Comments on: Have Clean Files At The Ready http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/15/have-clean-files-at-the-ready/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:33:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Fred http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/15/have-clean-files-at-the-ready/#comment-205484 Fred Wed, 16 Jan 2008 19:25:14 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/15/have-clean-files-at-the-ready/#comment-205484 Aluminum files and "floats" - some with broadly spaced teeth - and others like babbit (the stuff that used to be used for bearings) floats - with curved teeth - do the job without clogging. During WWII - with lots of aluminum being used in aircraft production - pots of hot lye (sodium hydroxide) wre used to clean the files. The Lye attacks the aluminum but not the steel file. I wonder what the folks at OSHA would think about that old practice. Aluminum files and “floats” - some with broadly spaced teeth - and others like babbit (the stuff that used to be used for bearings) floats - with curved teeth - do the job without clogging.
During WWII - with lots of aluminum being used in aircraft production - pots of hot lye (sodium hydroxide) wre used to clean the files. The Lye attacks the aluminum but not the steel file. I wonder what the folks at OSHA would think about that old practice.

]]> By: Rob http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/15/have-clean-files-at-the-ready/#comment-205424 Rob Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:00:26 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/15/have-clean-files-at-the-ready/#comment-205424 Those are good tips Bryan. I went to the local hardware store to get one of these about a year ago and when I asked where they kept them, they sent me to the INDEX CARDS. Once I explained it, they got me to the right place. Those are good tips Bryan. I went to the local hardware store to get one of these about a year ago and when I asked where they kept them, they sent me to the INDEX CARDS. Once I explained it, they got me to the right place.

]]> By: Bryan http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/15/have-clean-files-at-the-ready/#comment-204722 Bryan Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:45:00 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/15/have-clean-files-at-the-ready/#comment-204722 Make sure that you very carefully use a brush like this in the direction of the cut of your file or the hardened steel teeth on the card will dull the teeth on your file. A simple trick to remove stuck bits of metal on a single cut file is to take a small piece of brass or copper and rub it in the direction of the cut. The metal is sift enough that it will deform into the grooves and pop out any embedded filings. Another trick is to run the file over a piece of chalk before filing soft metals. The chalk dust will keep the file from getting clogged as fast. Make sure that you very carefully use a brush like this in the direction of the cut of your file or the hardened steel teeth on the card will dull the teeth on your file.

A simple trick to remove stuck bits of metal on a single cut file is to take a small piece of brass or copper and rub it in the direction of the cut. The metal is sift enough that it will deform into the grooves and pop out any embedded filings.

Another trick is to run the file over a piece of chalk before filing soft metals. The chalk dust will keep the file from getting clogged as fast.

]]> By: Benjamen Johnson http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/15/have-clean-files-at-the-ready/#comment-204507 Benjamen Johnson Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:04:42 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/15/have-clean-files-at-the-ready/#comment-204507 Jax, You know I was going to write a line like don't mistake this for a slicker brush, because it really does look like one, but I thought better of it. Jax,

You know I was going to write a line like don’t mistake this for a slicker brush, because it really does look like one, but I thought better of it.

]]> By: Jax http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/15/have-clean-files-at-the-ready/#comment-204505 Jax Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:01:07 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/15/have-clean-files-at-the-ready/#comment-204505 Looks like a dog brush to me Looks like a dog brush to me

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