Files.

No not the paper storage or data types. Metal ones.
I’ve been doing a bit work lately with Aluminium, was wondering how pro’s in the metal industry keep them clean. Wire brushing keeps the courser ones clean but what about the fine ones and needle files?
Any tips appreciated.

Have you tried an actual file brush?
Amazon product

They work a bit better than normal wire brushes I've found. If they're choked up with soft material like non ferrous metal or wood, just filing something harder for a bit tends to push the debris out from between the teeth.

Oh, and putting chalk or talk on them is supposed to reduce clogging in the first place.

Sorry, that was meant to say talc not talk.

retneprac said:

I’ve been doing a bit work lately with Aluminium, was wondering how pro’s in the metal industry keep them clean. Wire brushing keeps the courser ones clean but what about the fine ones and needle files?

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I use a file brush, or the end of wooden backing of the file brush as a scraper.

I have a couple of these.

Must get a file brush, didn’t know they existed. Cheers all.

One tip I have read in the modelling world is one file one material.

So you have a set for each common metal you use, and another set for odds and sods.

MJI said:

One tip I have read in the modelling world is one file one material.

So you have a set for each common metal you use, and another set for odds and sods.

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Same for bodyshops, avoids interchange of bits between steel & aluminium panels.

We had an Ali job at work once. We had to grind down a lot of welds (not me, the guys in the works). This was using flap discs, but Ali also clogs abrasives). They were given a kind of soap by the abrasive company. I am not saying ordinary soap, but worth research.

Deffo use chalk before use.

Wondering if a latex block would pull it out of a fine file. Ill have a go next time ive got the needle files out. Normally used for sanding belts and the like. They dont half clean out abrasive paper.

I use a file card, but also a sharp scriber and sit there poking the bits out over a cuppa.

Why is it advisable not to use the same file on different materials?

Hippo said:

Why is it advisable not to use the same file on different materials?

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Sounds like folk getting over excited to me! Next it'll be different set of hammers depending if you're knocking in a Phillips or a flathead

Hippo said:

Why is it advisable not to use the same file on different materials?

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Often anything like that is to stop cross contamination as you can transfer one material to another. So the nice stainless job you have just ground/filed to s nice finish has tiny bits of mild steel put into it ready to rust.

In a similar fashion, you never used a mild steel we wire brush on stainless.

Not helpful for needles but I always use a dreadnought on bigger pieces it will give super smooth finish and will not clog

rob1miles said:

I use a file card, but also a sharp scriber and sit there poking the bits out over a cuppa.

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I poke 'em out into a bin ...

Another reason to have a lid on yer cup ...

It's not a real cup of coffee unless it's seasoned with a bit of angle grinder grit with croutons made from chainsaw chippings. And maybe a rainbow film of EP90 on the top for garnish.

Brown said:

It's not a real cup of coffee unless it's seasoned with a bit of angle grinder grit with croutons made from chainsaw chippings. And maybe a rainbow film of EP90 on the top for garnish.

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And the washer you couldn't find was languishing at the bottom ...

Just by chance, our old friend AvE's video pooped into my suggestions on YT last night.