Who still makes a good bastard file?

S

Squashfan

Joined
Jun 6, 2012
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1,670
I bought a Nicholson file that was made in the USA. Now all the Nicholson files I have seen are made in Mexico. Vallorbe are supposed to be Swiss quality but I can't find them online.
 
Funny you should say that. I stumbled into them not long after posting this. I am trying to find some one besides the Big A who carries them though. Not a big fan of the Big A.
 
I'm not sure if this is of any help but I have found many, many good old nic files at the local swap meets. Depends on your area and swap meets of course but I have had great luck with this.
 
Simonds makes good files also. They may also be the importer of the Grobet Swiss files, but I'm not positive about that.

Bruceter
 
I've been using the Iwasaki carving files lately for woodwork (not good for metal work). They are aggressive like rasps, but leave a smoother finish like a double-cut file.

TedP
 
Where are you finding non-Brazilian made Nicholsons? I am a pipefitter by trade, and we use Nicholson files all the time. I have only ever seen them stamped as made in Brazil. Then again, we usually only use two different styles. The first being a 14" half round bastard, and the second a 14" half round Pipeliner.
 
I've got some Nicholsons that are USA made. I was using a big mill file to start an edge on a hatchet I found at a second hand shop. I agree with the others about Grobet files.
 
An example of the files I mentioned. All in excellent shape.

IMAG0416.jpg


IMAG0419.jpg


All made in the USA

I payed a buck each and have a ton of them.
 
Strigamort said:
I'm not sure if this is of any help but I have found many, many good old nic files at the local swap meets. Depends on your area and swap meets of course but I have had great luck with this.
Click to expand...

Definitely my favorite source of files. A good cleaning with a piece o thin brass sheet stock will take out most if not all clogged material, and a bath in a tub of old car battery's acid followed by a 2-3 hour water rinse and drying with plenty if paper towels will give it some more bite if needed. File a piece of white chalk until the file is filled, then clean with a file card, and the file will cut like new. Also, +1for Grobet and Simonds, especially Simonds New cut style.

Connor
 
Rio Grande has a large selection of F. Dick files. F. Dick also makes good knife steels.
 
Has anyone heard of H.T.C.? I have a giant 19in bastard file from them i want to makee into a knife but i wanna make sure its good first.
 
Was at the chainsaw/equipment repai place the other day and one of the older gents (my age) was filing some burs out and I asked him what he was using. He gave me a used Bahco file to take. It is a pretty good file with a nice handle. I had never heard of them before, but I would buy one after using it on my axe
 
Necro thread! As far as the question of HTC, I've never heard of the brand. As far as the (ancient) original question goes, I'm a huge fan of Stella Bianca.
 
I have had good luck with grobet files. But they are pricey

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