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I've got a small trianglular file, it's a pretty fine grade or something....lets just say it's not a rough file. Well, I cut out a nice size window. The window is Gir fron Invadert Zim.
I cut out the outside, and plan to etch all the details onto the window. Well as you can clearly see there are many large curves and many small areas. A simple file just couldn't cut it when getting the rough edges out and smoothing out curves. Not only did it take forever, it sometimes decided to mess up the lines even more. This home made file set allows you to control the grit of the file and size and shape.
File set 1: Flat files This doubles and a 1" file and a ⅜"-½" file depending on thickness of stirrers.
Needed: Paint stirrers, sand paper, staple gun or glue gun.
1. Take two paint stirrers and tape them together with duct or masking tape at each end.
2. Cut a peice of sand paper 2¼" wide(depending on the stirrer, wider peices might be needed) and 4-6" long.
3. Wrap the sand paper around the stirrers.
3a. Apply glue around the area you want the sand paper, wrap the sand paper immedtialy and hold it in place.
3b. See image
4. You can add as many grits of sand paper as you want to a single 'file' example, one 'file' has grits 60, 120, and 200 where as another has 320, 400, and 800.
File set 2: Round files
Needed: Sandpaper, dowels of any size, glue gun or fast drying glue
Note: Dowels under ¼" will be difficult and will also be very weak and might break
1. Find the circumference of the dowel by taking the diameter and multiplying it by pi or 3.14 and you get the width of sand paper needed for the size of the dowel. Make the sandpaper 4-7" long.
2. Apply glue to the dowel and wrap the sandpaper around the dowel. If you used slower setting glue use a peice of wide masking tape to hold the sandpaper in place until it dries.
*To make wrapping easier, crumple the sandpaper in your hand and roll it around between your palms like making a meatball for a few seconds. This will allow the sandpaper to become like a cloth.
3. Again more than one grit of sandpaper can be added to the dowel.
Note: Any large round object can be used if you need a file larger than 2" in diameter, such as pvc pipe, soup cans, anything round.
I'm not writing this as a replacement to a quality file set. The poor mans filing set is not meant for shaping or cutting out areas a dremel can't normaly cut. Rather it's for smoothing out curves and deburring edges and giving them a smooth finish.
***When using these 'files' try to stay between the two edges of the sand paper, do not use when the metal has heavy burrs and avoid sanding very sharp protruding corners, this will ensure a longer life of the file.***
Coming soon: Poor mans paint drying room.
I cut out the outside, and plan to etch all the details onto the window. Well as you can clearly see there are many large curves and many small areas. A simple file just couldn't cut it when getting the rough edges out and smoothing out curves. Not only did it take forever, it sometimes decided to mess up the lines even more. This home made file set allows you to control the grit of the file and size and shape.
File set 1: Flat files This doubles and a 1" file and a ⅜"-½" file depending on thickness of stirrers.
Needed: Paint stirrers, sand paper, staple gun or glue gun.
1. Take two paint stirrers and tape them together with duct or masking tape at each end.
2. Cut a peice of sand paper 2¼" wide(depending on the stirrer, wider peices might be needed) and 4-6" long.
3. Wrap the sand paper around the stirrers.
3a. Apply glue around the area you want the sand paper, wrap the sand paper immedtialy and hold it in place.
3b. See image
4. You can add as many grits of sand paper as you want to a single 'file' example, one 'file' has grits 60, 120, and 200 where as another has 320, 400, and 800.
File set 2: Round files
Needed: Sandpaper, dowels of any size, glue gun or fast drying glue
Note: Dowels under ¼" will be difficult and will also be very weak and might break
1. Find the circumference of the dowel by taking the diameter and multiplying it by pi or 3.14 and you get the width of sand paper needed for the size of the dowel. Make the sandpaper 4-7" long.
2. Apply glue to the dowel and wrap the sandpaper around the dowel. If you used slower setting glue use a peice of wide masking tape to hold the sandpaper in place until it dries.
*To make wrapping easier, crumple the sandpaper in your hand and roll it around between your palms like making a meatball for a few seconds. This will allow the sandpaper to become like a cloth.
3. Again more than one grit of sandpaper can be added to the dowel.
Note: Any large round object can be used if you need a file larger than 2" in diameter, such as pvc pipe, soup cans, anything round.
I'm not writing this as a replacement to a quality file set. The poor mans filing set is not meant for shaping or cutting out areas a dremel can't normaly cut. Rather it's for smoothing out curves and deburring edges and giving them a smooth finish.
***When using these 'files' try to stay between the two edges of the sand paper, do not use when the metal has heavy burrs and avoid sanding very sharp protruding corners, this will ensure a longer life of the file.***
Coming soon: Poor mans paint drying room.