Very often, old "shabby" files for metal with traces of paint, rust and other defects on the surface simply send dust to the far corner of the garage or workshop. But in vain! After all, such a useful tool, without which almost no manual metalworking can do, can always be restored. And it will not take so much time.
Recovery process
To begin with, the surface of the old file should be abundantly covered with WD-40 anti-corrosion agent and cleaned well with a hard brush. After this, the surface must be degreased and again “torn off” with a brush (this time with softer bristles).
After that, you need to hold the file for a while in the sodium carbonate solution by connecting a current source to it (you can use any 12V car battery). At the next stage of “resuscitation” of the file, the instrument must be completely immersed in iron chloride and “bought” for some time. And it is best to use a glass flask of suitable height for this.
Then you need to dip the file into another flask with diluted water with sodium bicarbonate and wash it thoroughly. At the final stage of restoration work, the tool surface must be treated again with WD-40, and then with white mineral oil.
If the old wooden handle cracked or cracked, then you can at the same time make a new handle. The process of restoring a file and making a wooden handle for it, see the video on our website.
