Clean oil off of files?

A

Ampbuilder

Joined
Sep 30, 2008
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Hi My name is Paul Murphy and am in the early stages of being knifemaking addict. The Newbie link above is great and has answered all my questions so far. However now I've hit a snag.

I profiled and ground my first knife out of 1095 using Nicholson files and Lenox hacksaw blade. They really hog stuff off and I was surprised that it went so quickly. The Draw filing tutorial worked a treat on this knife.

For my second knife I got some O1. I keep getting ugly gouges and divots in the steel when I file. I thought my files were bad so I got some new ones yesterday - same thing :rolleyes:. I believe I know why now. I think the O1 has oil on it and I think it got on the files and now the filings are sticking to it causing the ugly tearouts. Shoulda cleaned the steel first.

Anybody have an idea how to clean up the files? or are they toast now?

I saw on the draw filing tutorial to use chalk but I think this may not help if the oil is already on there.

Thanks
Paul
 
The phenomenon you are experiencing is called "galling", and is indeed the result of filings sticking to the file. This is especially common during draw filing. Simply cleaning the oil off will not prevent buildup, as it will happen on a clean file, too. You need to get what is called a "file card", a stiff brush meant specifically for cleaning files. The chalk will help, but you still need to clean them frequently during use.
 
fitzo said:
The phenomenon you are experiencing is called "galling", and is indeed the result of filings sticking to the file. This is especially common during draw filing. Simply cleaning the oil off will not prevent buildup, as it will happen on a clean file, too. You need to get what is called a "file card", a stiff brush meant specifically for cleaning files. The chalk will help, but you still need to clean them frequently during use.
Click to expand...

Mike, You sure you aren't the end results of Mister Wizard's wild oats? Brilliant answer! "Galling", I never knew there was a word for the problem this fellow was having.
 
I'd agree with fitzo metal-metal joints under pressure can gall (cold welding some call it) only force will remove it.
 
Thanks for the responses guys.

I dont have a file card but I tried acetone and a wire brush and it seems to have worked well.

Paul
 
In addition to galling you could also be slightly rocking the file and catching the metal with the corner of the file. I've left those kinds of gouges also.

I'm going to be honest here, it's nice to hear from someone that isn't griping about their lack of big power tools. Just making knives with the tools you have. :thumbup: Very cool in my opinion.
 
In the absence of a file card you can also use a small piece of brass sheet drawn sideways across the teeth, this will help pull the metal out without dulling the teeth as much as a steel wire brush may. Applying less pressure in your strokes will lessen the buildup. Oil or chalk rubbed on the file can actually lessen the problem a bit, but I have never gotten enough results to bother when compared with just lightening up on the pressure.
 
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