Needle file and seam filling

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Tools
1

I am working on the new ICM Twin Beech kit. ICM mounted all the antennas and cabin ventilation intakes onto the starboard fuselage half. I was tempted to cut them off, but decided to try it that way, though I knew it would make filling the seam hard.

I find I really appreciate my needle files for this work. I can get the file in between antennas easily and work primarily across the seam. I use a sort of elliptical or oval movement of the needle file to prevent grooves. Good clean needle files take filler off quickly with minimal tool marks. Sanding sticks might be second best, but ordinary sandpaper or sanding pads would be hellish on this job.

2

I have a set of those files too. They’re called Needle Files, Jeweler’s Files, or Swiss Files. I got mine at Harbor Freight Tools for $7.00 and I use them all the time! On 2 of them, I intentionally filed the crap out a piece of hardened steel, to dull out the file’s teeth…sort of a softer, lighter duty file for fine finishing work.

3

Yes they are great specially when working over cured or semi-cured CA. The files will carefully remove the harder CA, then some light passes with a fine sanding stick usually does the job.

4

I’ve got a set of these too, and they do work really well; but I am wondering how to clean the sanding dust out of them? It kind of clogs things up after a while. Thanks.

5

Use an old tooth brush to clean them up. A few swipes usually takes all the grit out.

6

I bought a brass brush recently. It is like a toothbrush except the bristles are brass wire. I assume that because brass is softer than steel, it will not hurt the files.

7

Thanks, pj and Don. I have a couple of old toothbrushes around so I’ll give that a try. If the bristles aren’t stiff enough, I’ll look up a brass one. I appreciate the suggestions.

8

that was a good tip thank’s don ., worked like a charm

9

Hello!

Some American supply shop - I don’t remember if it was MicroMark or some jewellery supply shop advertised sanding paper cut in stripes like 2mm wide. You could wrap that around your fingers and use it to sand the seam between the antennae for example. A few times I used a home-made variant of this - could be worth a try. Of course a good set of needle files is worth their weight in gold (this one is literal if you go to the right tool shop :-). Good luck with your builds and have a nice day

Paweł

10

I find needle files take off material far faster than fine sandpaper and leave finer scratch marks. It takes off material like about 320, but leaves sanding marks like 600 or 800. Also, I find the ones that are convex on one side and flat on the other allow me to get right up next to a protrusion without damaging it.

11

I use needle files, too, and struggle to keep them clean. A wire brush does good.

NorthWest Short Line offers “Detail Sanders” that I recommend. They are sanding sticks color coded to the grit used:

http://shop.osorail.com/category.sc?categoryId=39

However, when you need replacement sandpaper for these, I suggest shopping at McMaster-Carr. The 1/4" wide 6" belts are perfect for the NWSL Detail Sander, and much less expensive:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#46655a511/=yie6dq

McMaster also sells a generic red sanding stick just like the NWSL Detail Sanders, but only in red, and only with a 120-grit belt:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#46655a111/=yie7c3

Of course, nothing to keep you from marking these cheapies yourself, or to just use one sanding stick, and change the sanding belts when you need a new grit.

I think Testors or one of the other model tool companies has something similar.