Boggs Tool

[Mike Lyons]

Has anyone recently used Boggs Tool for resharpening their files and rasps?  Is it worth the hassle?  I'm packaging up a few of my decent nearly worn out files and rasps to send to them. 

[Hungry Horse]

 I just soak mine in white vinegar to sharpen them.

  Hungry Horse

[Frank]

I just soak mine in white vinegar to sharpen them.

  Hungry Horse

That works?  How long do you soak them?

[tiswell]

Mike,
    I had 30 files done by them a couple months ago. I am happy with the results. The files that they did came back better/sharper then when I sent them. My files were just dull.  I did not send files that I had abused by trying to file hard weld slag or had let rust. Some one responded recently here to a similar question saying that on very fine files their results were not as good as coarser files and I forget the cut threshold that they referenced. Because of the process, larger teeth may benefit more.

    Your question of whether it is worth the hassle, it would be easier to buy new files if cost is not a factor. For me it was a good value.

                                                                                                                                                         Blessings, Bill

[moleeyes36]

Mike,

I was the person that commented on my experience with finer cut files.   Boggs does an excellent job with files that are courser than about no. 2.  With files of about no. 2 or finer there just isn’t much metal to work with and my experience is that their process pretty much removes what little metal there is to work with.  I’ve had good results with using them for courser files and rasps.  Just my experience, others may have different opinions.

Don

[Ron Scott]

Boggs does a great job for a low cost and fast turn around. I just got box a box of processed files for little over $30.00. Their process is more complicated than simple acid.

[Mike Lyons]

Thanks everyone.  I tried the acid and it worked but not for long.  I’m going to give Boggs a try. 

[JBJ]

Mike,
Another very positive vote for Boggs. I sent them over 25 assorted files in various sizes - mostly over 8 inches and of various cuts. Also sent along a 10 inch rasp and a four-in-hand or two. I found that they processed all of the files, including some of which they deemed as hopeless, but charged me only for those that they felt could be effectively resharpened. The "clunkers" had their tangs painted red but still were clean and, to me quite sharp in comparison to when they left home. I was very pleased to say the least.
J.B.

[jerrywh]

Boggs does a great job for a low cost and fast turn around. I just got box a box of processed files for little over $30.00. Their process is more complicated than simple acid.

 Ron. Not to be contentious but how do you know?  What is their process?

[Ron Scott]

There is a bit of a description on their web site.

[Mike Lyons]

I’ll post an update when I get them back.  I only sent 2 rasps and a file to them.  Jerry,  it sounds like they clean them well and blast the backside of the teeth with an abrasive slurry.  It makes me wonder if I could do something similar in the blasting cabinet.  With the good  reviews, low cost and honesty,  it sounds like a good deal.  They are excellent at answering the phone and giving info. 

[P.W.Berkuta]

I have sent them about 20 assorted sizes and style of files along with about 10 assorted end mills. As someone already stated the files that were deemed not up to their standards after being treated were painted with red on the tang and I was charged a reduced price on them. They were still sharper than when I sent them off to Boggs. I definitely would use their services again.

[jerrywh]

There is a bit of a description on their web site.

Thanks Ron. I should have read it to start with.

[Mike Lyons]

I received my file and rasps back today.  I recommend Boggs Tool for resharpening rasps and files.  It took about a week from dropping them off to getting them back. All three are extremely sharp. I’m very pleased. He charged $8.50 for the #49 Nicholson, $0.50 for the large wood rasps and $2.64 for the large file. 

[Scota4570]

Old thread, I know.

I gave Boggs a try.  I sent two dozen files.  That included an expensive checkering file and some other odd files. 

They seem to have lost them!

Tracking proves the package was delivered to their door.   They can not find the package.

 

[Jim Kibler]

I always disagree about file sharpening, but most just ignore my viewpoint on the subject.  Sure, the files come back sharp, but they also tend to chatter and pin worse than new files.  They also go dull quicker than a new file.  Unless it’s a high dollar file or rasp, I wouldn’t even consider it.

[Scota4570]

My files turned up.  I hope they can do something worthwhile with them.  I'll just have to wait and see. 

I appreciate the first hand experience posted above.  Now I will have a negative bias!  Oh well, 

Scot

[bluenoser]

I always disagree about file sharpening, but most just ignore my viewpoint on the subject.  Sure, the files come back sharp, but they also tend to chatter and pin worse than new files.  They also go dull quicker than a new file.  Unless it’s a high dollar file or rasp, I wouldn’t even consider it.

Interesting comment about pinning.
I have sharpened dozens of files -  both fine and coarse -by soaking in cleaning vinegar ( 10% as opposed to 5% household) and have been very pleased with the result.  Depending on the file, it generally takes between 24 and 72 hours.  I doubt they are quite as sharp as when new, although there have been exceptions, and have noticed they tend to pin more than before sharpening.

[Scott L]

I sent three files to Boggs a few months ago. Two Vixens, 10 inch flat and 8 inch half round and a 14 inch Multikut. Turnaround was fairly quick and price was reasonable. I was really surprised at how sharp they felt. What soured the deal was that, apparently to get the 14 inch into a standard post office shipping box, they sawed off the tang!!. I couldn't believe it.

[Goo]

Considering the price of new files it`s a really good deal.  I sent them 30+ files last year and they sent them back like new and they marked the ones that cant be re-sharpened so you can recycle them as tool steel stock.   There is actually more to it than soaking files in vinegar there is electrolysis involved in controlled solutions.   When you have to pay $59.00 average cost for a #49 nicholson rasp which IMHO is a specialized cutting tool its worth it to let the experts sharpen it.     

[Eric Krewson]

I have only sent Nicholson #49 and 50 rasps to Boggs, they came back like new, at the time, the first one was free because I was new customer and the second one was $4.00, a pretty good deal.

One the bow boards guys say the current #49 and 50s made in Brazil are junk, so they have been sending their new files to Boggs so they will cut like the original American made ones.

[flatsguide]

I always disagree about file sharpening, but most just ignore my viewpoint on the subject.  Sure, the files come back sharp, but they also tend to chatter and pin worse than new files.  They also go dull quicker than a new file.  Unless it’s a high dollar file or rasp, I wouldn’t even consider it.

Jim, thanks for your views on having files sharpened. Nothing worse than a file that constantly pins.
Richard

[kutter]

I've been using Boggs for around 40 yrs to sharpen/resharpen files and no complaints.

Some metals clog up a file more easily than others (pinning?). Depends on the cut and the user too,,how much pressure, etc. Softer the metal, the more they clog the teeth
Some of the steel castings used in the ML building trade are bad for this too.
 If you use a specific file on Brass (or copper, silver, gold etc), keep it for that. Don't use it on steel also and back and forth. It'll clog up with steel much more when it's been used for a specific soft metal already.

Any but the rasps are easy to clean out with a brass cartridge case with the mouth hammered flat. But can be a pain to keep doing over and over again while working. But it's just the nature of the work.

Chalking the file helps,,sometimes.
I often dunk the file into a can plain water with a touch of dish soap in it while filing out a large project like a bbl or butt plate. That seems to keep the file clear and actually makes the file cut better as a sort of cutting lube. 
Can be kind of messy to work with if you over do it. But you don't have to keep stopping to scarf clean the file teeth.