Files

[ms08]

Can anyone please suggest a good source of reasonable files - not Chinese butter scrapers but not top quality - something in between.
I have purchased and electric file - just want some hand ones for fetling.

 

[rtbcomp]

I've found Sandvik quite good, B&Q stock(ed) them

 

[pedrobedro]

Cromwell tools do sets for a decent price which are decent quality

 

[wristpin]

X 2 for Cromwell, never regretted buying a job lot of 30 assorted shapes and sizes.

 

[langy]

Can anyone please suggest a good source of reasonable files - not Chinese butter scrapers but not top quality - something in between.
I have purchased and electric file - just want some hand ones for fetling.

Only a suggestion but you would get a better and more accurate answer/info by posting in the metal forming section.

 

[Paul.]

Moved to the correct section.

 

[chunkolini]

I persuaded my Dad to buy me a set of Bahco files, he thought I was mad but they are great bits of kit and will never be lent to anybody.
As langy says metal forming section might make more sense

 

[brianblock]

I use these
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0002JT3VG?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00

Or Bahco equivilent

 

[Turbo]

not Chinese butter scrapers

A very apt desctiption.

I have a mixture of different makes, best ones are the sandvik/bahco ones, though they've started outsourcing production to china so quality might suffer. I know they are the only ones to use on a saw chain, anything else struggles to cut the hardened steel.

I also have quite a few draper files (don't laugh). I find them quite good but they are probably 20 years old and from a time when draper made half decent stuff.

Lidl have a set of diamond coated needle files coming in next week. I got a set of these last time and I'm very impressed.

 

[brightspark]

i generaly sift through files at autojumbles. old english makes stubbs and the likes. if there in fair nick i clean them up and dip them in battery acid for a few hours as it puts a new edge on them wash them off and spray with wd 40 and there as good as new

 

[Sidewinder]

Buck and Hickman Roebuck files I've always found to be good, and they are used in industry.
Mind, obviously in industry files are a consumable item, for the DIY'er and very small business, then the cost issue is significant.
However, I bet that the Roebuck stuff, which in general I have found very good, is competitive on price.

If you can find them and are willing to pay, when we had the saw doctors, the best saw files we found were Oberg or Nicholson, they lasted better filing the plate saw steel, which is not your normal low carbon steel!

The only other thing with the Oberg files were they had two manufacturing facilities and the files lasted much longer from one, over the other, but, I can't remember, which one, nor where they were, but, it was marked on the files!
IIRC one was the USA, the other, I have no chance of remembering.

 

[Spark plug]

I work on the theory if it says made in Sweden it will be a good file.

 

[gordon stephenson]

Also, look after your files, don't attempt to file things that you know are too hard, or if the file skids over the metal on the first stroke do not persist,a good file card for cleaning the files and rub the teeth with chalk if filing anything that tends to clog the teeth.

 

[roofman]

i get a new wire brush (steel) and brush the file following the grooves one way,this cleans out the file really good ready for next time...i hate seeing clogged files as this just renders them useless

 

[Parm]

I persuaded my Dad to buy me a set of Bahco files, he thought I was mad but they are great bits of kit and will never be lent to anybody.
As langy says metal forming section might make more sense

I asked the same question a while back and ended up buying some 10 " bahco first and second cut files, They are quite good!!

 

[brightspark]

ive got a couple of good old ba....stards

 

[mechman]

I find silverline are quite good at not removing any material

 

[Parm]

I find silverline are quite good at not removing any material

No my friend, you gott it all wrong, they are excellent at removing nano millimetres of material once every few years

 

[brightspark]

I find silverline are quite good at not removing any material

there great for removing material .namely your skin when they fly across the job and stab u

 

[winchman]

Remember to keep them from touching each other and they should last for ever