Thread: Sharpening Files, Rasps, & Floats the Traditional way

As far as sharpening I use acid to sharpen files and rasps, although the traditional method was a bucket of urine.

Acid…or something acidic. I use citric acid to sharpen files and rasps. Heck, one can actually use Kool-Aid (or other citric acid-based drink) in a pinch.
Do clean the black gunk off that will form periodically. Do check the progress of the acid at that time as well. And one can leave them in acid too long.
Auriou rasps are not the best candidate for acid sharpening–but I do it knowing I will ruin them one day. I have ruined one by leaving it in acid too long. Auriou rasps are case-hardened and eventually the acid will eat through the hard outer layer. Still, beats buying them more often than needed. And I cannot wait until they are available again. Great rasps.
Rasps such as Nicholson’s pattern maker’s rasps and other steel rasps/files are hardened through and through. One can also leave them in too long, but they essentially can be sharpened through one’s lifetime.

Learn some thing new every day! I may get p!55ed off with my tools but new thought about p!55ing on them…or that it may be good for them