How To Clean and Sharpen a Dull Metal File

When your go-to file isn’t cutting it anymore, just too worn to do the job, it may be time for a chemical cleaning and sharpening, and it’s probably a lot easier than you imagine.

Supplies Needed

Here’s what you’ll need to clean and sharpen dull metal files at home:

• Sulfuric Acid (a drain opener was used in this example)
• (2) Plastic Containers (large enough to hold the files to be sharpened)
• Baking Soda
• PPE (face-shield and rubber gloves)
• A 2×4 cutoff
• File card (or wire brush)
• Copper Tube

Sharpening Metal Files

Popular Mechanics Review

Popular Mechanics article from 1992 with before and after photos under a microscope…

How Does This File Sharpening Process Work?

Check out his resource on Google books to learn how it works…

Files: Sharpening and Recutting

Workshop Receipts: For Manufacturers and Scientific Amateurs, Volume 2 page 235

Also of Interest:

• Which Drill Bit Sharpener is Best?
• How To Sharpen a Twist Drill
• Slapper Files ~ Auto Body Work’s Magic Wand
• How To Use A Hacksaw and Select the Right Blade
• How To Cut Threads ~ Using Taps and Dies