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gipelprup

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Nov 12, 2014
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Anyone know of a source of QUALITY metal-cutting mill bastard and fine-cut files? The Mexican- and Chinese-made "file-shaped objects" that I've tried go "slick" the first day I try to use them. The outsourced files Nicholson offers these days are about as hard as whiffle-balls. If anyone knows of a source of files that still cut (Grobet? other?), I'd be grateful to have that information. (Flat- or draw-filing used to eliminate that ugly "zone" between grinding and sanding to get rid of scratches and gouges that take WAY too long to try to sand out.) Tks! -- paulallen1942@aol.com (greencastle, in.)
 
I get mine at the local true value hardware store. I have filed multiple guards and done some filework and they are still sharp.

Also, file card? Make sure you get the metal filings out of fine files pretty often.
 
Pferd files are my favorite, followed by Simonds. They're super. I've never used Grobet, or Iwasaki, but those are two other options. You can often find older USA made Nicholson files on Ebay and the like.
 
They've gotten better lately, but there were a few runs of mexican and brazilian Nicholsons that weren't even hard.

Grobet/Vallorbe are the best files currently made, by an order of magnitude. Although they also have a US and a Swiss line. Strangely enough I recently got a Grobet USA pillar, safe edged file, in one cut, along with a Swiss Grobet of the same size/style in another cut, and the Grobet USA was much more precise, and had clearly been surface ground on the safe side, where the Swiss one had been cut, without the side being ground afterwards, which basically ended up still cutting on the corners. No big deal to fix, but I was surprised.

IMO I'd still rank the OG Nicholsons that came in the gray boxes with a green label as good as any swiss file. They were by far the most aggressive at removing metal, in the course cuts, and they had some innovative offerings, such as Magicuts, etc. I've gotten some new Portugese files that I can't remember the name of that were excellent also (Portugal is a bit of a forgotten haven for well made, vintage quality craftmanship, that's inexpensive, because of it's relative isolation in Europe), but can't recall the name.

Regardless, Vintage USA made Nicholsons, Simmonds, Pferd, are all a good choice, but if you want new, without having to wade through listing on ebay, and compare prices, Grobet are the best option, and are at-minimum, equal in quality. Just don't be too alarmed at the price of a premium file over a hardware store special. If you're looking for general use files also, buy the biggest ones you can for the job, and they'll last a VERY long time, if you're smart with them.

I still keep my eyes open for big 14"+ aggressive foundry files on ebay from the old USA manufacturers, because you simply can't get Grobet files as large.
 
On an apples to apples comparison, I personally prefer Grobet. I've got a few new old stock Nicholson swiss pattern files, and although they're good I prefer Grobet. That said as mentioned Grobet doesn't exactly make 16" mill files. I've collected a number of those, and they are useful at times. I can never pass up deals on files. I've got numerous boxes full from estate sales and the like.
 
javand said:
I've gotten some new Portugese files that I can't remember the name of that were excellent also (Portugal is a bit of a forgotten haven for well made, vintage quality craftmanship, that's inexpensive, because of it's relative isolation in Europe), but can't recall the name.
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I have Bacho and TOME FETEIRA -Chrominox Coated /72 hrc/ file from Portugal .Both a superb ,especially chrominox from Feteira :thumbsup:
http://www.tomefeteira.com/imagens/Chominox_files.pdf
 
Geoff Flato said:
On an apples to apples comparison, I personally prefer Grobet. I've got a few new old stock Nicholson swiss pattern files, and although they're good I prefer Grobet. That said as mentioned Grobet doesn't exactly make 16" mill files. I've collected a number of those, and they are useful at times. I can never pass up deals on files. I've got numerous boxes full from estate sales and the like.
Click to expand...

They don't make better swiss pattern files, but neither does Grobet make better (compared to the old ones) American pattern files. I've always been a big supporter (and promoter, I've been telling people about them in these forums and at events for quite a number of years now) of Grobet, but when you need a hogging file for serious metal removal, nothing beats one of those big old American monsters. It's definitely a matter of preference, but I guess my point was, no one provider really ever covered all the bases perfectly.

Regardless, you can't go wrong with any "good quality" files, and Grobets especially in the large size classes, can be hard to find, and prohibitively expensive.
 
Interesting, I've never used them but I have read some pretty bad experiences concerning the Grobet USA files.

As you can read here

I was also a bit surprised to learn that the Grobet "USA" files aren't actually made in the USA, but in fact are made in India.


A few months ago I was lucky enough to stumble upon a source of NOS Nicholson bastard cut files in 10" for less than $6 a piece, and then in 8" and 6" for less than $4 a piece, so I got a couple of each. The 8" and 6" also happened to be Black Diamond which was a nice surprise.

Aside from that, I've also been looking for a brand that I can get some nice swiss patterned files in as well as some American smooth cut that are reasonably priced.

I have some old Disston swiss cut files that came in a batch of used files I bought maybe over 6 years ago which unfortunately are mostly dull. The #2, 4, and 6 cut ones would be great to use while sharp. I was thinking of trying to send a few of them in to be resharpened, but the teeth are incredibly small on them, at least the #6, so I don't know if it's even possible.

It really is unfortunate that there isn't a single file company making them in the USA anymore, at least not that I'm aware of.

Anyway if you guys are having good experience with the Swiss-cut Grobet USA files I'd be interested in giving them a try sometime. If you don't mind me asking, where have you been getting yours from?

~Paul
My Youtube Channel
... (It's been a few years since my last upload)
 
Bahco is good stuff. They make excellent bow saws as well.

My tip: identify the tasks you're using files for that will kill even the highest quality file, and dedicate one or two to those tasks. G10, hard or scaly steel, carbide file guides, etc.
 
coldsteelburns said:
Interesting, I've never used them but I have read some pretty bad experiences concerning the Grobet USA files.

As you can read here

I was also a bit surprised to learn that the Grobet "USA" files aren't actually made in the USA, but in fact are made in India.


A few months ago I was lucky enough to stumble upon a source of NOS Nicholson bastard cut files in 10" for less than $6 a piece, and then in 8" and 6" for less than $4 a piece, so I got a couple of each. The 8" and 6" also happened to be Black Diamond which was a nice surprise.

Aside from that, I've also been looking for a brand that I can get some nice swiss patterned files in as well as some American smooth cut that are reasonably priced.

I have some old Disston swiss cut files that came in a batch of used files I bought maybe over 6 years ago which unfortunately are mostly dull. The #2, 4, and 6 cut ones would be great to use while sharp. I was thinking of trying to send a few of them in to be resharpened, but the teeth are incredibly small on them, at least the #6, so I don't know if it's even possible.

It really is unfortunate that there isn't a single file company making them in the USA anymore, at least not that I'm aware of.

Anyway if you guys are having good experience with the Swiss-cut Grobet USA files I'd be interested in giving them a try sometime. If you don't mind me asking, where have you been getting yours from?

~Paul
My Youtube Channel
... (It's been a few years since my last upload)
Click to expand...


The Grobet USA one I ended up with, I didn't intentially buy. I ordered multiple cuts of the same file, and the vendor apparently doesn't distinguish by the sub-brand. I think it was from Otto-Frei or Riogrande.

FWIW, that link is pretty old and I believe around the time Grobet introduced the USA line.

I'm not sure how current/relevant the data is. I'm not saying "rush out and buy them", but I was really surprised in the quality.
 
I only ever knew about the old USA files as I have plenty on stock, so I never needed to go find somethin else...great thread :thumbsup:
 
All of them should be, assuming they're not too mangled.

The US file business was very competitive back in the day (although afaik we currently no longer have any file making factories left in the US), and there were tons of good quality files being produced until 20 years ago.
 
Jrmysell said:
I buy Vallorbe files or F. Dick files. I get them from Otto Frei or Rio Grande lika Javand
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Oh yeah, I forgot about Friedrich Dick, they've got some very good files, and some really odd configurations, *IF* you can find them. They are becoming much more available, from Switzerland I think?
 
I've got a bunch of old English made files, needle files, and rifflers from the estate of a retired mold maker I bought out. I want to say they are "Stubbs" brand. Great ones I'd keep an eye out for. I'd never seen the brand before, but I'd say on par with Grobet. Probably out of business now.
 
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