A rather banal question

[Hammers]

...but what do you use, if anything, to clean your needle files?

[Hauptgefreiter]

old toothbrushes and modelling knives... 

[Cory]

Cheap, hard bristle toothbrush and wire bristle file cleaning brush.

[Hammers]

*shakes head*

Toothbrushes to soft for white metal lodged in the teeth. I was hoping for something more effective than scalpel blades.

[Hauptgefreiter]

I hear ya!
Unfortunately the wire brushes meant for file cleaning aren't fine enough to be effective on needle files. Maybe a wire brush with brass wire might do it, but I've never tried... 

[Malamute]

I like banal, banal is good

I use a wire brush, but a small one with closely packed  bristles.

[Svennn]

A wire toothbrush then obviously

[Hammers]

A wire toothbrush then obviously

Small wonder the  British are known for such atrocious teeth.

[Hammers]

I like banal, banal is good

I use a wire brush, but a small one with closely packed  bristles.

Do you remember where you got it and was it brass or steel wire?

@SI: Chalk, huh... Could be worth a try.

[Mr. Peabody]

I was able to purchase a set of three small plastic handled brushes of Chinese manufacture at a local Dollar-store, the set included a brass-wire brush very much like an over-size toothbrush and it is perfect for needle file cleaning.
The other brushes, one which has synthetic bristles and one with stainless steel bristles, will no doubt serve to texture plaster or clay or perhaps even clean things.

So they are out there and they are cheap.
This is pretty much exactly what I purchased: Not the same package, but the same contents.

Hoping this helps a bit.

[Mainly28s]

I've got some aluminium (note the correct spelling )  strip that I use- rub it parallel with the grooves to clear them out. As the aluminium is softer than the file, it wont damage the file, but is slightly harder than the stuff clogging the file, so will force it out.

[Hammers]

I've got some aluminium (note the correct spelling )  strip that I use- rub it parallel with the grooves to clear them out. As the aluminium is softer than the file, it wont damage the file, but is slightly harder than the stuff clogging the file, so will force it out.

Now we're cooking! This I have to try.

[Malamute]

Do you remember where you got it and was it brass or steel wire?

@SI: Chalk, huh... Could be worth a try.

NO sorry, its a relic from my grandfathers tool box, he had lots of wonderful old tools that I have never seen anywhere in a shop.
Its steel wire.

[dijit]

It's called a seude brush, (the ones for cleaning seude boots with), and you should be able to get one in most shoe shops or the places where the re-heel shoes and make keys and stuff (Mr Mint in the uk) or you could try wire wool.

[Hammers]

NO sorry, its a relic from my grandfathers tool box, he had lots of wonderful old tools that I have never seen anywhere in a shop.
Its steel wire.

Some hand-me-down tools are treasures.