Hello,
Beginner jeweler here.
A silversmith once told me that you need to have separate files for different metals, otherwise the files will end up becoming cross-contaminated. Is this true?
I’ve had some training working with silver, but I would eventually like to work with gold-- maybe even platinum someday.
Thank you.
I use the same files for all metals. I have read that you should keep a separate set of tools for platinum, but I don’t work in it. Buy good files and store them in such a way that they don’t touch each other. I have a piece of wood with holes drilled into it allowing me to store my files upright putting the tang into the hole. I don’t put handles on my files. I never saw the need to. Keep them away from any liquids, especially pickle. Learn to clean them and they should last a long time. I always keep a couple new 6" #2 flat files in storage as that is the file that I use the most. Write the size on the base of the file with a sharpie and the date that you put it into service. I do this with a lot of my tools as I am a bit obsessive. Try to keep your filing separate especially gold and silver so that you know what you have when it is time to send it to the refinery to be recycled. Others will have different ideas and I hope that they share them. Good luck…Rob
Cross contamination is not a problem going from silver to gold and vise versa. I’ve done in all my career (45 years). I will run a file cleaner across my files before using on a different metal, but that is about it. It is another story when working with platinum. Best solution: separate bench with a completely different set of hand tools and solder picks. Next best solution: completely and thoroughly clean your bench before starting in on platinum work, and you still need a separate set of files just for platinum work. Oh, and be sure to get some welder’s glasses with at least a grade 5 shaded glass if you are going to be soldering/welding on platinum. Good luck. both gold and platinum are great metals to work with - just way more expensive.
I use the same files, sandpaper, rubber wheels, etc. on silver, gold, and platinum without any problems.
The potential for cross contamination is only a real problem with it comes to working with platinum when it is hot. When the metal is cool, any dust, dirt, filings, etc aren’t going to magically incorporate themselves into the metal/alloy. Metals are only going to combine under high temperatures (what temp depends on the metal). If you’re cleaning your pieces before soldering and your solder is clean/uncontaminated then you shouldn’t have any problems with any metals.
A full ‘platinum only’ set of tools is not needed, don’t waste your money; only buy platinum specific tools for working with platinum when it is hot. Platinum fuses to itself, no solder needed, so there is no need for a separate soldering pick though if you want one, they’re cheap. If you’re using a third hand, then the jaws need to be tungsten and not tool steel. You can’t use any binding wires; they can’t take the heat required to work platinum and will contaminate the piece. If you’re melting platinum, a platinum only crucible (of appropriate material) is needed.
Thank you everyone for your responses. It’s very helpful information and a welcome introduction to the Ganoskin community. 
I agree with everything said above but would add an however. There will be times you will need/want to modify steel tools. I think you should have separate tools for modifying steel tools. I keep separate files from the hardware store for that work.
Greetings Everyone,
I enjoyed reading this discussion. Thank you.
My question is about using my files for precious metals (gold, silver) on steel. For example, I want to file a soldering pick. Why do I need designated files for steel?
Thank you for you time.
Kind regards,
Lois
To keep the steel filings away from your precious metal filings if you plan on recycling them. Small bits off steel can get into you file and stay there until you clean them out with a file pick. I don’t get too obsessive about this. I keep a set of older files and use them on non-precious metals and close my catch drawer if I am filing non-precious metals. The filings just go onto the floor. Once in a while I go over my bench and the floor with a big magnet to collect what I can and then vacuum the floor. I have a small hand vac dedicated to this purpose and just send in the filter when I send in other material to be recycled…Rob
Hi Rob, Thank you for your swift response. Here is another question: If I take my filings to a refiner do I still need to be concerned if some steel gets into the mix? Doesn’t the refining process separate the gold from the steel filings? Thank you in advance. I appreciate the help.
Don’t worry.
It is expected to be a mix of everything.
The precious metals are kept and the rest are discarded into the waste stream.
Hi Yggdrasil, Thank you for your response. I appreciaate it. Here’s another question: Is there any other reason not to use files on steel that are also used on precious metal?
No, they can deal with it. I like to keep my filings clean in case I might want to use them for texturing…Rob
Might wear them out quicker. I try to keep one #2 just for silver. When it is worn out, it goes into the general use location. They also work great to profile a rubber abrasive wheel (EVE type wheel)…Rob
Welcome to the club. Have a good time and make some great jewelry.
I have just bought my first new Swiss Pattern files. A flat and a half round file. They are excellent for working on silver and I have used them on brass.
I won’t use them on steel altho’ I do make steel bracelets. I have some pretty old but functional Jacobson files that I use for steel. Not so much to protect from cross contamination but to protect the teeth on the Swiss files. I have some very strong magnets that I use for many things in the shop. They are exceptional at pulling the steel filings out of the sweeps from the bench.
I am more concerned about contamination from mixed polishes at the buffing station. I use only a few types of polishes and compounds and each has a dedicated wheel. ie: One wheel for Tripoli, One buff for Zam, one buff for Red Rouge, etc.
Don Meixner
As far as I see, only to avoid contaminating surfaces that are supposed to be soldered or welded.
And of course do not get it in your pickle.
It’s generally the industry practice to use new, sharp files only on non-ferrous metals. Steel will dull files more quickly, and they end up cutting less efficiently on other metals. Use older, slightly dulled files on steel. Or have some American pattern files for steel and use the expensive Swiss-pattern files for silver, gold, and platinum.
I didn’t know any of this about platinum, so great info!
Excellent feedback. Thank you. It makes sense to keep a separate file for steel. I want to keep my precious metal files sharp! 