Quick Sort for Good & Bad Files

[Bolster]

I have several dozen old files to sort through, I need to quickly determine which are still good and which are so worn they have to go. Any tips on how to do this quickly? Would you just look at them? File something and see how they cut? If so, what would you use to test?

Frankly I am confused by files. I avoid them at the flea markets because I really do not know how to choose a quality one, from a bad one. Wish there were some way of doing "in the field" testing. There are probably loads of good files I'm passing up, due to ignorance.

 

[LoneGunman]

I'd try to use them, card them off first, I've had files that people were going to throw out because they were dull, according to them. They were clogged with aluminum, once cleaned up they worked fine. I check files by taking a swipe or to on a piece of whatever non hardened scrap I have.

I know some people will not like this, I regularly clean flea market files with a fine wire wheel on my bench grinder. They clean up fast and it does not seem to dull the file.

 

[Merkava_4]

Always push a file - never pull it.

 

[Frank Elson]

lonegunman an old toolmaker friend of mine told me to use a wire wheel. When I said I was surprised he said that they don't make a wire wheel that's tougher than a file and it's quicker than a brush across the grooves but essentially the same thing.

Merk, the same old guy told me that, always push, never pull, and I've been telling a friend of mine for thirty years but he WILL NOT LISTEN. You want to come over here and tell him while I hold him down ?

 

[Merkava_4]

You want to come over here and tell him while I hold him down?

Sure ... You could also tell him the file is actually more effective in removing material on the forward stroke; not to mention that proper use will maintain his files sharper and for a longer period of time.