How do you clear clogged files?

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**Ouze**

Hey guys, I have several files I use to remove mold lines and such. A few times now I've use them on things I shouldn't have - paint that wasn't 100% dry, greenstuff/greystuff that also was not 100% dry (but it seemed to be, till I started! bygones). Now they are smooth and non-filey, completely clogged. Google's no help since "clogged files" brings up problems with the internets and or tubes.

Any advice?

**Phryxis**

It's a bit annoying, but I do this all the time: X-Acto knife, run the point down each "groove" in the file. Just sorta get a rythym going and get as many as you can, then clean up what's left.

Use the back of the blade. Pushing might work better than pulling. Probably use an older, crapped up blade, since it's not great for a fresh point.

**sonofruss**

Get a brass scrub brush

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=40439

**the cadian 45th**

I had this problem just the other day with my files, i used a brass brush.

The cadian 45th

**FoxPhoenix135**

Their made of hardened steel: I'm sure some hard-core cleaners wouldn't hurt them as long as you kept the handles out of it. Try acetone or something like that (but observe all safe-handling guidelines first!).

**The Bloody Handed God**

Brillow pad would probably work as well but I would recommend a stiff wire brush. You can get them in the car care section of a store like walmart or at a hardware store.

**Fifty**

How about blu-tac?

**Centurion**

I use a wire wheel on my dremel, Zip and done!

Centurion.

**Mellon**

I'm all for the metal-brush-option. Just make sure the material in the brush is softer than the material in the file. A file made specifically for model crafting will be hardened to the point where it can handle plastic, resin, tin and similar soft metals without blunting, but it is probably not as hard as a file that is intended to file steel with. A file-brush that is designed to be used for cleaning harder metal files might blunt your modeling file.

**4M2A**

Drop the file in a cup of nail polish remover, after a couple of hours pull it out and clean it with a toothbrush.

**Owain**

Centurion wrote:I use a wire wheel on my dremel, Zip and done!

Centurion.

This. As files are made of good quality hardened steel, you may want to get some serious cleaners/solvents and soften up the gunk before you brush it off.

**epil**

i use a metal nail file on my green stuff, rly cheap and easy to replace, much less hastle

**jabbakahut**

Throw them away, they're cheap. You shouldn't be buying files that are so expensive you need to clean them much. Expensive files are overkill for modeling. A wire brush is a good idea, but if it's not working, just replace them.

**chromedog**

Brass wire brush on my dremel. Works like the biz.

For my larger files (for metal and woodworking) I use a file card or file cleaning brush. It's like a short bristled steel wire brush (like is used for paint removal sometimes).

**MindTrick**

A couple of taps on the table top and a firm bristle toothbrush usually clear mine out. If need be I use a sewing needle to get the hard to remove bits out.

**LordHypnogogue**

Like others have already said, if you own a dremel, the brass brush wheel is awesome. If you don't, a hand-held wire brush will do the trick IMHO. YMMV.

**bubber**

brass wire brush or a steel one.
The brass one can also be used to clean up both GW metal & FW resin models.

**elfboy**

There are a number of options, to reiterate some already given:

brass bristle brush
nail polish remover or paint stripper for a while and then scrub with an old toothbrush
a similar file (this is one my Dad taught me) on the clogged file should dislodge all the stuff without damaging either file. This is ideal if you have a set of different files.
Use the file on a block of soft wood like pine
Coarse sandpaper to loosen up the clogging material and then any of the above.
Soak in very hot or boiling water (works well on some plastics, acrylic paint and some fillers) and then scrub.

Don't try and melt the clogged material off with a naked flame, you'll just end up with a useless stick if you do *voice of experience*

Above all, take better care of your tools. If you notice them clogging when you use them on a surface, stop using them and clean them straight away otherwise the offending material will get compacted into the file and be much more difficult to remove.

**Kozaan**

File cards are your friend http://www.ottofrei.com/store/product.php?productid=4863&send_isJS=Y&send_browser=YNY|Mozilla|5|Win32|Y|1280|800|Java(TM

**Ouze**

OK, I tried the dremel wheel, since I had one handy. That sort of worked - it removed most of it, except some paint that wasn't 100% dry. I'm going to try picking up a file card from Harbor Freight tomorrow (there is one next to my job, and they always complain our employees take our spots, but eh). Otherwise, bristle brush.