How the #$%@ do I file sweeper blades?

by **Swordsalot** » 21 Oct 2003 2:07

Here was me thinking that Adelaide (Australia) didn't use steel street sweepers (I've seen Adelaide street sweepers before, and they loked to me like rubber mops), when I found 17 while walking to school. I just kicked one accidentally while crossing the road, heard it, picked it up, and for the rest of the trip found 16 in the gutter.

Anyway, now that I have these great materials, I need to know how to file them. I'm tried using a cylindrical steel file, but haven't even made a dent in it. I could do with any advice as to how to file a pick shape or make the bristle thinner for a smaller torque wrench.

Also: am I right in saying that to make a torque wrench, the bristle is bent in the springy direction?

by **Swordsalot** » 25 Oct 2003 19:44

Come on, anyone want to help?

by **Chucklz** » 26 Nov 2003 20:23

To make the tension tool bend carefully so that if you look at it from the thin end you see an L. To file them, its pretty hard to do. A grinder helps ALOT. best of luck

by **SlimPickens** » 27 Nov 2003 1:47

I just got a load of street cleaner bristles and I made 3 picks (a half diamond, small hook and a feeler pick). I don't have a grinder but I used a dremal with a grinder bit on it (the kind you use to sharpen axes with).

It worked quite well so if you or your dad have a dremal, I'd advise you to go to a hardware store and buy a $4 bit.

by **Chucklz** » 30 Nov 2003 22:04

Excellent advice about the Dremel. You probably could even put a grinding wheel on a drill and use that...... carefully.

by **raimundo** » 23 Apr 2004 10:58

most people think a file is that rubbing bar with the shiny look to it that has been beating around in the tool box for years banging its once sharp teeth on all the hardend tool steel in there. What you need are two files new from the hardware, they will probably come in a plastic sheath, this is not throwaway packaging, it is necessary to keep the the ratchet wrench handle from beating the teeth down. With a new file you are halfway there. bend an L shape tension wrench on one end of a piece of bristle about 3 or 4 inches long, twist it so that a piece just longer than your longest key comes off the end. go to a wooden bench that you can scar up, it can be in your basement, or in the local park. assume you are right handed, hold your piece of metal on the edge of the bench, hold your file so that it crosses the metal, if you have found the right comfortable position for the work, cut a grove with the edge of your flat file into the wood beneath the end of the piece of bristle, now hold the bristle down in that groove. take the round file and cut a U groove near the end. when this is done, take the flat file and holding the metal in the groove on the bench, stroke it accross and along the metal, from the twist to the edge of the U groove at the tip. with a fresh file, this will take less than 30 firm controlled strokes to bring the whole shaft down to the bottom of the side of the U groove. Now take the metal and hold it at 45 degrees to the edge of the bench and in a few firm controlled strokes of the file, you can either round out the back edge of the U groove to make a hook or slant down the top edge in front of the U groove to make a half diamond. Next all you have to do is sand the edges round and smooth with black metal cutting sand paper of various fine grits till it no long drags when you scrape your fingernail along the edge.

by **Chucklz** » 23 Apr 2004 11:32

Raimundo-- thanks for file tips. I just have a few more that I guess I assumed would be common knowledge

1.) Buy a high quality file. The two dollar special just wont cut it
2.) Get a handle and file card as well. THe handle will help save your hand, and the filecard should be used regularly to keep your file clean
3.) Files cut on the PUSH stroke only, Pulling the file across the metal will only help dull your file.

by **maldotcom2** » 25 Apr 2004 19:14

if u wanted to use the file in both directions u could buy one of those files that the teeth run in both directions(looks like it has lots of little diamond shapes all over it)

by **Chucklz** » 25 Apr 2004 19:19

Would you be referring to a wood rasp? Which is unsuitable for most metal work, btw.

by **reg** » 26 Apr 2004 6:55

diamond coated files also cut in both direction
the quality imperative is valid here as well: cheap diamond coated files only have one coating and wear off quickly.
Diamond coated files have quite a rough bite, so to speak, so it is necessary to sand all tools thoroughly after filing them.

And always keep your files in their protective cover to be able to use them for a long time.

Cheers,

reg

by **archiebald** » 29 Apr 2004 9:09

Also never ever attempt to use an angle grinder. :cry:

by **CaptHook** » 29 Apr 2004 19:15

The file is called a double-cut. I personally prefer a flat bastard for draw filing a part.
Chuck

by **Mad Mick** » 29 Apr 2004 19:37

Which reminds me of a joke:
A guy goes into a hardware store and enquires about files.
The storeman asks the guy "What file would you like Sir, a half-round bastard?"
The guy replies "No, a flat f***er will do!"

by **raimundo** » 26 Dec 2004 16:00

chucklz mentioned handles for the files, what I use are wine bottle corks. this keeps the tang from inserting itself in the soft palm of your hand.

by **jason** » 27 Dec 2004 15:24

Cheapskate - buy a Â£1.00 handle and swap it around!

How the #$%@ do I file sweeper blades?

How the #$%@ do I file sweeper blades?

fileing bristles.

handles

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