needle files

i use brushes to clean mine. Old toothbrushes or something similar works just fine to get out the dust residue. Solvents run the risk of turning styrene dust into goo and making it harder to remove.

A fine brass wire brush, such as is sold for cleaning suede, and a fine needle tip, the shaft sunk into a dowel for the picky pits.

Keep them clean & dry, & dust with talc after use, & they will last, mine are 25 years old.

I second the brass brush.  That is my go-to method.  Now, that does not work forever.  Needle file sets do need to be replentished periodically, but they are not that expensive.  I am lucky and have a Harbor Freight store not too far from me. They sell them.

Small files are my normal seam cleanup tool.  I find they take off material faster, yet leave finer scratches, than sandpaper.  I find a single coat of a good primer covers the fine scratches well enough.

I didn't have any input. I just wanted to say this was a great question! I only have a couple files that I don't use nearly as much as I probably should. One is broken in half. Maybe I should pick up a new set.

--Chris

I'll 3rd the brass shoe / spark plug brush - ideal for files & tools in general such as caked screwdriver tips or rusty shifters.

I have also used the wire brush wheel for my Dremel, both installed in the Dremel and sometimes just holding the shank and brushing the file with it.  But I usually use the brass hand brush, as I suspect the dremel wheel, with its steel teeth, hurts the edges on the file.  I don't believe the power tool does the job any quicker, either.

Hmmm;

 Interesting question . For me , hands down it's a Suede Brush . Or a denture brush .  T.B.

I have also cleaned out the junk with my #11 blade in X-acto knife.  Very time consuming, but it sure does a nice job!

Hello,

I have been using this stuff.  Meant for sandpaper and the such, but also works for finer files.  The small block I purchased is still 99% after ten years of use.  Saves me a ton of cash on sanding sticks too!

www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=20192&cat=1,42500