Cleaning needle files?

[FramFramson]

In filing white metal, I find my fine files continually get clogged with white metal material. I do have a fine brass wire brush which is what you'd use on larger tools, but the needle files are too small and fine for the brass brush to do much good, if any. So what else can I do to clean my files?

[dampfpanzerwagon]

In filing white metal, I find my fine files continually get clogged with white metal material. I do have a fine brass wire brush which is what you'd use on larger tools, but the needle files are too small and fine for the brass brush to do much good, if any. So what else can I do to clean my files?

I was going to suggest a wire brush but it looks like you are already using one.

Maybe a stiff nylon brush - a shoe cleaning brush?

Tony

[Michi]

I found out that the only proper solution is to remove the soft white metal remnants with the tip of my x-acto knife. Brushes don´t work at all.

[OSHIROmodels]

I found out that the only proper solution is to remove the soft white metal remnants with the tip of my x-acto knife. Brushes don´t work at all.

This and quite possibly a sonic bath (the type used for cleaning airbrushes).

cheers

James

[gnomehome]

The following wouldn't work ?

http://www.daxmagic-webshop.nl/tools/flex-i-file/aacode349.php

[Golgotha]

 WD40 oil and or I have heard that lighter fluid or kerosene oil with a stiff wire brass brush can work.

[YPU]

Running a piece of wood in the same direction as the files cut can dislodge a lot of metal. That being said I'm a goldsmith, we file literal hundreds of euros of precious metals away each year and I've never heard of a perfect solution to this problem. All of the above are common practice.

[Golgotha]

Heard a new one what about dipping it into hot oil hot enough to melt and dislodge the metal but not so hot as to damage the metal of the file. 

[gnomehome]

Heard a new one what about dipping it into hot oil hot enough to melt and dislodge the metal but not so hot as to damage the metal of the file. 

That sounds rather risky - I would not recommend to try it.

[Michi]

Heard a new one what about dipping it into hot oil hot enough to melt and dislodge the metal but not so hot as to damage the metal of the file. 

Given that white metal is melting beyond 200°C and oil boiling and igniting around that temperature combined with a flaming point already around 60°C it would be rather risky, I think.

[dbsubashi]

I use the tip of my xacto blade.

[YPU]

Given that white metal is melting beyond 200°C and oil boiling and igniting around that temperature combined with a flaming point already around 60°C it would be rather risky, I think.

and at that point it would also more then likely effect the hardness of your metal files.

[FramFramson]

The main issue with the x-acto solution (which is something I've done with larger files) is that the teeth on the needle files are simply too fine and shallow for this.

[OSHIROmodels]

Of course, the best fail safe option is to buy new ones 

cheers

James

[Daeothar]

I've never really had any issue with this that could not be solved with a stiff brush or copper brush to be honest; plastic, resin, metal; it all comes off easily.

What I did learn along the way though, is not to file metals too fast, hard or too long in one place; all of those things increase the risk of heating up the material so much that it melts and then it will hell to remove.

I've had a professional set of needle files since 1996, when I started a course in conservation and restauration of metal artifacts and those were mandatory to have. I never bothered to attach the wooden handles (and I'm glad I didn't; they're much more subtle to handle like this). But by now, I've had these for 20 years, and they're still as good as the day I bought them!

Well... bar one thing; the flat file is completely clogged up with Milliput, as I once started smoothing a Milliput repair with it, before it was fully dry. Now that file is completely FUBAR, as I have been unable to remove the (now rock hard) Milliput from it.

So; if anyone has any ideas on how to remove Milliput from files, I'm all ears...