin the files! :)

[dxdexter]

I would think unlike other tools using a chemical to clean files would attack the teeth of the file and dull the file. Those are just my thoughts.

Believe it or not, just the opposite should occur. Using the muriatic acid bath should actually sharpen the file. Acid is a well known sharpening method for files. I am not sure of the time required.

[back2class]

I have been the most outspoken supporter of wire wheeling tools on the board for a long time, with that said I have never found a wire wheel to be very effective with rusted files, at least they were not cleaned to my satisfaction.

In the end I came to the decision to avoid rusted files completely and only buy files new. This, coming from the guy that will buy almost anything used, many times in a bit less than desirable condition.

I would think unlike other tools using a chemical to clean files would attack the teeth of the file and dull the file. Those are just my thoughts.

Agree 100% when files rust the cutting edge is ruined. They work but very poorly compaired to new ones. Wire wheels will also dull them some. SKIP THE RUSTY FILES and taps and des too.

[dxdexter]

Agree 100% when files rust the cutting edge is ruined. They work but very poorly compaired to new ones. Wire wheels will also dull them some. SKIP THE RUSTY FILES and taps and des too.

I think it would all depend on the degree of rust. Like any file, a new one will obviously work better, but I would sooner give it a try then toss out potentially good tools.

I just put a rusty file in acid and will post a picture when she 's done. Apparently, from what I have read, the acid will etch the teeth and make it sharper.:headscrat Some have reported three or four resharpenings.

BEFORE:

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z102/dxdexter/Tools/RustyFile001.jpg
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z102/dxdexter/Tools/RustyFile003.jpg
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z102/dxdexter/Tools/RustyFile006.jpg

[Bolster]

I would think unlike other tools using a chemical to clean files would attack the teeth of the file and dull the file. Those are just my thoughts.

As the most outspoken proponent of chemical rust removal, I'm with Buck on this one. Chemical might make the file look purdy, but I can't understand how it could do anything positive for the teeth. Dex makes an interesting point to the opposite, but I can't understand how that would work.

However my mind is open if someone could explain it... To sharpen you'd need to "point up" a particular straight line, whereas chemical action should be more or less random, taking chunks of rust from wherever they (randomly) formed.

The only way I can imagine chemical resharpening is to imagine sand dunes, that as the wind blows away sand, the ridges get "sharper" along the top. But that would require some directionality to the wind, and where would that directionality come from in a chemical bath?

EDIT: By gum, Dex is onto something.

http://www.horseshoes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9256

http://www.netris.org/RIToolmakers/FILEMAKING/File-making-H-M.html

http://chestofbooks.com/reference/Encyclopedia-Of-Practical-Receipts-And-Processes/Miscellaneous-Receipts-Part-17.html which states: "To Sharpen a Razor. The simplest method of sharpening a razor is to put it for half an hour in water to which has been added 1/20 of its weight of muriatic or sulphuric acid, and after a few hours set it on a hone. The acid acts as a whetstone, by corroding the whole surface uniformly, so that nothing further than a smooth polish is necessary."

I honestly don't know what to think!! This is blowing my mind!!

[dxdexter]

As the most outspoken proponent of chemical rust removal, I'm with Buck on this one. Chemical might make the file look purdy, but I can't understand how it could do anything positive for the teeth. Dex makes an interesting point to the opposite, but I can't understand how that would work. However my mind is open if someone could explain it...

I thought you were the most out spoken proponent of wire wheeling:bounce:

Its not my idea, I just had an interest in whether files could be sharpened and this is what my research turned up. I really can't vouch for it's effectiveness, but am open to try anything at least once.

[Frank Elson]

As a supporter of wire wheeling I have to say I've never had any success wheeling rusty files.
What I have done is used the damn things rusty or not. They still work and the rust just disappears as you work with them.

[Bolster]

Dex, see my edit above! I am finding discussions that back you up! Way to go, man, you taught me something today.

[slack]

I recently cleaned up dozens of rusty old files. Most were my grandfather's. I had good success soaking them in vinegar for about 24 hrs, then using a small wire brush and/or abrasive pad under running water. Some got a second soak in vinegar and more brushing. After water I dried with paper towels, canned air and put in hot oven (wasn't over 200F).

[mkdive]

Lots of great replies, thanks guys!

The files I just bought, have a light surface rust. Some files the rust is just in spots some the whole file is covered. Its just enough rust that a scotch brite pad and some oil doesn't take it off. I dont think the rust has affected the ridges on the files very much if any. They are soaking in some acid as I write this. A few of them only took 5 minutes or so and the rust brushed off with an old tooth brush. The rest are 95% rust free....and they have only been soaking for about 30 minutes.

[Major Ramifications]

I toured the local Pellerin/Milnor plant that makes industrial laundry equipment. They had an acid bath station that blew my mind. Dull, AB finish stainless steel parts would enter the solution on one end, and by the time they passed all the way through, they came out with a mirror polish. Purely chemical action, nothing else touched them. The guy giving me the tour thought nothing of it, but I had never seen anything like it. So, yes, I believe the acid could make the files sharper.

[mkdive]

well just got done with the fourth batch of files soaking. Got them all dried off and oiled. They look brand new. Ridges still pretty darn sharp! Most look like they were never used. 124 files all together. I ended up getting a small low sided cat litter box from target was $.99 & and was the perfect size. Now it's time to clean up 40 or so of the wooden handles. I enjoy projects like this. Good times.