I've read that the worst way to store metal files is laying on top of each other in a drawer. Guilty, by the way. I'm wondering what are some of the best methods of home shop storage keeping space restraints in mind? I'm talking DIY by the way.
I've read that the worst way to store metal files is laying on top of each other in a drawer. Guilty, by the way. I'm wondering what are some of the best methods of home shop storage keeping space restraints in mind? I'm talking DIY by the way.
I inherited a drawer full of files and rasps that my grandfather had kept in a drawer touching each other. Not a sharp tooth in the lot when they got to me.
I cut small slits in the ends of the plastic packaging on mine for now so they can lay in a drawer not touching each other.
Look forward to a more elegant solution.
I have a cabinet in which my rasps and files-for-wood hang. These are the ones I want close at hand. This is an oldish photo - it is a little fuller these days ...
The drawer has a couple of rolls for all the files-for-metal. This enables them to be stored in a way which protects the teeth.
I have had some of the files for a few decades, and have sharpened them with citric acid. I only clean the teeth with a bristle scrubbing brush and never metal teeth.
Regards from Perth
Derek
My solution for one batch of files & rasps was to hang a drawer at the top of a shelf that had a bit of head room:
j Drawer Front.jpg
Vertical dividers were mounted on a base to keep the files & rasps separate:
h Filed Away.jpg
This is the post of making the divider:
https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?274913
This drawer holds my best files & rasps. A few more drawers with dividers need to be made for the rest of my files & rasps.
jtk
Last edited by Jim Koepke; 09-17-2019 at 2:14 PM. Reason: spelling
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
An idea Mike:
1. On the TS, run a dado (to the width and depth that will accommodate the file main thickness) down the length of a piece of 1x or 2x? scrap. Note: File to stored on edge.
2. Move the TS fence over to the amount of the gap between the stored files desired. Run another dado. Continue till you run out of scrap.
3. Depending on how many files you have to store, may have to dado multiple lengths of scrap.
4. After all dados are completed, crosscut the scrap lengths into shorter (1"?) pieces.
5. Position and fix the shorter pieces to a backer (or drawer bottom) board such that each file will have a minimum of a short piece at each end of the file.
6. May have to put some finish on the short pieces because wood holds moisture and finish may prevent rust/corrosion to the files.
Last edited by David Eisenhauer; 09-17-2019 at 9:40 AM.
David
David,
I think that's a great solution!
Thanks!
Mike
For a minute there, I thought this was a computer question!
Mine are kept in a tool roll with individual pockets for each file.
"Anything seems possible when you don't know what you're doing."
This is probably viewed as sacrilegious by some. As a machinist, files were never treated with kid gloves. They were pulled out of a toolbox drawer, used, and tossed back in. Good quality files are very durable.
Please help support the Creek.
"It's paradoxical that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn't appeal to anyone."
Andy Rooney
Bruce, Bruce, Bruce. You know we are not going to let it be that simple at all.
Last edited by Bruce Page; 09-17-2019 at 9:09 PM.
David
I inherited a large number of them. It is difficult to carry the container.
I sorted them by type and then I rolled them with heavy duty paper so that I might have six files of the same shape and type (different sizes) but they are separated by heavy paper and will not rub against each other.
I then have a rubber band around them.
I am able to pull one out, use it, and then put it back without unrolling the paper. I also have a file roll specifically for saw sharpening files, but that only has one of each so the spares / extras are sorted elsewhere.
I wrap mine in aluminum foil and store them in a plastic shoe box. The foil prevents rust.
https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail...E&gclsrc=aw.ds