Needle file and seam filling

I use needle files, too, and struggle to keep them clean. A wire brush does good.

NorthWest Short Line offers "Detail Sanders" that I recommend. They are sanding sticks color coded to the grit used:

http://shop.osorail.com/category.sc?categoryId=39

However, when you need replacement sandpaper for these, I suggest shopping at McMaster-Carr. The 1/4" wide 6" belts are perfect for the NWSL Detail Sander, and much less expensive:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#46655a511/=yie6dq

McMaster also sells a generic red sanding stick just like the NWSL Detail Sanders, but only in red, and only with a 120-grit belt:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#46655a111/=yie7c3

Of course, nothing to keep you from marking these cheapies yourself, or to just use one sanding stick, and change the sanding belts when you need a new grit.

I think Testors or one of the other model tool companies has something similar.

I find needle files take off material far faster than fine sandpaper and leave finer scratch marks. It takes off material like about 320, but leaves sanding marks like 600 or 800.  Also, I find the ones that are convex on one side and flat on the other allow me to get right up next to a protrusion without damaging it.

Hello!

Some American supply shop - I don't remember if it was MicroMark or some jewellery supply shop advertised sanding paper cut in stripes like 2mm wide. You could wrap that around your fingers and use it to sand the seam between the antennae for example. A few times I used a home-made variant of this - could be worth a try. Of course a good set of needle files is worth their weight in gold (this one is literal if you go to the right tool shop :-). Good luck with your builds and have a nice day

Paweł

that was a good tip thank's don ., worked like a charm

I bought a brass brush recently.  It is like a toothbrush except the bristles are brass wire.  I assume that because brass is softer than steel, it will not hurt the files.

checkmateking02

I've got a set of these too, and they do work really well; but I am wondering how to clean the sanding dust out of them? It kind of clogs things up after a while. Thanks.

 

Use an old tooth brush to clean them up. A few swipes usually takes all the grit out.

Yes they are great specially when working over cured or semi-cured CA. The files will carefully remove the harder CA, then some light passes with a fine sanding stick usually does the job.

I have a set of those files too. They're called Needle Files, Jeweler's Files, or Swiss Files. I got mine at Harbor Freight Tools for $7.00 and I use them all the time! On 2 of them, I intentionally filed the crap out a piece of hardened steel, to dull out the file's teeth...sort of a softer, lighter duty file for fine finishing work.