Reuse of old files

[RWD3M]

Hi all,

I seem to recall from my schooldays (45 years or so ago!) that when turning wood we used upcycled (that wasn't a thing then! BTW) metal working files rather than chisels. The ends had been ground to suitable shapes and seemed to do the job quite well.

This got me to thinking, is the metal that they are made from suitable for turning into metal cutting lathe tools?

Regards,

Richard.

 

[frank horton]

yes, definitley, they can even make cold chisels quite succesfully but they HAVE to be softened and retempered......
they are to brittle as is.......
I'm sure there must be something on u tube......
have several reused files as cold chisels, 1 is my go to tool for small jobs.......

 

[rtbcomp]

Can they be used as lathe tools without heat treatment though?

 

[Hopefuldave]

With the teeth ground off they make good scrapers: triangular rifflers (the curved ones) are great for getting inside white-metal bearings, gudgeon pin bores and the like, and flat get used for scraping lathe/mill ways, surface plates etc. but don't keep their edge well, most serious scrapers have gone over to carbide now - files are good for beginners / having a go to see how you get on.
A bit brittle for lathe tools though...

Dave H. (the other one)

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Can they be used as lathe tools without heat treatment though?

Wouldn't they just shatter? I broke a file [OK, it was one of a Lidl set] by dropping it onto the floor which has Costco foam tiles on it

 

[zeppelin builder]

Can they be used as lathe tools without heat treatment though?

i have some smith made tools tap wrenches etc been forged out old files

 

[earthman]

How old are we talking? From what I gather, a lot of newer files are just case hardened so not really fit for much once they wore out.

 

[fizzy]

Wouldn't they just shatter? I broke a file [OK, it was one of a Lidl set] by dropping it onto the floor which has Costco foam tiles on it

Ahh quality stuff!

 

[Parm]

They can make good chisels, scrapers, knifes etc if heat treated correctly

But I’d never use one for a cold chisel, riskmof shattering is just way too high

 

[awemawson]

Many modern files are only case hardened, so their use as lathe tools will disappoint, but older ones are a decent carbon steel all the way through and for many years have been ground into scrapers with good results.

 

[zeppelin builder]

How old are we talking? From what I gather, a lot of newer files are just case hardened so not really fit for much once they wore out.

real old like early 1900s
heres a couple of old ********

 

[RWD3M]

I'm talking about files that I've been using for the last 35 - 40 years and some that I got from the late father in law. So pretty old

 

[Windy Miller]

real old like early 1900s
heres a couple of old ******** View attachment 156232 View attachment 156233

You have a lot of very interesting stuff in your workshop!

 

[TechnicAl]

I use a file on the wood lathe not as a cutting edge but to smooth the surface before I use emery cloth....

 

[TechnicAl]

I think good files are usually made from W2.....high carbon tool steel
This is how to heat treat it
http://cintool.com/documents/Water_Hardening/W2.pdf

 

[zeppelin builder]

You have a lot of very interesting stuff in your workshop!

yes hopefuly be moving into a large dry w shop for next year then i can get every thing laid out properly
have

You have a lot of very interesting stuff in your workshop!

alot of the old bits and bobs came out ofa,vctorian laundry . PULLARS perth laundry a massive place (even had there own firemen ) must have had a good blacksmith / toolsmith

 

[slim_boy_fat]

You have a lot of very interesting stuff in your workshop!

Indeed. . I've been trying to work out what the doo-hicky with all the gears and shark jaws/teeth in the background is/does.

 

[Hopefuldave]

Indeed. . I've been trying to work out what the doo-hicky with all the gears and shark jaws/teeth in the background is/does.

A sheep-mincing thing? Now that's clever...

Dave H. (the other one)

 

[MattF]

Indeed. . I've been trying to work out what the doo-hicky with all the gears and shark jaws/teeth in the background is/does.

In front of the welder? That's the headstock end of a Drummond pre-B.

 

[zeppelin builder]

In front of the welder? That's the headstock end of a Drummond pre-B.

with the much sought after reverse tumbler