Need some good files for guards

REK Knives

REK Knives

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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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I've heard Nicholson made in USA files are great but there are so many types (double-cut, magicut, etc) and aggressiveness (smooth cut, number 2 etc) which is recommended?
 
hi. in my opinion #00 is a rough/coarse cut, #0 is a bit finer, i consider this an average aggressive cut. for finer finish work i use #1 and #2. for guards i use mainly 00 and 0. i do the first 97%of the guard with the 00, then the rest with the 0. grobet german files are very nice tools. they cut a little faster than nicholsons but they cost more as well.
 
john april said:
hi. in my opinion #00 is a rough/coarse cut, #0 is a bit finer, i consider this an average aggressive cut. for finer finish work i use #1 and #2. for guards i use mainly 00 and 0. i do the first 97%of the guard with the 00, then the rest with the 0. grobet german files are very nice tools. they cut a little faster than nicholsons but they cost more as well.
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What size of the grobet files do you like for that, 6"?
 
razor-edge-knives said:
What size of the grobet files do you like for that, 6"?
Click to expand...

Second on Grobet & Glardon-Vallorbe. I use a combination of their needle files to work out the material for my WA handle guards. Also have this same question you asked in terms of cuts for other purposes though. I used Ottofrei for my order but would also like to hear what everyone uses and thinks.
 
One thing that's seems important that I haven't seen anyone mention is to make sure the edges are at least single cut (and not "safe") or they won't work well for guards - correct?

And grobet doesn't seem to have many that don't have safe edges...
 
I have gotten good use from Friedrich Dick files, a set of six has lasted me going into two years so far.
 
Your grinder will make an edge safe pretty quickly...
 
Kinda... Ideally you want at least one safe edge, so you can NOT cut the sides by accident.
I've only made a couple of knives with guards but in my experience, one of the edges of your guard slot will be finished before the others, and you'll want a way to square up the adjacent side without changing the one you finished.
 
DustinY said:
Second on Grobet & Glardon-Vallorbe. I use a combination of their needle files to work out the material for my WA handle guards. Also have this same question you asked in terms of cuts for other purposes though. I used Ottofrei for my order but would also like to hear what everyone uses and thinks.
Click to expand...
Yeah I'm wanting to do a wa handle for now so needle files would be best?
 
razor-edge-knives said:
One thing that's seems important that I haven't seen anyone mention is to make sure the edges are at least single cut (and not "safe") or they won't work well for guards - correct?

And grobet doesn't seem to have many that don't have safe edges...
Click to expand...
Nicholson has no usa made files as far as I know, Mexico, Brasil, whatever

I used to love a half round file for general fab as it tapered up the half round. Now the radius is fixed - useless for what it was.

for guard fitting, you can start coarse and finish finer.

I LOVE a safe edge file, but I grind in those edges myself.
sometimes 1, often 2, even sometimes 3 safe edges.
Less chance to make a mistake when I can concentrate on one cutting edge at a time.

In terms of what you can find in the hardware store, coarse round chainsaw files can join up drilled holes together, triangular ones can do corners, flat 6" files - smooth can be found for general work, ignition points files are super thin and fine for small spaces and fine work.

Euro files use a number system, American uses Bastard, second cut, smooth,, single , double lingo.
https://www.fedfile.com/terms.htm


I think if your sizes were standardized, having a rectangular broach wold be cool.
 
I use a Modified 8" SQUARE Nicholson file(actually a couple of them) We originally used these to square up Key Ways. They Taper toward the point so NOT a Straight Square Tip to Tail.
 
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