The Best Files!

Does anyone know of a video that shows filing tricks and tips or just plain good technique? I've been fooling around with a particular pattern and trying to get it right. It's easy to get confused with some patterns and having crappy files surely does not help. I appreciate the pointers towards Grobet...I might look for that Tungsten Nicholson file too. I'm definitely going to try the Grobet files and maybe a diamond file as well.
 
JMX asked:

"Silent: Can you really get a better than 240 grit finish from draw filing? I remember my shop teacher talking about a fine finish from draw filing (20 years ago) but haven't done much draw filing since. I do still have a few pieces left over from those days and none of them have a finish as fine as that."

I haven't really sat down and compared the finishes side by side. I intend to try that soon so I can back up my claims. Bear in mind I'm working from the bastard grade through second cut and then smooth cut 12" mill files. I go to my 8" second cut and smooth cut files after that and it doesn't take hardly any work when I then go to 320 grit paper.

The nice thing about draw filing is you seem to have fewer chips in your file. It produces little curlicue shavings instead and it seems easier to maintain a plane along the length of the blade. I've discovered that if you hold the file handle in your right hand you can do the same thing with a push stroke.
 
The absolute best 8 inch 1/2 round bastard cut file I ever owned is marked "TRW Spain". I have not been able to find them for years, but they are the top of the line.
 
Ed, i did some search on spanish sites and it seems that TRW Spain is a large automotive enterprise with about 1500 employees. Chances are that this was a file made by one of the well known european tool makers mentioned above for this enterprise and marked with its name.

Achim
 
Achim: Thank you very much for looking for the TRW files. If some way we could find who made those files, we would possibly make some pigh performance tools available for those who would use them. I still have one TRW file, almost 15 years old. I allow myslef to use it on special ocasions. It still cuts better than any of the new files I have pruchased.
Thank you very much for the information.
 
jmxcpter,
Yes, I actually do need a set of needle rasps. Makes the job TONS easier of making a square or rectangular hole out of a round one (or a couple of round ones) for stick-tang knives.

--Matt

P.S. Thanks for the needle rasp links
 
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