Why You Should Chalk Your Metal Files

Metal files are a workshop staple. They come in handy for knocking down rough spots after making cuts or for removing sharp edges.

But when you use metal files with soft, non-ferrous metals such as aluminum or brass, files can clog quickly, causing some wasted time and effort to clean metal files frequently while you work.

Pro Tip: Rub a piece of standard chalk along the teeth of the file before using it on the workpiece. The coating will help to keep the file from clogging up as fast when working with softer metals.