This was the only video on the subject that didn't have some absurd title. I installed a new graphite nut on my new Fender Stratocaster neck, and had to file it thinner and narrower to fit, using both the regular file and diamond file on my Leatherman Wave+ multitool, so of course both got clogged up with graphite. Assumed that a metal brush would do the trick on both, though with graphite maybe a bristle brush like a toothbrush is sufficient. I didn't think about how the files being clogged up might damage the things I use them on, so thanks for that. Guitar building is of course art, so I'm glad I found a video by an artist.
Old file cards, when you can find them, have a smaller diameter wire than the modern offerings. Most new file cards are suitable for coarse files but the wires are simply too large to get right down into the file 'valleys' of many files. For finer files, use an old fashioned brass suede brush ... which does a great job. Another tip is to start with a natural rubber block sold for cleaning abrasive belts, worked along the line of the teeth. This will clear out most of the rubbish leaving just the awkward pegs or pins stuck in the file for a brush or metal scraper to shift.
After sanding down some Milliput, my file was literally covered with it and I thought it was ruined until I found your video. I had to scrub pretty hard with the wire brush as it was a total mess but I was amazed I managed to save it with such a simple trick and I can't believe I didn't think of doing that myself! It's not an expensive file so I don't really care if it does happen to shorten its life as that was definitely better than going to the bin!
Never use a file card, steel wire brush, or hard pick to clean a file! Using one will shorten the life of the file.The wires they are made of are as hard or harder then the files teeth and each use will damage the file a bit more. You can easily remove most, if not all, of the metal that is clogging the teeth of a flat file with a plain piece of cold rolled or soft steel. Copper and brass may be too soft to clean steel clogged files. Avoid hot rolled steel for the same reason to avoid wire brushes, the scale on HRS is hard and abrasive, I usually use something about 1/2" wide, wide enough to clean a good number of teeth and not too wide that it takes too long to form. Start at the handle end of the file, where the teeth get the least abuse, and push the edge of it across the file in line with the teeth. After only a couple passes, the steel will form to the file's tooth pattern and clear out any metal build-up. Just advance down the file, both sides, and you can clean it in short order. Best thing is that if you start with 1/2" square stock, you have 8 edges to clean 8 different tooth patterns, a handy little tool that doesn't take up too much space.
Never use a file card, steel wire brush, or hard pick to clean a file! Using one will shorten the life of the file.The wires they are made of are as hard or harder then the files teeth and each use will damage the file a bit more. You can easily remove most, if not all, of the metal that is clogging the teeth of a flat file with a plain piece of cold rolled or soft steel. Copper and brass may be too soft to clean steel clogged files. Avoid hot rolled steel for the same reason to avoid wire brushes, the scale on HRS is hard and abrasive, I usually use something about 1/2" wide, wide enough to clean a good number of teeth and not too wide that it takes too long to form. Start at the handle end of the file, where the teeth get the least abuse, and push the edge of it across the file in line with the teeth. After only a couple passes, the steel will form to the file's tooth pattern and clear out any metal build-up. Just advance down the file, both sides, and you can clean it in short order. Best thing is that if you start with 1/2" square stock, you have 8 edges to clean 8 different tooth patterns, a handy little tool that doesn't take up too much space.
tjr I have metal files I’d like to clean, anything you recommend, how about soaking them in soap n water, or blast them w a garden hose or pressure washer?
@@fleadoggreen9062 I wouldnt have a problem with using a "filecard" or use a normal wire brush. If you use high pressure water of any sort be sure to dry files with air pressure and/or sit them in the sun. Use the file card across the file like in this demo.
I love these kinds of videos, right to the point. Thank you
This was the only video on the subject that didn't have some absurd title.
I installed a new graphite nut on my new Fender Stratocaster neck, and had to file it thinner and narrower to fit, using both the regular file and diamond file on my Leatherman Wave+ multitool, so of course both got clogged up with graphite. Assumed that a metal brush would do the trick on both, though with graphite maybe a bristle brush like a toothbrush is sufficient.
I didn't think about how the files being clogged up might damage the things I use them on, so thanks for that.
Guitar building is of course art, so I'm glad I found a video by an artist.
Old file cards, when you can find them, have a smaller diameter wire than the modern offerings. Most new file cards are suitable for coarse files but the wires are simply too large to get right down into the file 'valleys' of many files. For finer files, use an old fashioned brass suede brush ... which does a great job. Another tip is to start with a natural rubber block sold for cleaning abrasive belts, worked along the line of the teeth. This will clear out most of the rubbish leaving just the awkward pegs or pins stuck in the file for a brush or metal scraper to shift.
After sanding down some Milliput, my file was literally covered with it and I thought it was ruined until I found your video. I had to scrub pretty hard with the wire brush as it was a total mess but I was amazed I managed to save it with such a simple trick and I can't believe I didn't think of doing that myself! It's not an expensive file so I don't really care if it does happen to shorten its life as that was definitely better than going to the bin!
Can you use a little wire brush with a dremel?
Thanks sir
Do these methods damage the teeth of the file?
No
Thanks
Never use a file card, steel wire brush, or hard pick to clean a file!
Using one will shorten the life of the file.The wires they are made of
are as hard or harder then the files teeth and each use will damage the
file a bit more. You can easily remove most, if not all, of the metal
that is clogging the teeth of a flat file with a plain piece of cold
rolled or soft steel. Copper and brass may be too soft to clean steel
clogged files. Avoid hot rolled steel for the same reason to avoid wire
brushes, the scale on HRS is hard and abrasive, I usually use something
about 1/2" wide, wide enough to clean a good number of teeth and not
too wide that it takes too long to form. Start at the handle end of the
file, where the teeth get the least abuse, and push the edge of it
across the file in line with the teeth. After only a couple passes, the
steel will form to the file's tooth pattern and clear out any metal
build-up. Just advance down the file, both sides, and you can clean it
in short order. Best thing is that if you start with 1/2" square stock,
you have 8 edges to clean 8 different tooth patterns, a handy little
tool that doesn't take up too much space.
That sounds too difficult, but thanks , I may have to try it,
Here are over 800 pages of my writing and links to more. See the section
on construction and soldering.
brainpress.com/Ganoksin.html#Articles
Never use a file card, steel wire brush, or hard pick to clean a file!
Using one will shorten the life of the file.The wires they are made of
are as hard or harder then the files teeth and each use will damage the
file a bit more. You can easily remove most, if not all, of the metal
that is clogging the teeth of a flat file with a plain piece of cold
rolled or soft steel. Copper and brass may be too soft to clean steel
clogged files. Avoid hot rolled steel for the same reason to avoid wire
brushes, the scale on HRS is hard and abrasive, I usually use something
about 1/2" wide, wide enough to clean a good number of teeth and not
too wide that it takes too long to form. Start at the handle end of the
file, where the teeth get the least abuse, and push the edge of it
across the file in line with the teeth. After only a couple passes, the
steel will form to the file's tooth pattern and clear out any metal
build-up. Just advance down the file, both sides, and you can clean it
in short order. Best thing is that if you start with 1/2" square stock,
you have 8 edges to clean 8 different tooth patterns, a handy little
tool that doesn't take up too much space.
You are using the wrong sort of wire brush if its harder than the file .lol
@@tjr4744 File cards made for cleaning files have hard wire bristles and, yes, they are harder then the file.
@@pedrowhack-a-mole6786 I'm intrigued.... What is your File Card made from thats harder than high carbon steel ?
tjr I have metal files I’d like to clean, anything you recommend, how about soaking them in soap n water, or blast them w a garden hose or pressure washer?
@@fleadoggreen9062 I wouldnt have a problem with using a "filecard" or use a normal wire brush. If you use high pressure water of any sort be sure to dry files with air pressure and/or sit them in the sun. Use the file card across the file like in this demo.