It takes a Redheaded kid from Utah 2 minutes to explain to me what I couldn't figure out for myself in 40 years of metalworking. Not being a smart-allic, Thank you! that will truly make a world of difference in how I view using files.
After scraping with soft copper soak it in a 10 to 1 water and sulfuric acid solution "Drain'O works" for about an hour then transfer to a 10 to 1 water and baking soda solution to neutralize the acid and voila you have a brand new file
Awesome. The first time I did mine they not only had aluminum but gunk in all the grooves. I was amazed how well they worked (of course they were well used used when I go them).
Great copper pipe hack. Been contracting 40+ years & this has always driven me crazy… and your video was hard to find. A machinist told me the chalk & to file a copper pipe before, which sort of worked, but seeing it flattened, using it as a handle, and that it is just a file comb makes total sense. FYI got a ‘65 HP 427 (Ford of course) out of box from Ford with 4 hours hydroplane racing on it. Piston connecting rod broke and snapped off the cylinder skirt really close to the ring travel, but not quite… He had 4 ready to go on the docks, just didn’t want to go through the trouble for what looked like certain death. The guy said if it doesn’t blow oil, I owed him $500; otherwise I have to haul it to the dump. It’s now is in a ‘67 Mustang fastback with dual quads. And he’s $500- richer. Thanks for your hack!
Great classic tip - I also soak mine in regular grocery store (5%) white vinegar overnight, it helps clean any surface oxidation and sharpens the bite a little.
I got to playing around in the garage this weekend and just for kicks and giggles I caked up a file just so I can clean it LOL Works great!!! This is the best way Ive ever used to clean them.
Best way I found is to soak it in lye (caustic soda in UK) This will dissolve aluminium but does not touch steel at all - it will also de-grease the file very efficiently, Using french chalk , or even talcum powder, is much better than 'blackboard chalk' A Proper file card is way better than a standard wire brush, cheap to buy and worth every penny.
Thanks for this video. In my profession, we file sterling silver daily. I have a tool from the early '70s that's a piece of nickel, or german silver that's hammered out, like the copper, to work in the very same way. Keep thinning it down to work on finer file cuts.
Work was throwing away 25-30 files and replacing them with new. I took the old ones home not seeing anything wrong with them. That was 25 years ago and I still use them. Good enough for home use I said. I don't know off hand if they are clogged but if they are I know how to clean them now. Thanks for the tip.
I knew I'd find an answer to my question here. I bought a bunch of old files but there all pretty used up. This trick will help a lot. Once again, you saved the day.
This is amazing. We file aluminum all day long at work. We make antenna parts out of copper, brass, aluminum and some steel, steel mainly on the antenna body. Most of the files are clogged. Many of the files make quick work on aluminum. My boss will be very happy to know he does not have to throw out any more files.
Dude! Thank you so much!!!!! Until now I had no idea how to get that stuff out besides using a brass brush and working at each area for hours. Oh my gosh I can’t wait to try and do this! Again, thank you for having the sand to post this. You are awesome and such a help.
Jeebus!! Just so you know, this saved my fine modeller metal file from the heap! It had krazy glue stuck in it and is stubbornly resistant to being cleaned off but I used a soft material like flat piece of styrene and it works!! Great tip.
Good info never gets old. I have been making animal silhouette metal art using trim coil as a hobby for a few years now and have had problems with my Dremel tool cutting bits getting clogged. I have been using a brass wire brush in an attempt to clean the bits with little success. After watching your video I thought this might work on the bits if it works on files. Tried it and it did. Thanks for posting. This will greatly increase the cutting life of the bits.
usually whenever i break out the pressure washer i spray them,However in the winter this is perfect. Will not damage your file since copper is softer. Great vid.
Another good video. I was told years ago that if you don't lift on the backstroke they clean themselves. I'm not convinced about that one. I'll definitely be giving this a try.
Thats a smashing way to clean them, thanks mate :-) At school in metalwork class, we were taught to clean them with a fine spike, the teacher called it "Pining". Hell your way is much better :-), multitooth pinning :-) Your a good teacher.
Wish I would've found this last weekend when I spent over 3 hrs with a dental pick on a flea mkt find of 10 Simonds Red Tang files. Thank you. My mind is blown. 😂
Yeah, I've used the picks to clean out stubborn glue, paint or gunk from previous owners too -even after multi day soak in cleaning vinegar to get rid of most of it
Great tip, but what's funny is how you're struggling to hold on to the file as you clean it on the anvil portion of your vice! Sometimes we overlook the simplest of things.
I assume you mean he should put the file in the vise? I noticed that on the previous video I watched. These guys have full shops & I'm just an amateur 😆
New to me. You made my day. The guys in my shop continually fuck up and misuse tools and rely on me to keep things working. My only suggestion is that you apply a wooden handle to the scraper. Take it to Shark Tank and make a mint.
THANK YOU s I have over 200+ files an i never would've thought to use copper as a cleaning tool for them.I can now clean out all my old Nicholson files,that i saved over the years not willing to toss or retire them.My hat is off to you !
Steel wire brushes will clean files but they also dull the file pretty quickly. Brass wire brushes can be used more safely. This tip about using copper pipe in this manner is a good one! Brass also works.
Good tip. I use a file card, which is a wire brush actually made for file cleaning. I also spray the file with WD40 before filing aluminum, then just start filing again. I'll have to give this a try and compare.
That's a really food tip, I actually bitched and cursed about getting my files cleaned. I never heard about this method. Fantastic just learned a simple little trick. Thx a bunch!!!
not sure if you will read this but another great way to clean your files(as a machinist who works with aluminum) is to leave it in a cup of sulfuric acid, aka drain cleaner over night, rinse and its as good as new, they used to think it sharped files.
Wouldn't you notice a difference from the chalk when you clean the files, if there is any? Also, would it be worth using aluminum, since it's even softer than copper? Thanks
You are welcome!!! Think my RUclips video days are over...but sure enjoy the heck out of watching yours. You sure have some great videos. I look forward to each one as they are some of the best how to videos out there. I know it takes a lot of time.and effort to do them too, so thank you!!! Take care, dusty
Thanks for the tip. For finishing you may find that wire brushing with ATF followed by a rinse with brake cleaner solvent really takes care of gummy surface grime.
I dumped my 12 inch nicholson filer in a bucket filled with diesel fuel for 15 minutes. Brushed it with a steel brush. All the debris came off easily. Filer looks and feels brand new. No harm done.
Have you ever rust blued a file to increase rust resistance? I did it to a rasp recently and while it looks great and performed great, I don't know about the longevity of the treatment.
I tend to use grinders... lots and lots of grinders... but i have filed Aluminum in the past and have never gotten them totally clean... this will help
Jim Tendsbar Cured Resin; I would think Acetone would soften it to the point where you could easily use this method to clean up a file. This method may also do it without anything else. Let me know how it works out.
This is a great way to mechanically remove metal buildup. Another YT video shows a fellow who created a similar tool from a large nail. He flattened the end with a sledge to about 1/2" wide. That material might provide somewhat harder teeth. In addition to mechanical cleaning, you can restore the sharpness to many files with an acid dip. Search YT for the couple of vids that demonstrate this method. Essentially, start with a cleaned file, removing all debris that might hang onto acid droplets. Then make a dilute (10%) solution of sulphuric acid and water. Suspend or stand your files in that solution, not touching each other, for an hour. A good way to do this is to cement a cap on one end of a length of 2 1/2" PVC pipe and clamp that upright (in a Workmate or broad wood clamp.) After the soaking period, thoroughly rinse each file with a 100% solution of baking soda and water (mix in baking soda until it stops dissolving in the water) to neutralize all acid. Then dry the files thoroughly. You can also use store bought vinegar for a 12-24 hour soak and etch (acetic acid is weaker than sulphuric so the etch is much slower.) You can also rig up the files so they are vertically suspended in the etch bath. Another etch solution can be made with citric acid, which is apparently sold in a dry powder at hardware? or woodworking stores. Two notes: First, the fumes created, especially by the sulphuric dip, will cause any iron items nearby to start rusting, so do this outside or away from your other tools. Second, work carefully around any acid. Wear old clothes, gloves, and eye protection. Add the acid to the water, not the other way around, and do it slowly to avoid any splashes.
Great video because often these aluminum-filled abused steel files can be had for next to nothing at garage sales. BTW FYI Nicholson does make files for aluminum. Most are marked "Type A" on the tang. If you know how I'd love to see a video on how to chemically sharpen files. Heard some rumorish type stuff on the web but never bothered to try to see what really works. To me a good file is one with one of my lathe made handles on it. I use pallets because mostly they're good hardwood.
If you put a lubricant on the file, the aluminum won't stick in the first place. You can use paste wax, paraffin, grease, kerosene, paint thinner, wd-40.... The heavier things like waxes will last longer. The the aluminum swarf brushes away easily. Don't use a steel brush; use a brass brush. In addition to copper, you can also use brass or wood for unclogging. Wood actually works pretty well, and it's easy to find.
Over the years, I've come across a few 1960s-70s electric organs on the trash heap and pulled 'em apart just because..... Well, hot damn! The hundreds of copper key contacts have justified the "blind salvage" yet again!
It takes a Redheaded kid from Utah 2 minutes to explain to me what I couldn't figure out for myself in 40 years of metalworking. Not being a smart-allic, Thank you! that will truly make a world of difference in how I view using files.
You're certainly no *_Smart Alec_*
That's patently obvious.
>
After scraping with soft copper soak it in a 10 to 1 water and sulfuric acid solution "Drain'O works" for about an hour then transfer to a 10 to 1 water and baking soda solution to neutralize the acid and voila you have a brand new file
Really? I just found out how to clean(from the video) the aluminum off; then how to pretty them all up!!! Y’all are sweet Blessings ❤
I give credit to the person I learned it from. Thanks for taking the time to comment and watch.
40 years in the auto repair business and I'm still learning new stuff, thanks for the tip man.
Thanks for the comment. Glad I could show you something new.
Awesome. The first time I did mine they not only had aluminum but gunk in all the grooves. I was amazed how well they worked (of course they were well used used when I go them).
So I guess you had a busy Saturday cleaning files. :) . Thanks for watching.
Thanks for watching. Maybe someday it will be useful.
If you ever see that Man again please tell him thank you. That was such an easy way to fix a file, K.I.S.S. at its best. Have a great day Sir.
After so many years !!!
You are the man!
Until today I had to keep separate set of files just for aluminium.
This really works!
Great copper pipe hack. Been contracting 40+ years & this has always driven me crazy… and your video was hard to find.
A machinist told me the chalk & to file a copper pipe before, which sort of worked, but seeing it flattened, using it as a handle, and that it is just a file comb makes total sense.
FYI got a ‘65 HP 427 (Ford of course) out of box from Ford with 4 hours hydroplane racing on it. Piston connecting rod broke and snapped off the cylinder skirt really close to the ring travel, but not quite…
He had 4 ready to go on the docks, just didn’t want to go through the trouble for what looked like certain death.
The guy said if it doesn’t blow oil, I owed him $500; otherwise I have to haul it to the dump.
It’s now is in a ‘67 Mustang fastback with dual quads.
And he’s $500- richer.
Thanks for your hack!
Great classic tip - I also soak mine in regular grocery store (5%) white vinegar overnight, it helps clean any surface oxidation and sharpens the bite a little.
I got to playing around in the garage this weekend and just for kicks and giggles I caked up a file just so I can clean it LOL Works great!!! This is the best way Ive ever used to clean them.
To replenish a clogged grinding wheel, use a cut off piece of garden hose while the wheel is running, it will remove any buildup of material.
Thanks for the tip.
Why not use a dressing wheel?
Best way I found is to soak it in lye (caustic soda in UK)
This will dissolve aluminium but does not touch steel at all - it will also de-grease the file very efficiently, Using french chalk , or even talcum powder, is much better than 'blackboard chalk'
A Proper file card is way better than a standard wire brush, cheap to buy and worth every penny.
Thanks for this video. In my profession, we file sterling silver daily. I have a tool from the early '70s that's a piece of nickel, or german silver that's hammered out, like the copper, to work in the very same way. Keep thinning it down to work on finer file cuts.
This is genius! Tried it out and it worked like a charm. I managed to rescue a couple of files that were consigned to the dustbin. Thank you 🙏
Nice work!
this 8 year old video is still teaching people useful skills. thanks a heap man!
Thank you for the comment and watching.
Work was throwing away 25-30 files and replacing them with new. I took the old ones home not seeing anything wrong with them. That was 25 years ago and I still use them. Good enough for home use I said. I don't know off hand if they are clogged but if they are I know how to clean them now. Thanks for the tip.
Thanks for watching.
I knew I'd find an answer to my question here. I bought a bunch of old files but there all pretty used up. This trick will help a lot. Once again, you saved the day.
Thanks.
Interesting!
This is amazing. We file aluminum all day long at work. We make antenna parts out of copper, brass, aluminum and some steel, steel mainly on the antenna body. Most of the files are clogged. Many of the files make quick work on aluminum. My boss will be very happy to know he does not have to throw out any more files.
Try it out, let me know what you think.
Dude! Thank you so much!!!!! Until now I had no idea how to get that stuff out besides using a brass brush and working at each area for hours. Oh my gosh I can’t wait to try and do this! Again, thank you for having the sand to post this. You are awesome and such a help.
Awesome, I hope you try it.
Jeebus!! Just so you know, this saved my fine modeller metal file from the heap! It had krazy glue stuck in it and is stubbornly resistant to being cleaned off but I used a soft material like flat piece of styrene and it works!! Great tip.
That's great.
Great tip! Can't wait to clean my favorite file, clogged it today while filing copper pipe. Thank you for taking the time to share.
Awesome. Glad the video helped.
Good info never gets old. I have been making animal silhouette metal art using trim coil as a hobby for a few years now and have had problems with my Dremel tool cutting bits getting clogged. I have been using a brass wire brush in an attempt to clean the bits with little success. After watching your video I thought this might work on the bits if it works on files. Tried it and it did. Thanks for posting. This will greatly increase the cutting life of the bits.
That's fantastic.
You sir are an awesome person! Thanks for the knowledge. This is still helping people in 2019.
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it.
usually whenever i break out the pressure washer i spray them,However in the winter this is perfect. Will not damage your file since copper is softer. Great vid.
Another good video. I was told years ago that if you don't lift on the backstroke they clean themselves. I'm not convinced about that one. I'll definitely be giving this a try.
Big Ian Builds Interesting, I'll have to try that as well.
You can also use brass bullet shells
+MISTER AGB Thanks!
Great. I have a couple of files that were grandpa’s. Used the wire brush now I can finish it with the copper. Thank you for sharing
Once again you have done it again. Highly impressed. keep up the great work.
Thanks.
Good tip, but I'd stick to the copper thingy only. Wire brushes are no good for files in my opinion. I would try a brass brush though.
Thanks.
File cards are the best.
Thank you! I'd been looking for someone with the knowledge to clean a file.
Thats a smashing way to clean them, thanks mate :-)
At school in metalwork class, we were taught to clean them with a fine spike, the teacher called it "Pining".
Hell your way is much better :-), multitooth pinning :-)
Your a good teacher.
You could also use that copper piece you made as a welding spoon. Great video!!
Love2boat92 You're on it! I actually use it as a welding spoon as well.
sixtyfiveford Hahaha. I wonder if you and me are the only ones who thought of that? Ha!
Wish I would've found this last weekend when I spent over 3 hrs with a dental pick on a flea mkt find of 10 Simonds Red Tang files. Thank you. My mind is blown. 😂
Yeah, I've used the picks to clean out stubborn glue, paint or gunk from previous owners too -even after multi day soak in cleaning vinegar to get rid of most of it
Just found your video. Thanks for taking the time to explain this. I now will have a solution to my gummed up files!
Awesome trick! I just grabbed my $10 dollar welding spoon from Harbor Freight and found another purpose for it! Great video!
Welding spoon.. That's a great idea.
Great tip, but what's funny is how you're struggling to hold on to the file as you clean it on the anvil portion of your vice! Sometimes we overlook the simplest of things.
I assume you mean he should put the file in the vise? I noticed that on the previous video I watched.
These guys have full shops & I'm just an amateur 😆
I catch myself doing the same thing! After a few choice words to myself, usually about myself, I put the dang thing in the vise!
New to me. You made my day. The guys in my shop continually fuck up and misuse tools and rely on me to keep things working. My only suggestion is that you apply a wooden handle to the scraper. Take it to Shark Tank and make a mint.
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it.
THANK YOU s I have over 200+ files an i never would've thought to use copper as a cleaning tool for them.I can now clean out all my old Nicholson files,that i saved over the years not willing to toss or retire them.My hat is off to you !
Thanks.
I'm glad you liked it. Let me know if you do try it. -Moe
Thanks for watching. Can we expect any videos this year?
Thanks for watching Joe.
Steel wire brushes will clean files but they also dull the file pretty quickly. Brass wire brushes can be used more safely. This tip about using copper pipe in this manner is a good one! Brass also works.
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it.
Thanks and thanks for commenting.
I thought a file card would do it so I bought one. Didn't work. I've been scraping them out with a needle. This looks much faster. Thanks for the tip.
Great job as always. When you're done cleaning files and other bare metal do you coat them anything to keep them from rusting or tarnishing?
WD-40 or a light oil seams to be the best.
Good tip. I use a file card, which is a wire brush actually made for file cleaning. I also spray the file with WD40 before filing aluminum, then just start filing again. I'll have to give this a try and compare.
That's a really food tip, I actually bitched and cursed about getting my files cleaned. I never heard about this method. Fantastic just learned a simple little trick. Thx a bunch!!!
Thanks for the tip.
Works well even on fine, Swiss-pattern needle files, Cut-4 thru 0 but the brass cleaning tool I made is quite a bit smaller.
Thanks for this video!...I bought a bunch of old jewelers files and this will really help me get them nice and clean!
That's great. Thanks for watching.
Nice! I wish I saw your video before I bought a file cleaner from home depot. Thanks for sharing.
Braulio Rivera Thanks. It's a handy trick to know.
Tried using this method on my old files , and it worked fantastic. Once again thx for the Moe.
not sure if you will read this but another great way to clean your files(as a machinist who works with aluminum) is to leave it in a cup of sulfuric acid, aka drain cleaner over night, rinse and its as good as new, they used to think it sharped files.
Nice trick. I've always used a hardwood stick but copper is nice too.
I'll have to try a hardwood stick.
Wouldn't you notice a difference from the chalk when you clean the files, if there is any? Also, would it be worth using aluminum, since it's even softer than copper? Thanks
Try spraying your file with WD40 before you file aluminum. Keep it wet and the shit don't stick. Yours is a good one too
You are welcome!!! Think my RUclips video days are over...but sure enjoy the heck out of watching yours. You sure have some great videos. I look forward to each one as they are some of the best how to videos out there. I know it takes a lot of time.and effort to do them too, so thank you!!! Take care, dusty
Thanks for the tip. For finishing you may find that wire brushing with ATF followed by a rinse with brake cleaner solvent really takes care of gummy surface grime.
I'll give that a shot. Thanks.
Yeah, thanks for watching.
I dumped my 12 inch nicholson filer in a bucket filled with diesel fuel for 15 minutes. Brushed it with a steel brush. All the debris came off easily. Filer looks and feels brand new. No harm done.
Glad you liked it. Thanks for subscribing. -Moe
Let me know if you try it.
Thanks for watching Matt. -Moe
Have you ever rust blued a file to increase rust resistance? I did it to a rasp recently and while it looks great and performed great, I don't know about the longevity of the treatment.
I haven’t run into the problem yet but now I’m definitely going to save this video in case I forget.
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it.
This saved me a ton of frustration. Much obliged!
Thank, I'm glad you liked it.
Thank you for your advice. I will clean my files following your directions.
Awesome. Thanks.
Thanks for commenting
this tip is absolutly brilliant.many thanks.
Thanks, I'm glad you like it.
Thanks for taking the time to show us. 🙂
i have a drawer of files i am going to clean right now . thanks for sharing another great tip.
You're too kind. Thanks for watching Zyplex.-Moe
I tend to use grinders... lots and lots of grinders... but i have filed Aluminum in the past and have never gotten them totally clean... this will help
I have got to try this ..I just spent too much time with an utility razor blade and acetone ..Worked but takes too long
best knowledge I received all year
Thank you for posting this video. I do a lot of filing on my welding projects and this worked great for me. Thank you
Will this also work on a file mucked up with laminate or resin? If not any suggestions?
Jim Tendsbar Cured Resin; I would think Acetone would soften it to the point where you could easily use this method to clean up a file. This method may also do it without anything else. Let me know how it works out.
This is a great way to mechanically remove metal buildup. Another YT video shows a fellow who created a similar tool from a large nail. He flattened the end with a sledge to about 1/2" wide. That material might provide somewhat harder teeth.
In addition to mechanical cleaning, you can restore the sharpness to many files with an acid dip. Search YT for the couple of vids that demonstrate this method.
Essentially, start with a cleaned file, removing all debris that might hang onto acid droplets. Then make a dilute (10%) solution of sulphuric acid and water. Suspend or stand your files in that solution, not touching each other, for an hour. A good way to do this is to cement a cap on one end of a length of 2 1/2" PVC pipe and clamp that upright (in a Workmate or broad wood clamp.) After the soaking period, thoroughly rinse each file with a 100% solution of baking soda and water (mix in baking soda until it stops dissolving in the water) to neutralize all acid. Then dry the files thoroughly.
You can also use store bought vinegar for a 12-24 hour soak and etch (acetic acid is weaker than sulphuric so the etch is much slower.) You can also rig up the files so they are vertically suspended in the etch bath. Another etch solution can be made with citric acid, which is apparently sold in a dry powder at hardware? or woodworking stores.
Two notes: First, the fumes created, especially by the sulphuric dip, will cause any iron items nearby to start rusting, so do this outside or away from your other tools. Second, work carefully around any acid. Wear old clothes, gloves, and eye protection. Add the acid to the water, not the other way around, and do it slowly to avoid any splashes.
Mike McGraw I've heard of the acid etch method but have never tried it. I'll have to give it a whirl.
I always did this with my finger nail 😂 but it only got some of it sometimes, this is genius! Going to try it now
If you do try it, let me know how it goes.
Thanks for the comment. I'm sure you have a few files sitting around with all that metal fab you did.
That was a great how-to informational video.
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it.
Thanks, I just saved two files. File cards or wire brushes just would not work, but 5 minutes with the copper and they were good to go.
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it.
Great video because often these aluminum-filled abused steel files can be had for next to nothing at garage sales. BTW FYI Nicholson does make files for aluminum. Most are marked "Type A" on the tang. If you know how I'd love to see a video on how to chemically sharpen files. Heard some rumorish type stuff on the web but never bothered to try to see what really works. To me a good file is one with one of my lathe made handles on it. I use pallets because mostly they're good hardwood.
I've seen the snake oil acid dip for files to sharpen them. I figure it's the placebo effect and they're actually just cleaning them.
Thanks for the reminder ! I learned that back in 78
It's a handy tip.
Christi Ned a
Thank you. I was just watching you do the brakes on the PT cruiser.
Sweet tip mate. thanks much. I just had my wife take out the files i tossed yesterday so timing could not be any more perfect, lol
Papa Gleb Awesome, I'm glad you found the video.
great tip, appreciate your time!! I just bought a new set of flat files, this will help out.
goodluckhappydragon Thanks.
I know this is super late, but thanks for this. Just got into a little project of restoring an old hand axe and the file was super dirty by the end.
Awesome, glad it was helpful.
I haven't had good luck with a chalk but I do it in the video. A file card will only work on lightly clogged files.
Thanks! I've been looking for a way to clean fine teethed files. Appreciate the video.
Rexarthur Ramos Yeah, you're very welcome.
Great! I've been asking around for years and here's the solution!
Thanks.. I'm glad you like it, hopefully it comes in handy.
Good info., I use a fine wire brush, your idea sounds better
Bill
Great information. Thank you. I’m off to flatten some copper pipe.
If you put a lubricant on the file, the aluminum won't stick in the first place. You can use paste wax, paraffin, grease, kerosene, paint thinner, wd-40.... The heavier things like waxes will last longer. The the aluminum swarf brushes away easily. Don't use a steel brush; use a brass brush. In addition to copper, you can also use brass or wood for unclogging. Wood actually works pretty well, and it's easy to find.
This is a really great tip! Does this also work for double cut files?
Jon Ehe I've never tried a double cut file.
never 2 old 2 learn something new. Thanks 4 this tip. Bowzer,
Over the years, I've come across a few 1960s-70s electric organs on the trash heap and pulled 'em apart just because..... Well, hot damn! The hundreds of copper key contacts have justified the "blind salvage" yet again!