Cleaning needle files

Question for those who works with white metal - how do you clean your needle files from white metal? If the file is really fine, white metal kinda clogs the file, and there is no way that I can think of to clean it. What do you guys do? I was thinking of heating the file with soldering iron to let all the white metal melt off, but that's a bit extreme?

I've got a small wooden handled brush with stainless steel bristles I use for that sort of thing. Got it at the hardware store, cheap. I don't use files on white metal alot, but it seems it would be worth a try.

I'm thinking a slodering iron might be a rather slow way to heat up a needle file- even a small one would have alot more thermal mass than a soldering iron is designed to work with. You might try a small propane torch. But don't heat that file too much- get it too hot and you could ruin the heat treatment, making the file close to useless.

I use small wire brushes, they are about the size of a toothbrush. You can get a set that has different bristles: brass, stainless steel, nylon. The stainless bristles work the best. Auto part stores and hardware stores usually carry them.:)

I use a wire wheel brush in my Dremel - works pretty well to clean them out.

I do recommend safety glasses when you do this though.

Great suggestions! Thanks!

For many jobs, I prefer diamond rifflers to conventional files. The diamond grit surfaces don't clog, remove material quickly and work well in close quarters, because you don't have to take long strokes. They are also inexpensive and come in many shapes. Drawback: even the finest ones leave a slightly rough surface that needs sanding.

Diddy

Diamond ones clog just as bad (if not worse) than regular files when working with white metal.

Diamond ones clog just as bad (if not worse) than regular files when working with white metal.

I should have said that my main experience with diamond rifflers has been with resin and brass. My post was misleading, and I apologize.

Diddy