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[Geoff B in Kent]

Thanks for clarifying SA. I'm no engineer, but it's amazing how many of the old chap's tips come back to me when I'm trying to do something in the garage.

[p]

I read somewhere that you could rejuvenate an old file by chucking it in the garden and letting it go rusty! I suppose theory may be that rust would force debris out of teeth, and also burrs on teeth would be first to rust away....... hmm, not sure - but I suppose rubbing anything with a bit of rusty iron would have an abrasive action! Maybe I'll give it a go with some old worn files lurking in the bottom of my toolbox.

[p]

...... or perhaps chucking it in the garden means you go and buy a replacement!

[papasmurf]

Cleaning files is just use a wire brush, or a pedestal power driven wire brush if you have been filing aluminium.

[Gwilly]

Wire brush is good for a quick clean up before or after use, but the copper really does work for that heavy clogging that needs to be pushed out of the grooves.

A piece of 15mm copper pipe 6" long is split/cut for 2 inches lengthways from one end and flattened out to resemble a mini coal shovel.

A wooden handle or rubber plug can be fitted to the uncut end to protect the palm. Push it across a single cut file in line with the grooves and this will form teeth on the copper edge.

Have always used chalk which helps and never really thought about why it works. Its not enough to fill the groove and prevent clogging so i can only think it acts like a lubricant, bit like french chalk on an inner tube..
If a file is rusty just throw it away, will only scratch more than cut and will never get a good finish..

One last thing my foreman taught me. Never let files contact each other buy throwing in a drawer or bag, always keep separate and clean, they will last for years..

Sorry seemed to have warmed to the subject a bit but tips on tools and engineering always interest me so no apology..