I think I've bought almost as many file cards as I am years old ;-)) but
they all have fairly coarse bristles and not one has been suitable for
cleaning out needle files [of which I have more than I have regular files].
I persist in using them, but the results are always less rewarding than I'd
like, Google turned up nothing I could spot.

Does anyone know of a manufacturer/vendor who sells a file card suitable for
(moderately fine) needle files?

TIA
Norm

"Norm Dresner" wrote in message
...
I think I've bought almost as many file cards as I am years old ;-)) but
they all have fairly coarse bristles and not one has been suitable for
cleaning out needle files [of which I have more than I have regular
files].
I persist in using them, but the results are always less rewarding than
I'd
like, Google turned up nothing I could spot.

Does anyone know of a manufacturer/vendor who sells a file card suitable
for
(moderately fine) needle files?

A lot of experienced machinists and mechanics seem to feel that a file card
should never be used to clean a file. Preferred alternatives seem to be a
piece of brass or copper, pushed across the file. That said, there are
small stainless steel or brass brushes that might be used - McMaster-Carr
sells a pretty good variety.

Mike

In article ,
"Norm Dresner" wrote:

I think I've bought almost as many file cards as I am years old ;-)) but
they all have fairly coarse bristles and not one has been suitable for
cleaning out needle files [of which I have more than I have regular files].
I persist in using them, but the results are always less rewarding than I'd
like, Google turned up nothing I could spot.

Does anyone know of a manufacturer/vendor who sells a file card suitable for
(moderately fine) needle files?

I use an ordinary brush with stainless steel bristles.

Joe Gwinn

Mike Henry wrote:

"Norm Dresner" wrote in message
...

I think I've bought almost as many file cards as I am years old ;-)) but
they all have fairly coarse bristles and not one has been suitable for
cleaning out needle files [of which I have more than I have regular
files].
I persist in using them, but the results are always less rewarding than
I'd
like, Google turned up nothing I could spot.

Does anyone know of a manufacturer/vendor who sells a file card suitable
for
(moderately fine) needle files?


A lot of experienced machinists and mechanics seem to feel that a file card
should never be used to clean a file. Preferred alternatives seem to be a
piece of brass or copper, pushed across the file. That said, there are
small stainless steel or brass brushes that might be used - McMaster-Carr
sells a pretty good variety.

Mike



I use spent brass cartridges, flattened. They very quickly wear down to perfect
replications of the teeth, and are just strong enough to dislodge everything,
and I have yet to pay a dime for any of 'em.

GWE

"Norm Dresner" wrote in message
...
I think I've bought almost as many file cards as I am years old ;-)) but
they all have fairly coarse bristles and not one has been suitable for
cleaning out needle files [of which I have more than I have regular
files].
I persist in using them, but the results are always less rewarding than
I'd
like, Google turned up nothing I could spot.

Does anyone know of a manufacturer/vendor who sells a file card suitable
for
(moderately fine) needle files?

TIA
Norm

Use a "Toothbrush" style wire brush, they have .006" SS wire and are redily
available.

I use spent brass cartridges, flattened. They very quickly wear down to
perfect replications of the teeth, and are just strong enough to
dislodge everything, and I have yet to pay a dime for any of 'em.

GWE

Best thing for files in my opinion as well .
Ken Cutt

On Mon, 27 Feb 2006 21:04:46 -0500, Joseph Gwinn
wrote:

In article ,
"Norm Dresner" wrote:

I think I've bought almost as many file cards as I am years old ;-)) but
they all have fairly coarse bristles and not one has been suitable for
cleaning out needle files [of which I have more than I have regular files].
I persist in using them, but the results are always less rewarding than I'd
like, Google turned up nothing I could spot.

Does anyone know of a manufacturer/vendor who sells a file card suitable for
(moderately fine) needle files?

I use an ordinary brush with stainless steel bristles.

Joe Gwinn

Im sure our very own Tom Gardner can provide something appropriate for
the task

Gunner



"A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them;
the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences."
- Proverbs 22:3

Would a 'suede brush' be appropriate? They are a small brush, with (I
seem to remember) brass bristles?

I keep meaning to buy one for those places where a big wire brush won't
fit.

"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

--

-------------------------------------
Boris Beizer Ph.D. Seminars and Consulting
1232 Glenbrook Road on Software Testing and
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 Quality Assurance

TEL: 215-572-5580
FAX: 215-886-0144
Email bsquare "at" earthlink.net

------------------------------------------

"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

You might chalk your files also.

"Norm Dresner" wrote in message
...
"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

Tom Sez:

" Use a "Toothbrush" style wire brush, they have .006" SS wire and are
redily
available."

Great Tom! If your company makes these, whyn't send some free samples to
our friend across the pond so's he can brush out his mouth.

BTW, Tom - above you misspelled "readily". You don't really want to offend
the keepers of the Queens's English with such peccadillos, do you?

Bob Swinney

"Tom Gardner" wrote in message
et...

"Norm Dresner" wrote in message
...
I think I've bought almost as many file cards as I am years old ;-)) but
they all have fairly coarse bristles and not one has been suitable for
cleaning out needle files [of which I have more than I have regular
files].
I persist in using them, but the results are always less rewarding than
I'd
like, Google turned up nothing I could spot.

Does anyone know of a manufacturer/vendor who sells a file card suitable
for
(moderately fine) needle files?

TIA
Norm

I don't make 'em, I buy good ones from Gordon Brush, they have the market.
I buy the cheap ones from China.
(I gave up my spellchecker for Lent)


"Robert Swinney" wrote in message
...
Tom Sez:

" Use a "Toothbrush" style wire brush, they have .006" SS wire and are
redily
available."

Great Tom! If your company makes these, whyn't send some free samples to
our friend across the pond so's he can brush out his mouth.

BTW, Tom - above you misspelled "readily". You don't really want to
offend the keepers of the Queens's English with such peccadillos, do you?

Bob Swinney

"Tom Gardner" wrote in message
et...

"Norm Dresner" wrote in message
...
I think I've bought almost as many file cards as I am years old ;-)) but
they all have fairly coarse bristles and not one has been suitable for
cleaning out needle files [of which I have more than I have regular
files].
I persist in using them, but the results are always less rewarding than
I'd
like, Google turned up nothing I could spot.

Does anyone know of a manufacturer/vendor who sells a file card suitable
for
(moderately fine) needle files?

TIA
Norm