What type of store can I buy a file card from?

[ridinplugspinnaz]

This is a bit frustrating. I just got my impressioning file, which is awesome, but I neglected to order a file card at the time and I'd like to keep my investment in good shape here. So I figured I would just go online to the same place I ordered the file from to get a file card. Nope. I searched a handful of locksmith sites, in addition to Home Depot, Lowe's, and Harbor Freight, and none of them seem to have a file card for sale. What type of store should I be looking at to find this tool? I really thought one of the main hardware stores would've had one if the locksmith supply places didn't.

[cppdungeon]

I hate to hijack this thread but what is a file card?

[keysman]

I hate to hijack this thread but what is a file card?

A file card is a "brush type" device used to clean the metal chips out of files.

Try here:http://www.oleoacresfarriersupply.com/prod/file.html

Personally have never needed one.My file doesn't get " filled up" with chips

[straightpick]

You should not need a file card if you use the file on keyblanks. A file card is two sided-one side consists of heavy bristles and the other side consists of a series of metal fingers. A file card is indispensible if you use files on soft metals, especially aluminum, which tends to "stick" in the grooves of the file. For you purpose, you could go to a Home Depot or Lowes and check in the paint section. They make a set of small brushes that are used in paint stripping, usually three in a pack. One has stiff nylon bristles, one has brass bristles and one has stainless steel bristles. You may also find them in auto parts stores, they use them for detailing cars. Any of the three would be good to clean the file.

[ridinplugspinnaz]

You should not need a file card if you use the file on keyblanks. A file card is two sided-one side consists of heavy bristles and the other side consists of a series of metal fingers. A file card is indispensible if you use files on soft metals, especially aluminum, which tends to "stick" in the grooves of the file. For you purpose, you could go to a Home Depot or Lowes and check in the paint section. They make a set of small brushes that are used in paint stripping, usually three in a pack. One has stiff nylon bristles, one has brass bristles and one has stainless steel bristles. You may also find them in auto parts stores, they use them for detailing cars. Any of the three would be good to clean the file.

Thanks for the info. I was reading an impressioning guide that was linked to by someone on the first page of Varjeal's sticky, and it recommended getting a file card, so I thought I'd look into it. Then again, that same guide strongly advocated getting a 4-cut file, whereas I bought a 2-cut on the general consensus of people in my other thread... that, and I really didn't want to pay $65 just to find out what the difference was between a 2-cut and a 4-cut Anyway on the keys I've filed so far it didn't look to be an issue, but I figured it was at least worth investigating.

[Eyes_Only]

I agree with straightpick, i heavily bristled regular brush of some kind should be enough for cleaning impressioning files like a swiss gromet file with a fine cut or similar. I dont know of any file card fine enough to handle the kind of files used for impressioning.

[raimundo]

I posted in this thread a few days ago, but its not here, perhaps its in someones inbox or in another thread, the new site is causeing me a lot of lost typing.

I use a toothbrush to clear steel shavings from files, steel is not a metal that will stick in a sharp newish file, though it could get in one where the teeth are bent down to hook it in. Brush along the lines of the the file and not against them like you were trying to file the toothbrush.

aluminum and lead and some other soft metals, but not the noble metals, will easily fill a file and become severely jammed in it.

the technique for filing these metals is to file some chalk first and this puts loose material in the deepest parts of the grooves, then re chalk the file frequently. The chalk will deny the soft metal its connection with the tight parts of the groove.

You will still have to use a wire brush on the file frequently. stroke along the lines of the file not accross them, just as with the toothbrush.

[maintenanceguy]

An old file cleaning trick is to use spent brass shell casings to clean junk out of the file. File the rim of the spent brass to clean your file. The brass won't clog the file and it does a really good job of removing what ever's in there.

So I concur, cutting brass probably won't foul a file. I've never had one clog from brass.

[MBI]

I'm a big fan of good quality files. Maintain them properly and they'll last for ages.

As others have mentioned above, I usually only ever need to use a file card if I'm filing a soft metal such as aluminum (or when using wood files). Also remember that rust is your enemy, and a good file will attract rust like crazy. After cleaning my files, I thoroughly hose them down with WD-40 then lean them with the tip down on a folded paper towel to catch the drippings. It leaves a nice protective film on the file, and when you look at the paper towel afterwards you'll see how much crud there was, even on files that looked clean.

[ridinplugspinnaz]

Also remember that rust is your enemy, and a good file will attract rust like crazy. After cleaning my files, I thoroughly hose them down with WD-40 then lean them with the tip down on a folded paper towel to catch the drippings. It leaves a nice protective film on the file, and when you look at the paper towel afterwards you'll see how much crud there was, even on files that looked clean.

Hmm, i never actually considered that. Especially given that my hands don't always stay dry when working on a keyblank for awhile, that's probably something I should be doing. Good advice!