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How to use a file card brush?

How to use a file card brush

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File card brush, file, cleaning, holding, woodwork, metalwork, DIYer.

Step 1 – Hold file card brush

Hold the handle of the brush in your dominant hand.

File card brush, file, cleaning, woodwork, metalwork, DIYer.

Step 2 – Hold file

Hold the file in your non-dominant hand or place the file on a flat, level surface.

You can lean the file on a surface, while holding it to give you more support.

File card brush, cleaning, file, woodwork, metalwork, DIYer.

Step 3 – Use file card brush

Run the brush so the teeth push at the angle of the cuts on the file.

File card brush, cleaning, file, woodwork, metalwork, DIYer. The cuts refer to the direction of the teeth on the file.
File card brush, cleaning, teeth, filings, brushing, woodwork, metalwork, DIYer.

Brushing technique and direction

You can push the file in the direction that the wires are already bent, so you will not be bending the wires backwards.

File card brush, cleaning, teeth, filings, brushing, woodwork, metalwork, DIYer. It is not recommended, but you can pull the wire ends through the teeth of the file, aiming to catch the filings and any other material with the ends of the wires.
File card brush, cleaning, teeth, filings, brushing, woodwork, metalwork, DIYer. Another way to clean the teeth of the file is to push and pull the brush in the same movement, almost like brushing your teeth.
File card brush, brushing, single cut file, cleaning, teeth, woodwork, metalwork, filings, DIYer. When using a file card, run the teeth in the direction of the cuts in a single cut file. A single cut file is when all the teeth on a file are parallel to each other and all go in the same direction.
File card brush, brushing, single cut file, cleaning, teeth, woodwork, metalwork, filings, DIYer. With a double cut file, you still have to brush at the angle of the uppermost cut in the crossing rows. A double cut file contains two sets of teeth that cross each other, forming diamond-shaped teeth.
File card brush, file, cleaning, teeth, woodwork, metalwork, filings, DIYer.

Step 4 – Remove filings and other material

Repeat the brushing technique you are using, and run the brush over the clogged up teeth until the filings and any other material are removed.

File card brush, brushing, file, dirt, shavings, filings, metalwork, woodwork, DIYer.

Step 5 – Remove loose filings

If you are using a double sided file card, flip it over to the brush side. Wipe the file repeatedly in any direction to remove the filings you have loosened.

File card brush, file, hand brush, stiff bristles, cleaning, brushing, woodwork, metalwork, DIYer. If you do not have a double sided file card brush, you can always use a hand brush with stiff bristles.
The brush on the file card or your own hand brush can be used afterwards to wipe down the work area.

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