best files?

H

Hmathews

Joined
Feb 22, 2005
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There has been all kinds of "stuff" written about files on these forums. You can't make knives out of them, you can, people do, people didn't, made of W2, 1095, case hardened, air hardening, all made in China, etc. Almost none of which has anything to do with how well they work or which ones are the best.

So.....who makes the files you like to use the best? I spend more time on a knife with a file in my hand than nearly any other tool. I have two Nicholson half round files (one bastard cut, one smooth cut) that I have been using for five years and would rather get rid of one of my grinders than give them up, if I couldn't replace them. Someone once said in an article about D E Henry, that he used the cheapest files he could find (If my memory serves me correctly and sometimes lately it hasn't..... I don't think). Does quality make a difference? If it does, I would like to use the best files I can get. If anyone has found any files that are better than Nicholson, I would appreciate it if you would post what they are and where you can get them.
Thanks!
 
I do almost 100% of my handle shaping with files.
Flat, 1/2 round, etc.
It's tough to beat Nicholson! Sharp, high quality and consistant cut. Obvious attention to materials used to create the files, they last FOREVER!!!
I did just buy three new Simonds at Fastenal about a month ago, and they seem to be at least equal to Nicholson.
I've heard good things about Starret as well.
 
The files i have are nicholson, D E Henry must have been talking about files made in the USA or Canada.
 
I haven't been able to find anything better than Nicholson. From the way they last and cut I don't know what would be better. Maybe someone does know though.
 
personally i prefer simonds, i get em at fastenal at a fairly decent price (bout 3.50 Ea)

i use lots of 10 mill bastards

since i don't have a grinder i have become fairly intimate with my files and i like the nicholsons, but if i can't find the black diamond stamped ones i would go with simmonds
 
Thanks. I looked at the Simonds web site and they have some interesting files. Fastenal is just down the road so I will give them a try.
 
I only use Simonds and really like the the Nu-Kut pattern. It hogs alot off and leaves a clean cut. There are alot of Nicholson files in my shop but they are all worn out and Simonds last 20 times longer at only three times the price.
 
I'm going to have to buy a couple of those Simonds files and try them out, they sound pretty good.

You guy are probably going to hate me for this, but here goes anyway...

I've been using files for a long time and love them... so i see a set of about 12 files for about 20 bucks at Costco... Chinese made, of course, but i figure what the hell, for that price if they are crap i can just throw them away, and heck, i've had pretty good experiences with a few different Chinese made blades which were hard as hell and held an edge forever, and required a diamond file to bring a damaged edge back if no grinder was available.

I try them out on un-hardened S30V... and damn if those things don't cut wonderfully! Seriously, i put some serious hurt on my files the way i go about roughing out a knife blank... and these files get down! Much faster than grinding in several situations, especially when you don't want to chew up your nice ceramic belts. My blade/handle shapes are pretty curvy, so many curves are really hard to get with a typical belt sander. Anyway, these files work fantastic for the price, at least, and then to refine the blank profiles down i whip out an electric "air file" which takes about a half inch belt, which i got from Harbor Freight, obviously Chinese made, and then put some really good belts on it... and i can get a really nice finish on the profile really fast and with a lot of control. Mirror finish if i want it. We are talking, again, 20 bucks for this air file! It really works great for hogging out/shaping the stabilized wood handles and G10 too, and getting them to the point where i whip the hand files and sand paper back out. This thing also works nice and fast on the hardened S30V... especially when it comes to the tight little inside curves. Worth every penny. If it breaks... i'll just go buy another, but so far it works like a champ.
 
Here is the problem with Chinese files. You might have an experience like the one you describe, then the next time you may get a set that dull on the first pass. I have some Chinese stuff, some is great some is good and a lot is horrible.
 
I like Nicholson, but you can't beat the fact that Sears will replace your Craftsman files when you wear them out...

-d
 
What about tiny needle files. My last job had a set of swiss made needle files in a little pouch that were really nice. Never wore them out.
 
At one time, Nicholson Files, now owned by Cooper Tools, were manufactured in Cullman, Alabama. They had a plant there for over 30 years. I'm not sure it is even still there now.

I seem to remember that someone did a little research a couple of years ago, and found that the Nicholson Black Diamond files were made from 1095.

Anyway, I have used them for years, and they are hard to beat. If you are looking for specialty files, you might check Grobet brand.

Robert
 
Here is the files I use here in my shop. And believe me most of my knives have filework on them. All files will need to be sharpened now and then and I do this on one of my Big grinders using a 10 or 14 inch wheel. :)

I have one pouch of files that I been using for about 2 years now and still going strong. But sometimes in a rare occasion I will break one when it becomes dull. When the file stops cutting it time to sharpen just like with any tool that cuts. Yes just 3 kind as listed below. :thumbup:

1. Nicholson Files
2. Swiss Files
3. Diamond Files
 
Most of the files I own are either Nicholson or Simonds, and I cant complain with either. I've had cheap files wear out on me wicked fast, but good files last a very long time, and when they get a dull you can etch them to sharpen them back up for a while (cant do this /too/ many times but you can keep a good file for many many years this way)
 
For filing steel I can't beat Nicholson, If sears does indeed replace their files when they get dull I have a half-dozen new files coming to me
Simmonds files I have are soft cored case hardened garbage that dulls quickly
For jewelry work I use mostly swiss and german files, I don't remember the brands other than Grobet, for fiddling little work Grobet escapement files and needle files are excellent, and grobet makes great diamond needle files too.

-Page
 
I really like Valtitan / Valtrobe files. At RHC73, you don't lean into them - but they sure do stay sharp! :thumbup:

It's also fun to watch someone file test his heat treat with one of these.
smilingdevil.gif


Rob!
 
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