"Boris Beizer" wrote in message
nk.net...
|
| "Norm Dresner" wrote in message
| ...
|
| Does anyone know of a manufacturer/vendor who sells a file card suitable
| for
| (moderately fine) needle files?
|
| File cards are a devious plot by the file manufacturing cartel to ruin and
| prematurely wear out files. For most files, I use a flat strip of brass.
| Several in fact, each one eventually worn down to match the teeth in
various
| file sizes. The strips I use are about 1/2" wide by 1/16" thick, but
that's
| just what I happened to have in the scrap bin. You push the strip into
the
| teeth in the direction of the grooves. In a few strokes it cleans out all
| but the most stubborn stuff. What remains I clean out with a fine,
brass,
| rotary brush on my flex shaft machine. But I avoid that .. also, be
| careful because a lot of "brass" brushes are just brass plated and the
| underlying steel wire is quite hard.
| After cleaning out with the brass strip, chalk the files. That is,
| rub in some chalk. You can buy fancy stuff like soap-stone strips at M&E,
| but I found some of those really big chalk sticks (1" x 6") at the dollar
| store at 6 for a dollar. I've also used pool cue chalk that I picked up
for
| pennies.
|
| Boris

Since I started getting answers here I've been using a stiff brass brush
which seems to be pretty much the same thing and works quite well.
Thanks
Norm