RMweb Premium M.I.B Posted December 14, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 14, 2010 I have been using a set of Draper needle files to remove excess Milliput from a white metal kit. How do I now remove the Milliput from the files. I have file cards for full sized files, but they are to chunky for the needle files. Any ideas? (The Milliput had been on for a week at lest - it isn't semi set goo stuck in the files). Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allegheny1600 Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 A fine wire brush should do the trick, probably of brass! If forign bodies are too deeply clogged in, I pick the 'muck' out with the tip of a scapel blade, then wire brush again. Best thing is to not let the file get clogged in the first place - wipe chalk or crayon over the file before use and you should be fine. Cheers, John E. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim the Tram Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 Wire brush may work, might be worth a bit of solvent as well. Try some car brake cleaner which cleans most things. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike G Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 By far the best method (I have found) is to ruin a perfectly good scalpel blade! By running the blade through the cutting groves of the file, the crud will be pushed out. A quick sort of flicking motion will do the job, no need to go gouging with a lot of pressure! Doesn't take too long and it really cleans the file. Whitemetal will not stand a chance! I always keep a duff blade on the bench to clean out the files. Once the worst is out, then I run the wife's best suede shoe brush over the file. Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted December 14, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 14, 2010 By far the best method (I have found) is to ruin a perfectly good scalpel blade! By running the blade through the cutting groves of the file, the crud will be pushed out. A quick sort of flicking motion will do the job, no need to go gouging with a lot of pressure! Doesn't take too long and it really cleans the file. Whitemetal will not stand a chance! I always keep a duff blade on the bench to clean out the files. Once the worst is out, then I run the wife's best suede shoe brush over the file. Mike Apart from not having a wife, my method exactly! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Gwiwer Posted December 14, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 14, 2010 Stiff brushing every time. I keep an old Peco wheel cleaner brush, no longer in good enough condition for its designed function, for precisely this purpose. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointstaken Posted December 14, 2010 Share Posted December 14, 2010 I bought some brass bristle brushes recently. Hopefully that will do the trick on mine. Dennis Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozzyo Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 Slightly off topic. How do you clean diamond needle files? Hints and tips appreciated. OzzyO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edcayton Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 brass bristle brushes Try saying that three times quickly! It also helps if you tap the file firmly on the workbench surface periodically to dislodge the crud build-up Ed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium M.I.B Posted December 15, 2010 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted December 15, 2010 Many thanks all - will use wire brush and chalk before re-use. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Get a piece of 15mm copper pipe and flatten it in a vice or use a hammer. then file diagonaly across the copper at the same angle as the grooves of the file. This should remove most of the unwanted crud, then using an old scalpel blade carefully scrape out whats left. Bob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyC Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 I second Badger's method, except I use a piece of square hard brass bar. Using chalk to prevent clogging was the method I was taught as an apprentice over 35 years ago! Jeremy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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