Tips of the Trade

[Ironman]

User Manual? What's that?
Never had one, I bought this used at an auction, it spent a lifetime machining MDF for patterns and proto types.
It is a Western, which was made by Mysore Kirlosker, machined in Europe and assembled in India AFAIK

 

[Proxule]

You will never have that issue, if before you start using the file you take a stick of soapstone

I use chalk, like from a chalk board in school, Kiddo plays with them - He wont mind sharing lol
The soapstone is a good idea too, Thanks!

 

[ChazzC]

I use chalk, like from a chalk board in school, Kiddo plays with them - He wont mind sharing lol
The soapstone is a good idea too, Thanks!

Real soapstone, not a welding crayon

 

[Ironman]

Real soapstone, not a welding crayon

Yes, it feels soapy, slippery to the touch

 

[ChazzC]

Yes, it feels soapy, slippery to the touch

I'm familiar with it. use it myself for a number of purposes.

What I was trying to do was caution those not familiar with soapstone from picking up something like the Silver-Streak™ marker strips:

Silver-Streak™ on the left, soapstone on the right (difficult to see the difference, but the SS is silver & soapstone used for marking is white to light grey).

Welding and sheet metal crayons would not be a good choice for keeping files pin-free as they contain waxes which would interfere with the cutting action. Similarly, an offset from a soapstone countertop would not be a good choice if not carefully selected as finished countertops are oiler or waxed to protect the surface and to enhance its appearance.

 

[Ironman]

I have never felt chalk was any good, but I am sort of the opinion now that anything that fills the deep recesses of the file to prevent chips wedging in would work after a fashion.
I prefer soapstone and think the silver markers would be not good, but expensive too.