File Use and Care Questions

[Bolster]

1) To keep a file from loading, you can pass it over something, but I forget what. Chalk? Soap? Wax? Can't remember.

2) If you look at a file and you can see that some of the teeth are pressed down, leaving a "shiny stripe" on the face of the file, is that an indication it's time to toss it?

3) Is it bad to oil a file (to keep it from rusting)?

4) I heard of a "file resharpening process" that was essentially putting a file in an acid solution and allowing some of the metal to be etched away. Anybody tried that with any luck?

5) Any good ideas on how to keep files in drawers? I've cut tubing to surround the files, so they don't knock, but it is ugly, it obscures the file so you can't see which you want to use, and it fills up the drawer fast. Not the greatest solution. Would like to see some creative file storage solutions.

 

[michaudracing]

5) I use the rubber mats used for storing music CDs, as found at Ikea. They're only about 3/8" thick, hold 20 files each, and are dirt cheap. The rubbery plastic makes it easy to cut a divider out if you need a slot for a wider file.

 

[Zrexxer]

I wouldn't call it creative, but I bought a new set of Nicholsons awhile back and I just laid the roll they came in flat in the drawer. The others I had already just lay flat side-by-side at the end of the roll.

 

[Merkava_4]

Always push a file - never pull it.

 

[stricht8]

Ok. But nobody has answered the loading up question. I don't know either but I do clean them every know and again with a file card. Also I thought that I heard something about rubbing them with turpentine probably on this forum to prevent loading and rusting?

 

[stricht8]

What do you all do with worn down files besides turning them into slapping files?

 

[Elroy]

An old subject:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3967

 

[nissan_crawler]

 

[jteck75]

I've got what I've always called a file card,just a brush with stiff steel bristles on one side and softer bristles on the other. It flat out keeps files clean,can't remember where I got it though.

 

[Elroy]

File cards are readily available from any industrial MRO distributor, Elroy prefers a scratch brush and for really bad pins, a single edge razor blade.

 

[up_in_the_air]

To stop the file from pinning or loading up you put chalk on the file. I cut slots in a peice of right angle alum to sit the files in a draw.

 

[Stuey]

I've seen file holders that resemble wrench holders that keep the files upright at an angle.

An old subject:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3967

Yep. I read that thread a while back, and because of you I kept kicking myself for forgetting to buy chalk until I finally remembered.

I've since had an odd question - what do you think would be better, powdered layout chalk, or sidewalk chalk sticks?

 

[Elroy]

I use stick chalk

 

[bchee]

Here's a pet hair brush from Walmart. It sure resembles a file brush.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3635636

 

[autoace]

I spray the file with some WD40, then use a brush and compressed air to keep the files clean, and get the crude out of them.

 

[bchee]

5) I use the rubber mats used for storing music CDs, as found at Ikea. They're only about 3/8" thick, hold 20 files each, and are dirt cheap. The rubbery plastic makes it easy to cut a divider out if you need a slot for a wider file.

Do you have an Ikea link? I'm trying to picture what you're talking about...thanks

 

[Bolster]

Do you have an Ikea link? I'm trying to picture what you're talking about...thanks

Ditto that request, please...

Is this it?

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30105369

 

[bgott]

Golf balls make good file handles. Just wear safety glasses when you drill holes in them, some of them have a pressurized liquid in the core.

 

[Bolster]

An old subject:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3967

That's a good thread, recommended.

Going to take a guess at Elroy's question of how to clean a ceramic stick. Comet?