Author Topic: Files (Read 3923 times)

Hungry Horse · « **on:** April 29, 2018, 08:34:06 PM »

I have repeatedly heard you guys ranting about the quality of modern files. I recently found myself working way to hard trying to get parts true and flat, and discovered my old file was worn out. I went to the local lumber yard and looked at their name brand files, and found there was a good chance better quality files have been made in prison. Remembering that years ago I bought German built chainsaw and found I had to buy a German made chainsaw file, because an American chainsaw file wouldn’t cut it, I decided to see if the German company made other file designs as well. Problem solved the Pferd company is alive and well, and will gladly sell you a top quality file for around twenty bucks on Amazon.

Hungry Horse

Bob Roller · « **Reply #1 on:** April 29, 2018, 09:06:25 PM »

HH,
I have some Pferd files,mostly small ones down to the level of
miniatures and I have had them since 1980,a gift from Guenter
Stifter and Helmut Mohr.They are good quality and it is a shame
regarding our once proud names in small hand tools has been
dragged into a thing of ill repute.
Your comment about better files being made in a prison is a hoot.

Bob Roller

Stophel · « **Reply #2 on:** April 29, 2018, 09:06:33 PM »

Excellent! I'll have to try some.

Just a few weeks ago I went on a buying spree on ebay and got a bunch of NOS American made files.

JCKelly · « **Reply #3 on:** April 30, 2018, 01:35:21 AM »

Do not despair. It is just that, IMHO, files are no longer important industrial tools in the USA, IMHO. Ergo, one cannot make a profit producing a quality file here.

I might suggest a positive approach is to purchase files made in Germany or Switzerland; also high quality wood rasps from Japan.

Here are some suggested websites for tools and useful information

https://www.riogrande.com/product/glardon-vallorbe-precision-flat-hand-file-swiss-cut-4/114926?gclid=Cj0KCQiA2NXTBRDoARIsAJRIvLwDPIe_Wjj29sYWh3YDyHxu8lAREtosvSnFR2JiIelsmec0blLNaxcaAsJgEALw_wcB
][url]https://www.riogrande.com/product/glardon-vallorbe-precision-flat-hand-file-swiss-cut-4/114926?gclid=Cj0KCQiA2NXTBRDoARIsAJRIvLwDPIe_Wjj29sYWh3YDyHxu8lAREtosvSnFR2JiIelsmec0blLNaxcaAsJgEALw_wcB
[/url]

(been told, but forget, how to make this into a link. So - Cut'n paste) Rio Grande has everything you need to make fine jewelry.

https://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/store/dept/TAU Wood rasps, saw sharpening files & much, much information

http://www.highlandwoodworking.com Iwasaki (Wood) Carving Files

Back In The Day, Nicholson (1928) wrote a wonderful little booklet File Filosophy Don't recall where on 'net I found mine but can email you a pdf if you provide email

Stophel · « **Reply #4 on:** April 30, 2018, 01:54:17 AM »

" one cannot make a profit producing a quality file here."
This I will disagree with. They can (and did) make a profit... just not nearly as much of a pocket-stuffing profit as they make now.

At any rate, I was looking around on the internet, and Bahco files (made in Portugal) get very high marks from everywhere I have found, so I ordered a couple just now. They are as inexpensive as Nicholson USA files used to be (and the crappy Mexican replacements we have today), with free shipping too. Worth a shot.

PPatch · « **Reply #5 on:** April 30, 2018, 02:02:26 AM »

Thanks HH - next time I am in the market I will give Pferd a try.

dave

45-110 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 30, 2018, 02:27:04 AM »

coming from the auto mfg. industry, it seemed that the late 1970's was the phasing out the skilled trades like die sinkers, mold makers, pattern makers, gage work etc. the highly skilled old journey men trades where be phased out with the advent of cnc machining. was a time in metro Detroit (the arsenal of democracy) that one could acquire just about any shape or cut file made on the planet at the local tool stores supplying the industry. i have a 100 or so files from that era that i still use. there where also some great small file shapes that went into a bench top profile/fileing machine similar to a jig saw. such where the days! i used to marvel at watching some of the old Brits and Germans with their Gerstner tool boxes at their benches. soo sad we have the lack of demand for quality hand today.
kw

WadePatton · « **Reply #7 on:** April 30, 2018, 06:26:36 AM »

Quote from: Hungry Horse on April 29, 2018, 08:34:06 PM

I have repeatedly heard you guys ranting about the quality of modern files. ... Problem solved the Pferd company is alive and well, and will gladly sell you a top quality file for around twenty bucks ...

Hungry Horse

Bought three boxes of Pferd Pfiles for the chainsaws not too long ago. They are about as good as you get these days for sure. Have yet to enjoy their other styles, but feel that time is coming soon.

WadePatton · « **Reply #8 on:** April 30, 2018, 06:32:42 AM »

Quote from: JCKelly on April 30, 2018, 01:35:21 AM

Do not despair...

Back In The Day, Nicholson (1928) wrote a wonderful little booklet File Filosophy Don't recall where on 'net I found mine but can email you a pdf if you provide email

Here's the second link you posted on 2 January. I liked it. Learned a thing or two or three.

https://ia801302.us.archive.org/30/items/NicholsonFilePhilosophy1928/Nicholson%20File%20Philosophy%201928.pdf

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=47246.msg465834;topicseen#msg465834

T*O*F · « **Reply #9 on:** April 30, 2018, 04:24:35 PM »

Quote

Bahco files (made in Portugal) get very high marks from everywhere I have found

Years ago (early 80's) I bought about 80 files from the estate of a guy who was an instrument maker. Several of them are marked mad in Portugal but have no manufacturer's name on them. I'll have to dig them out and take another look at them.

Jim Kibler · « **Reply #10 on:** May 01, 2018, 06:35:11 PM »

Bacho files are made in Portugal and I think they are the best for ordinary shapes and sizes. I use Bacho mill files and find them to be very good.

Jim

Tim · « **Reply #11 on:** February 26, 2019, 10:09:21 PM »

I found a seller on EBay that has the Bacho mill files. Price seems good too.
Do a search for Bacho files and you will find several people selling them.

Jim Kibler · « **Reply #12 on:** February 27, 2019, 12:00:36 AM »

Quote from: Stophel on April 30, 2018, 01:54:17 AM

" one cannot make a profit producing a quality file here."
This I will disagree with. They can (and did) make a profit... just not nearly as much of a pocket-stuffing profit as they make now.

At any rate, I was looking around on the internet, and Bahco files (made in Portugal) get very high marks from everywhere I have found, so I ordered a couple just now. They are as inexpensive as Nicholson USA files used to be (and the crappy Mexican replacements we have today), with free shipping too. Worth a shot.

Our sort of people are a really small minority. The vast majority of people see files as nothing more than a deburring tool. When you see something this way, quality doesn't mean too much. I would suggest Bahco files.

Jim

Mauser06 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 27, 2019, 12:06:48 AM »

I bought a tool box full of files at an estate sale. Literally paid a few bucks for the box full. Probably 40-50 6-10" and 40-50 triangle, square, round etc clear down to the very small sizes. Even had 3 or 4 different sized knife files (great for slotting screw heads) and some half rounds, a very large lathe file (great for draw filing) etc.

It was almost like the previous owner built longrifles. I have enough files to have brass and steel files...

They are all good quality old files.

I rolled a 5gal bucket with vinegar....put the files in and a few days later I had a nice collection of files that are way better thank the couple new junk ones I was trying to use previously.

Hoping to grab another collection or 2 in the future and have a good variety.

msellers · « **Reply #14 on:** February 27, 2019, 12:27:33 AM »

I use Pferd mill and bastard files, but that is also due to my being able source them locall.
Mike

David Rase · « **Reply #15 on:** February 27, 2019, 01:14:47 AM »

I upgraded a lot of my old Nicholson files with Grobet Swiss files from OttoFrei or the past couple of years.. I have found the Grobet files to be of good quality, not as good as the Pferd's, but not as expensive either.
David

Tim · « **Reply #16 on:** February 27, 2019, 01:23:48 AM »

What cut do you guys prefer to use to draw file a barrel?
I was thinking Mill Bastard so that’s what I ordered.
I have several older mill bastard files but wanted a new one for
My Rice barrel.

moleeyes36 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 27, 2019, 06:25:55 AM »

Quote from: David Rase on February 27, 2019, 01:14:47 AM

I upgraded a lot of my old Nicholson files with Grobet Swiss files from OttoFrei or the past couple of years.. I have found the Grobet files to be of good quality, not as good as the Pferd's, but not as expensive either.
David

I've been very satisfied with the Italian made Grobet as well. I have a pretty good assortment now days.

Mole Eyes

M. E. Pering · « **Reply #18 on:** February 27, 2019, 07:23:48 AM »

I have a lot of files... And though I have never counted, I know it is over 100 of all shapes, sizes and qualities. Gotta love the things they sell at Harbor Freight that they call files. I have very decent files that were made back in the late 1800's, but I only have a couple of those, and they are large, so limited in use. I don't have any European files, though I have been considering trying some Grobets lately. My favorite files though are old Nicholson Black Diamond files, which I believe used to be made in Philadelphia, but are no longer produced. I have one of these that I use almost ( I said almost ) exclusively for draw filing barrels.

I know that we are a very small segment of society, making guns in a fashion that has not be fashionable for at least 200 years, but we are not the only craftsmen on the planet who need quality files. There are luthiers, jewelers and tool and die makers to name a few professions, who all need quality files. It seems these craftsmen can find them. And yes, many use Grobet and Pferd, but I know there are others who produce quality files. I have a straight sided triangular file that I converted to my dovetail file, and it works quite well. Believe it or not, it is a Popular Mechanics label on it, but also a 'Made in USA' stamp as well. We just have to search for quality a little more these days.

Matt

aaronc · « **Reply #19 on:** February 27, 2019, 06:07:29 PM »

I'm not sure if a US manufacturer could afford to put out top quality file and rasp hardware or not. I would sure like to see them try. Simply put a premium price on it that would sustain the company and go with it,..if the quality was there I think they would have a shot. I suspect they would soon develop a cult like following and do very well. I recently posted a thread in OTBF similar asking for opinions on rasps and files. One of the top recommended files were the Auriou rasps of France. They run $125 ish a piece....sold by Lie Nielsen and other quality wood working tool suppliers. I was all set to order 2,....and well....everyone I contacted was sold out until the next shipment. I'm fine ordering from whatever country,...I actually love german/swiss quality and it doesn't dissapoint....but yeah it's a shame that there is NOTHING here in this big'ol land that compares.

Waksupi · « **Reply #20 on:** February 27, 2019, 11:31:40 PM »

If you have good quality files, this company is someone you need to know about. The files come back sharper than new. Call them before shipping to make sure you have them packaged like they want.

https://boggstool.com/

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Author Topic: Files (Read 3923 times)