files -files-- so what are the best files

marekz

marekz

Joined
Jun 16, 2008
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good morning yall, its late and i cant sleep because im tryig to fiquere out what would the top 2-3 brands for files?. I heard nicholson would not be considered in the top 3. how many different manufacturers are out there,--i didnt think there was a whole lot---thanks mark--------files for working the blade--i want to make a knife without using electricicity acicity. thanks again
 
Nothing wrong with Nicholson files..... just get the regular, black industrial version instead of the cheaper, silvery hardware store variety.
Simmonds and Grobet are two other excellent names.
Some people swear by Craftsman files, saying you can take them back to Sears when they wear out and invoke their lifetime guarantee.

You have to get the right cuts in files to make the most of them, starting with an adequate coarseness to remove stock well. You need single-cut files for good draw filing, too. NEVER file back and forth like a saw...that dulls even a good file quickly. Use chalk as a lube to keep them from collecting chips and galling the stock. Also, get a good file cleaning brush and use it frequently.

Added: if you are considering Valtitan files, I would advise against it. They are very hard, and meant for using on harder materials, not soft, annealed steel. They are also very expensive, perhaps too expensive to take the chance ruining them when one hasn't developed good filing technique yet. JMO
 
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I like Nicholson as well. I just got a big, 16" bastard mill file from Enco since they're on sale this month. Actually, I have bunch of their no-name brand files that I've used a lot and have been very content with.
 
Nicholson is good. Try one of their Magicut files....Excellent for fast stock removal.
Stacy
 
Stacy, would you say that a Magicut removes stock faster than a double cut bastard? I have a fairly extensive file collection already so I need testimony to justify another one. :D

Gavin
 
fitzo said:
Nothing wrong with Nicholson files..... just get the regular, black industrial version instead of the cheaper, silvery hardware store variety.
Simmonds and Grobet are two other excellent names.
Some people swear by Craftsman files, saying you can take them back to Sears when they wear out and invoke their lifetime guarantee.

You have to get the right cuts in files to make the most of them, starting with an adequate coarseness to remove stock well. You need single-cut files for good draw filing, too. NEVER file back and forth like a saw...that dulls even a good file quickly. Use chalk as a lube to keep them from collecting chips and galling the stock. Also, get a good file cleaning brush and use it frequently.

Added: if you are considering Valtitan files, I would advise against it. They are very hard, and meant for using on harder materials, not soft, annealed steel. They are also very expensive, perhaps too expensive to take the chance ruining them when one hasn't developed good filing technique yet. JMO
Click to expand...

How can you tell the black industrial versions from the silvery hardware versions? They all look grey to me. Are the industrial files normally sold in hardware stores or do they usually have to be special ordered? Are they marked "industrial"?
 
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