Reclaiming Worn Files.--(lron Age, Vol. ISI , No. 6.) The useful life of an average file can be extended approximately three times its normal life by a reclaiming process used by the R.C.A. Mfg. Co.'s plant at Indianapolis. This process was suggested by Jason R. Harris, a plant employee, who received a W.P.B. certificate of individual production merit for the suggestion. Mr. Harris' suggestion was thoroughly investigated by the plant's engineering department and it was found to be very effective and applicable to files used on both non-ferrous and ferrous metal. At present all files used at the Indianapolis plant are being reclaimed by this method. The reclaiming process is as follows: (I) Clean the file with a wire brush wheel to remove deeply imbedded particles.
(2) Clean and rinse file thoroughly, using ordinary degreasing solution. ( 3) Dip in solution made up of 800 c.c. water, I5o c.c. nitric acid, Ioo c.c. sulfuric acid. (4) Cold water rinse. (5) Hot water rinse. (6) Cyanide dip to neutralize. (7) Cold water rinse. (8) Hot water rinse. (9) Dry thoroughly. The time of immersion in the solution (item number three) is dependent upon the condition of the files. Experiments will indicate the best time periods. The minimum dipping time is approximately I min. To save time, presorting of the files is recommended. Groups of files showing approximately the same wear should be dipped together.
The files should be kept in an upright position while immersed so that the solution can act on both sides. R.C.A. engineers report that some of the rinse steps listed may be eliminated and fairly satisfactory results obtained. However, the steps listed here were found to give the best results. Using this procedure, the total handling time for 25 files is about 30 min. R. H. O.