Needle files

[A.Merrill]

    I've had these same needle files for a long time and I have a couple all steel projects coming up and I want a new set of needle files. Who makes a good aggressive cutting set of needle files?   Al

[flatsguide]

Grobet, cut #0 works for me for shaping.  Cut #4 is a finer cut and good for final shaping then finish with mold maker stones. I have some #6 cut needle files that really leaves a smooth finish, with these you can go directly to 400 grit wet or dry paper for final polish.
Cheers Richard

[Mattox Forge]

I have found the same. Grobet files are excellent. Otto Frei sells all manner of these files.
https://www.ottofrei.com/collections/files

Mike

[Bob Roller]

I have 2 or 3 sets from Harbor Freight and the were oK.Not a tool I used a lot and screw slotting was done with a altered miniature hack saw blade and then a few strokes with an acute angled knife file.Gunther Stifter and Helmut Mohr sent several sets of German made needle files and I still have them.Brand name was Pferd.
Bob Roller

[rich pierce]

I use a half round needle file more than any others. The whole sets are nice but I’d rather have 4 half-rounds of different cuts.

[Mattox Forge]

I buy the Grobet in specific sizes and cuts as individual files. Like Rich, I found that the sets were not as good a value, as there are some shapes that just don't get used. I like the half round, barret, and square (actually a triangle) to be the most useful. 4, 6 and 8 inch are used a lot. Some flat bastards and course cuts are useful too, but a heavy, large (10' or 12") square serves as well, and you get three sides to work with before you have to unload the filings.

Mike

[flatsguide]

Also needle and other files can be modified to fit certain situations that the normal shaped files won’t work. One such modification that I do is to grind a ‘safe’ edge to all the file to be used right up to a corner without damaging it.