Old saw files

[Jimmy Nix]

I would like to here what you do with old triangle saw files after they wont sharpen anymore.
Thanks Jimmy

[Bill Houghton]

I've heard of people who carefully grind all the teeth off, holding the file horizontally to the grinding wheel, so the file winds up hollow in section, and make a machinist's scraper (the sharp corner left by the grinding is used for deburring holes and similar things). Not sure anyone needs more than one of these, though.

[Alan Turner]

Jimmy,
For 26 cents per inch, Harry Boggs will sharpen them for you. Just a thought.

[Ian Gillis]

Hi

This won't help if you have a ton of files, but it's something.

I bought an old toolchest several months back and one of the items inside was a short scratch awl made from a 3 corner file. It's only about 2 1/2" long. It was ground into shape. If I was doing it I would anneal the file before shaping then re-harden afterwards.

Cheers
IG

[Tom Hamilton]

Hi Jimmy: This is hear say only, or rather read-say as I read it on an old tools forum: an acid bath will resharpen old files. Some use citric acid others move to phosphoric.

Maybe a "google" will give you more info.

Tom, in Houston, hoping to get more info and re-post.