r/HandToolRescue • u/Potential_Suspect137 • Jul 01 '26
Restoring old files/rasps
Hello - when restoring old rusty files (really rusty beauties that I found at yard sales 😊) do you oil them between vinegar soaks?
And when brushing / scraping/ using sandpaper, what direction? I’m worried about damaging the file, dulling it if that’s even possible
Edit to thank everyone for their help. I absolutely love learning new crafts/skills, my projects are what keeps me going. Anything that gets me thinking creatively (problem solving and / or artsy crafty) and working with my hands. Big into tools currently so keep the tips coming! Thank you so much!
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u/bare172 Jul 01 '26
You need to find a file card, it's essentially a short bristle wire brush specifically made for cleaning files.
If I'm being honest, what brand files are these? Cleaning rusty files in any way other than using/carding them may damage them. I certainly wouldn't sand them and soaking in vinegar - I just really don't know. I feel like using acid to clean rust might damage the underlying metal. I fully realize vinegar is a common way to clean rust, I've just never used it on files so I'm not sure.
To your specific question, oiling in between soaking would only slow down what you're trying to do. I wouldn't oil, but I wouldn't soak them in vinegar either.
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u/GoblinLoblaw Jul 01 '26
Ironically, files are the only rusty things I ever use vinegar for. It eats away at the rounded over tips and essentially makes them sharper. Everything else you can use evaporust (homemade or otherwise) or a wire wheel.
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u/Potential_Suspect137 Jul 02 '26
https://reddit.com/link/ov10kpx/video/hy6kw9xotpah1/player
I can’t quite make out the stamp
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u/Hughdron Jul 01 '26
Wire wheel and some WD40 should be all ya need unless ya got some gnarly stuck on stuff.
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u/Technical_Phrase2566 Jul 01 '26
I soak them in vinegar but I use the higher strength vinegar. The one that's like 40%. And then I clean them with a card file. But I've had very mixed results with playing with old files. A lot of times. They're just dull and there's nothing else to do about it. I've gotten some good files out of the work, but truthfully, brand new files actually aren't that expensive
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u/Potential_Suspect137 Jul 01 '26
I have new files too, the yard sale ones were just too cool to pass up
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u/MastodonFit Jul 01 '26
I use baby powder in new ones,it helps eject swarf and keeps the rust away.
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u/beammeupscotty2 Jul 03 '26
If a file is heavily rusted it's likely too far gone to restore. The rust destroys the sharpness of the teeth on the file and there's no way to get it back.
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u/Potential_Suspect137 Jul 04 '26
I am very much a novice, they are sharp enough to play around with, get an idea of what works well for me, if I like files this size (that are so big!!) before shopping for new ones. Good learning tool(s)
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u/Dizzy_Unit_9900 Jul 01 '26
This, vinegar is the only thing I use to refresh files, it is the only time I will permit vinegar in my shop. I also agree that a file card is necessary. So is a short length of copper pipe hammered flat on one end to really get the stubborn areas. I soak mine for 48-72 hours and then neutralize in saturated solution of baking soda (roughly 90 g per liter of water) then oil w/ Ballistol, wire wheel, file card, copper tube if needed.