Hand files

[agaboric]

I know my question is not about making handmade tools, but I would like to know where others buy their hand files. The reason that I ask is I know you get what you pay for and I am working on a trigger gard for a CVA of mine that I bought that was missing it, anyway I have a nice Swiss Made file and it is great then I bought a half round file from Lowes it is a Kobalt and in my opinion junk. So if I have posted this in the right section where can you get good files? One more question can files wear out, because I bought some at a yard sale this year and I think they may be wore out. I am also new to bp shooting and have asperations of building long rifle sometime, but like everyone may wants exceed my $$$. Any info I would be greatful for.
Thanks,
Andy

[The other DWS]

almost all Kobalt tools (and Stanley nowdays) are chinese made, and I have NEVER found a good chinese made metal tool.  there are various woodcrafter supplies that carry really good files and chisels.  they cost a bunch more but if you take care of them they are lifetime quality.   I have some I had handed down to me that I know are well over 100 years old.

With files I keep one set for brass work, another stored completely separately for iron/steel and another for AL work .  learn how to chalk and clean a file  it will really extend the life.

[bluenoser]

Andy,

I suspect Kobalt files are made in India or somewhere in Asia.  There may be some good files coming out of those areas, but I haven’t found them.  I now try to avoid all files and rasps coming out of those areas.  I have had good luck with both American and European made files.  At the local Home Depot, I can find both American made Nicholson files and Asian imports on the shelf.

I don’t hesitate to buy used files if they feel sharp when I run my thumbnail across the teeth and if they do not show chips or shiny spots or streaks on the cutting surface.  Those most likely occurred when someone tried to file something that was too hard for the file, or from rubbing against another file.  I don’t get bent out of shape over a little rust if the price is right, but that has occasionally been my undoing.  I recently purchased about two-dozen rusty Nicholson rifflers for $5.00 at a flea market.  After cleaning them (with navel jelly-as I recall) they work fine.

A good file will last a long time if you take care of it.  One of the hardest things on files is storing them in a way that allows them to rub against each other.  That can quickly ruin a good file.  I keep two sets of files.  They are color coded to help me remember which is which.  One set is used for dressing down ferrous metals (steel), and the other is used for wood and soft metals.  I have found even a well cared for file does not work particularly well on wood or brass after it has been used on steel.  I buy cheap clear plastic tubing in various sizes at a big box store and make a sleeve for each file.

Keep the teeth clean when you are using a file.  It will cut cleaner and will prevent galling.  As I recall, there was a recent thread on keeping the teeth clean.  I recommend buying a file card, which is basically a brush with short hooked steel teeth.

I have heard you can re-sharpen a dull file by soaking it in Coke or another corrosive material.  I haven’t tried it, but it is on my to-try list.

Hope this helps
Laurie

[coutios]

   Look for someone in your area that supplies machine shops. They, more so, will carry the better products ( more expensive). A Woodcrafters for wood related files. You can shop the internet for price but I like to handle before I buy.. Works for me may not for others...

Regards
Dave

[winemaker]

http://dilegnosupply.com/index.html

I usually buy my files from this place. He's not that far from us so I save on shipping. He has a great selection too.

[agaboric]

Thanks for all of the advice like I said I am just starting out so to speak and setting up shop can get a little $$$ but I have realized that you get what you pay for and I want the best I can afford. I also understand that over time I will aquire tools too. I will keep looking. Thanks again.
-Andy

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

Brownells:  http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/cid=261/Products/Files

Jamestown Distributors: http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/search_subCategory.do?categoryName=Files&categoryId=104&refine=1&page=GRID

Rio Grande:  http://www.riogrande.com/MemberArea/SearchPage.aspx?page=GRID&free_text|1267473277148=Files&first_answer=1

WoodCraft: http://www.woodcraft.com/Search/Search.aspx?query=Files

[dannybb55]

I know my question is not about making handmade tools, but I would like to know where others buy their hand files. The reason that I ask is I know you get what you pay for and I am working on a trigger gard for a CVA of mine that I bought that was missing it, anyway I have a nice Swiss Made file and it is great then I bought a half round file from Lowes it is a Kobalt and in my opinion junk. So if I have posted this in the right section where can you get good files? One more question can files wear out, because I bought some at a yard sale this year and I think they may be wore out. I am also new to bp shooting and have asperations of building long rifle sometime, but like everyone may wants exceed my $$$. Any info I would be greatful for.
Thanks,
Andy

I get mine at the Flea Market in Raleigh, NC when I am in town. There is a "Tool Man" there who carries all of the usual Eastern junk, He also has a shallow box of assorted files from Diamond Swiss sizes and riflers to Big Bastard cut 14 inchers. The largest files are Bastard, Mill, 2nd Hand Smooth and parralel, // versions of the same. The ones that I snap up are Eastern European, Polish, Czech etc. Some look hand cut but they cut well. I am looking for Rough, Warding and Knife files. I was talking to Peter Ross last year and he said that he gets his on E-bay, He was holding a 14 inch square Bastard so I believed him. With a Rough cut file, you do not need a grinder. Send E K a letter, He IS a eastern machine shop after all. Danny

[Acer Saccharum]

Grobet are probably the most expensive; but I must say, I have some grobets I bought over twenty years ago, and they are still cutting.

They can be gotten from Grobet USA,
or RioGrande and Gesswein and McMaster-Carr.

http://www.grobetusa.com/
http://www.riogrande.com/
http://www.gesswein.com/
http://www.mcmaster.com/

[Waksupi]

I got my #49 ans#50 cabinet makers rasps at Boggs, and my Vulcan from Brownells. For wood working, those are the only ones I need.

[Jim Kibler]

Speaking of rasps, thought I should mention the Auriou rasps.  These are expensive (approx. $125 if I remember correctly) but worth every cent in my opinion.  I like the finer grain half round cabinet rasps with a grain (tooth) size of 9 or 10.  This tooth size is significantly smaller than a nicholson #49 or #50 but cuts every bit as fast in my experience.   The half round  cabinetmakers rasps also have a very useful shape, tapering to a near point.  These are made in France and each tooth is hand raised with a chisel.   A quality tool in all regards.  They are now working under a new name which escapes me right now.  If interested, just search for Auriou and you should find what you're looking for.  One final bit of information...  I've seen and used some recently purchased Nicholson 49 and 50's.  These are not the same tool they used to be.  They're now made in brazil and don't work near as well in my opinion.  I didn't look closely for differences, but it was immediately apparent that the teeth don't come as close to the edges as they did previously. 

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

Jim, I have the same experience. I have a 6 year old #50 and just bought a # 49 ..made in Brazil...the #50 is way better....On the gun I am making now I found I kept reaching for the #50....... 

[Acer Saccharum]

I have several Ariou rasps. Indeed worth every cent. Hand cut, mind you.

Tom

[agaboric]

Wow, thanks for all of the useful info. I talked to a machine shop owner who told me that Nickolsin was one of the best out there but I don't know. I hate to say that it but they don't make things like they used too. And I am so tired of buy "Quality" "Commerical Grade" blah blah blah and it is all the same cheap junk! The price is not cheap but the tool itself is so I will look into those website you guys posted and check them out.
Thanks,
Andy

[billd]

Tom,  Aren't they out of business?

Bill

[California Kid]

Auriou
http://forge-de-saint-juery.com/

[Jim Kibler]

Bill,

No they are not out of buisness.  They are operating under a new name (read my previous post).  I believe this is Forge De St.  Juery.  Here is the link to their website:  http://www.forge-de-saint-juery.com/
They can be purchased through several distributers as well.

Tom,  Aren't they out of business?

Bill

[B Shipman]

For metal, I prefer Grobet needle files for any material and Nicholson files for bass and Grobet files for steel. You can buy Grobet files in quantity in American patterns on Amazon.

[JTR]

If, you're just starting, or just considering building some guns, I'm not sure that buying really high quality files is worth the cost.

I bought some Nicholson files at Home Depot, that also have the name 'Black Diamond', or something like that on them for only 5 or 6 bucks for the small ones, and 10 or 12 bucks for the larger ones, and they seem to cut as well as my more expensive ones. Now, I don't know how long there going to last, but I'm sure you could get at least a few rifles out of them before they give up the ghost. Use the money you save on files to buy gun parts for now, and if you decide to build guns a plenty down the road, then put out the $$$ for the big bucks ones, and use the less expensive files to make into scrappers and such.

Tight wad John
 

[Roger Fisher]

Well what the hey!!  I buillt my first long rifle actually using sharpened screw drivers as chisels and that is the rifle I hid way back in the attic...   How could I be so @!*% cheap.   

[bluenoser]

I'm with John,

Some of my Nicholsons are 30 + years old and still cutting well.  I believe in buying quality and buying it once, but I also try to squeeze 11c out of every dime.  I have some of the more expensive brands, but cannot say I find the increased performance  equal to the increased cost.

Haven't tried making scrapers out of an old file - not sure how one would roll the hook.  However, I made my two favorite paring chisels out of old files about 35 years ago.  Really low bevel angles and brittle as blazes, but man do they cut!!!  .  I treat them with respect and have never chipped an edge - tap on wood.

BTW, I checked the Nicholsons at HD a couple days ago.  The ones I saw are still made in the USA.

Laurie

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

My HD doesn't carry any Nicholson #d rasps and only one GP file..... handyman stuff

[bluenoser]

I just used HD as an example to confirm Nicholsons (at least some of them) are still made in the USA.  Cooper Tools makes Nicholsons in a wide variety of styles, but certainly not all-inclusive.

http://www.cooperhandtools.com/brands/nicholson_files/index.cfm

One can see a difference in performance between machine cut rasps and good hand cut ones.  I appreciate the feel of a good tool, but just don't think I would be inclined to pay the extra money.

Then again, I'm cheap 

Laurie

[FALout]

I'm cheap on things like files.  I have collected so many since I started building.  I'd pick up used ones at garage sales.  Even had a friend give me a handful once of brand new ones (forget what brand, they are top of line) from a machine shop he worked at, they would use them and if they didn't cut right, the machinist would toss them in a box.  I thought they cut just fine!  I do believe that you can't have enough of different files at hand tho.  Makes working easier if you have what you need.