Cleaning Files

[hawkenman]

I'm building a Hawken rifle that has an aluminum forend cap. I used my best fine grain files to shape and cut groves in it. The problem I have is that the files are gummed up with aluminum shavings. I thought about using a rotary wire wheel to clean them but I don't want to dull the edges. I tried a wire mesh file brush but it did not help. Any suggestions? THANKS

 

[Robert58]

When you get Aluminum shavings in a file the only way to get them out is to take a sharp pin or pick and dig them out.

Robert

 

[R.M.]

If you have a piece of brass rod, oh, something like 3/8" or whatever, rub it with good pressure across the width (with the tooth grooves). This will push the manure out.Copper will work, but brass seems to work better.

 

[mckutzy]

on a a bigger toothed file i have used a wire wheel, with a little pressure, with the cutting edges not against. seems to work for me good enough.

 

[agill]

A little late, but rubbing chalk on the file before cutting any metal makes it easier to clean the file. I buy the inexpensive sidewalk chalk children play with. Works great.

 

[Joe Yanta]

I picked up a bunch of older needle files at a second hand store. One pattern was a high quality double round file fine cut that had been used on aluminum. I had nothing to loose so I turned on my fine wire wheel buffer and just barely - barely kissed the file to the wire wheel. It cleaned up nicely, not new, but plenty serviceable.

To clean wood, plastic, glue etc. from a file, I give the file a good bath/shower of carburetor cleaner. Works really great.

good luck.

Joe

 

[bioprof]

Are you sure the muzzlecap isn't pewter? I've never heard of an aluminum one on a muzzleloader. Pewter will stick to files too.

 

[Birddog6]

That is one of the evils of soft metals. Any pressure at all & it packs. You use a file brush after every cut or it will pack. Chalk will help but alum. will still pack.

Here is a handy lil item I made for cleaning them out. The handle is a birch dowel rod & the brass is a 45 long Colt with primer removed. Put a wood screw from the inside of the brass into a predrilled hole in the dowel. Then round the dowel off on the belt sander. You rub the tool on the file teeth parallel to the teeth & keep the tool in the vertical position just like shown. It squeaks & squawks but it works and especially well on steel, pulling the clogged metal from the teeth when draw filing barrels & ya get metal buildup in the teeth of the file.

 

[paulvallandigham]

I have used both copper and brass scrap pieces to remove aluminum, copper, brass, and zinc filings from my files. As long as your strokes run at 90 degrees to the cutting edge( Use a single edge, "draw file"), you can dig the stuff out. Its a long PITA doing, but its the only way to save the files.

Most workmen dedicate certain files for working on soft metals, only. They have an entirely different set for work on steel. That keeps a lot of scratches off of steel when draw filing( like the flats of a barrel!)

I also chalk my files before use, but it may not always help with some soft metals. Knowing how long it takes to clean my file, however, when I don't use the chalk, makes me use it anyway. I can use all the help I can get! :bow:

[ TIP: when draw filing any metal, move your fingers sideways, after each new stroke, over the length of the file, so that you use a new part of the file, and make full use of its length before you have to stop to clean out the filings from the teeth. If you have two working sides, use both sides before stopping to clean. ]

 

[Vaino]

Some files load up more than others and it seems my older Nicholson files hardly load up at all, even when used on softer metals. The newer "Made in China" files are really bad in this respect. By the way....some of my Nicholson files are still sharp even after many years of hard use. Recently bought some mill files and promptly returned them....they hardly cut. If possible, only Nicholson files are presently being purchased....Fred

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

A picture is worth a thousand words, see here, use a piece of hardwood to push it out. FYI, do a search on "cleaning metal files" in google and they's tips on cleaning old rusty files too.

 

[R.M.]

A picture is worth a thousand words, see here, use a piece of hardwood to push it out. FYI, do a search on "cleaning metal files" in google and they's tips on cleaning old rusty files too.

Hmm, never tried it with wood. I know doing it that way with brass works. Have to give it a try.
Thanks for the photo. Yes, a picture is worth as thousand words.

 

[crockett]

Some hardware stores sell file chalk, it is rather large, maybe about 1" diameter. It really does help to keep to files clean. On the soft metals it is worth your time to periodically stop and clean the files.

 

[ricklandes]

That is one of the evils of soft metals. Any pressure at all & it packs. You use a file brush after every cut or it will pack. Chalk will help but alum. will still pack.

Here is a handy lil item I made for cleaning them out. The handle is a birch dowel rod & the brass is a 45 long Colt with primer removed. Put a wood screw from the inside of the brass into a predrilled hole in the dowel. Then round the dowel off on the belt sander. You rub the tool on the file teeth parallel to the teeth & keep the tool in the vertical position just like shown. It squeaks & squawks but it works and especially well on steel, pulling the clogged metal from the teeth when draw filing barrels & ya get metal buildup in the teeth of the file.

We use a heavy wax on wheels when working with alum. Oil will also work.