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how to clean files out?

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bobcatdan

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I have never found a good way to clean metal out of my files. A small wire seems to do something, but not much. I have a fair number of files that I don't think are junk, it is just they are clogged up. Any tips?
 
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Trucky

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Keep them oiled and a fine microfiber cloth will do you just fine. If you're using them rough or above 6" size, then use a file card. For any cost intensive files (AKA swiss), use a brass wire brush or a cloth. Especially needle files! File cards are good for some things but I don't trust them on the delicate teeth of a swiss needle file. Better safe than sorry. And I'd prefer to hit them with a little bit of brass than carbon steel wire. Beware, I wasn't able to do this on the job due to the nature of the work. If you're doing this at your job be sure that brass wont contaminate anything first.
 
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jzmtl

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If the metal are lodged in there file card won't work. I've used tip of utility knife to scrape out the grooves, works great but you better have good amount of patience.
 
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gearhead1

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Ditto on the file card, it's like a wire brush made just for file cleaning.
 
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Strouty

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jzmtl said:
If the metal are lodged in there file card won't work. I've used tip of utility knife to scrape out the grooves, works great but you better have good amount of patience.
Click to expand...

That happens with aluminum a lot. I have seen people use grease on grinding wheels when grinding aluminum, would that work on files? I don't even know if it works on grinding wheels.
 
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kenburkholz

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in cases where files are used almost exclusively on aluminum, I always treat them with bee's wax, and remove the excess, Ken.
 
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Ign

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I worked w a machinist who swore by cleaning out w a pc of round brass. But when he tried to demonstrate it didn't work very well and I didn't see the benefit. He said it wouldn't dull your files where a file card allegedly will.

I use a file card, even for Al. Doesn't get it all but I don't care.
 
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ritzblitz

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File cards work well, but are almost useless on finer files. Use a piece of brass to push any stubborn metal out of the teeth. It works very well. You have to do it correctly though, go perpendicular to the cutting axis, if that makes any sense. Push hard too or else the brass won't do anything.

For coarser files where most of the chips are loose, smack it against the workbench or blow air on it.
 
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1997cruiser

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Diluted sulfuric acid. You can get it from the plumbing store. Works best. Oh and don't soak the file overnight or you will get no file.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
 
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rshadd

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My grandfather was a sheetmetal mechanic and one of the tricks he taught me was to use a piece of brass, about 1/16" thick, and about 1/2" wide for cleaning files.

Push the flat side of the end of this diagonally across the file, following the angle of the teeth. The first couple strokes won't do much, but then small ridges will form in the brass and effectively clean the material between the teeth. This won't harm the teeth and is the quickest way to clean a file.
 
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Steinmetz

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ritzblitz said:
File cards work well, but are almost useless on finer files. Use a piece of brass to push any stubborn metal out of the teeth. It works very well. You have to do it correctly though, go perpendicular to the cutting axis, if that makes any sense. Push hard too or else the brass won't do anything.

For coarser files where most of the chips are loose, smack it against the workbench or blow air on it.
Click to expand...

Never strike a file to clean it.
 
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Steinmetz

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bobcatdan said:
I have never found a good way to clean metal out of my files. A small wire seems to do something, but not much. I have a fair number of files that I don't think are junk, it is just they are clogged up. Any tips?
Click to expand...

File card, followed by a piece of brass moved in alignment with the grooves for stubborn particles.
 
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sgs236

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Last edited:
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1950mercury

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Soap stone works better than chalk. You can use wood,brass,copper or even plastic to clean clogged files. Drag it back and forth with the grooves and the softer material will get grooved and push the clogged material out
 
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Roverbo

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Denmark
ritzblitz said:
Oh. No wonder all my files are dull! Knocking them against my wooden workbench must be dulling them. Thanks for the advice.
Click to expand...

:lol: Not making them dull, but it will break them, files are brittle...because of the hardening. You probably knew that. My father used the chalk trick too.
 
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