I have a bunch of different brands and kinds of files.

The only brand that I have that I recommend is the Grobet.

Cuts great;long lasting. I have some more than ten years old.

Their pillar files and half size files; between a needle and a standard; are good.

You can't have too many files.

best files I own are two sets of old heller swiss cut needle files that I got in a estate sale (bonus! as I just wanted the tool box) I like Pillar files for doing guards those are all the new nickelson, seem to be holding up OK though they dont get all the much use now that I have the miller set up , just final fit ups. for draw filing the Blanco files are awesome. nice and hard and not to prone to pilling. for decorative filing/carving I use a triangular nickelson (swiss pattern , two grades 0 and 4 I think I will have to check) as well as chainsaw files in 1/8-1/4" round and a 6" smooth cut half round.

integrals I have found I can draw the bolster a bit then finish file after heat treat, with the fine swiss patterns I can go right to 500 grit paper and polish from there.

I think I have around 50 files in my tool box or mounted on my bench at this point..

I use a Cheap set of files from harbor freight for handle material, they seem to last a long time when only used on wood/ antler.

MP

I have a mismatch conglomeration of files but have a half dozen I seem to use for everything. Which is mostly guards and handles.

What I'm curious about is how everyone stores their files? I've heard you shouldn't pile them in a tool box drawer to bounce around on each other, but I'm not sure that rummaging through the drawer to find the right file, is enough impact to actually dull a file?

Thoughts?

Something that seems so simple, and that's one of a Bladesmtih's/Knifemaker's most used tools!

During my career as a Bladesmith, the quality of files has dramatically declined.....I don't think any other hand tool has suffered so much at the hands of "Spec Manufacturing".

For a long time, Nicholson was the go to source for files, but in recent years even they have caved in...sending their production overseas, and with a couple of exceptions, have gone to cheaper "case hardening" versus higher quality materials/methods.

What does that mean? It means that "good" files are rare. What is a person to do? Well, maybe not a perfect solution, but over the past year or so, I have gone to buying/using the Husky brand files from Home Depot. This all came about when I was wondering through the tool area in my local Home Depot and noticed that many of the Husky tools have "Guaranteed Forever" printed on the packaging. I grabbed a set of files off the shelf, and tracked down the guy working the tool area and asked the question.... "Can you tell me exactly what "Guaranteed Forever" means?" He told me that if I was dissatisfied with any Husky tool, at any time, I could return it for replacement or refund, as long as I had the receipt. I also specifically asked if the warranty covered the files "wearing out".....to which he repeated that if I was dissatisfied I could return them.

So, I grabbed 2 of the following: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Multi-Purpose-File-Set-10-Piece-H10PCFS/206313272 These are certainly not the highest quality file you will ever find, and I tend only use 3-4 of the files in the set, BUT...... long story short..... I cut a slit in the packaging, tucked the receipt in it, and took them home. Since then, I have returned/replaced a total of 11 sets of these files.... all on the original purchase/receipt. Some might say I'm taking advantage, but my thought pattern is that if a company is willing to warranty a tool "Forever", then I expect that to be the case. Yes, it's a money saving action for me.....beings that I can go purchase a single Nicholson file for $12-$14, and it not last any longer then the files in this set.

Files in general are such a huge subject..... I expect this thread to be used hard and heavy! <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

What I'm curious about is how everyone stores their files? I've heard you shouldn't pile them in a tool box drawer to bounce around on each other, but I'm not sure that rummaging through the drawer to find the right file, is enough impact to actually dull a file?

I had issues early in my career with having files piled up in a toobox drawer, and yes, it tends to affect the files. My solution is to store files on a rack that is screwed to the wall. For those I use a great deal, I have a couple of closed cell foam blocks on the bench, with the foam glued to a wood base, and have the files "stuck" into the foam.

I also use old golf balls as handles for most of my files. I simply drill a 1/8" hole in a golf ball, then using a soft mallet, tap the file's tang into the hole. The golf balls can be used over and over on different/new files. These files are the ones I hang on racks which are attached to the shop wall.

Jesse mentioned files for guards...... I have never found a file that is sized/works well for guards on hidden tangs..... what I do is to carefully surface grind files to make then the thickness and width that works well for guards..... Although this obviously removed the teeth from at least one side, it worth it for me to have the size file that works well for guard work.

Like most of you, I have both single & double cut files in the shop but find that I do the bulk of the work with a bastard cut which is half way between the two. I especially like the American pattern files which have tapered rather than straight sides.

Something that I have found when using a mini-file is that the diamond files are very useful, especially with the mini rat-tails. These have no file cuts but rather are impregnated with diamond crystals. [Very useful for some types of filework.]

Hey Ed, thanks for the Home Depot tip. I agree that the newer files don't seem to last. I have an old tool box full of files I was given and those that I have starting using have been cutting aggressively for much longer than the Nicholson files I have bought.

I also agree with Gary about the Bastard cut.

don't buy files are hardware stores, order from industrial suppliers better files and less money.

I own a lot of files.

I seem to have a bit of a problem and have had times where I cleared out bins of them that went to scrap.

At this point I love Grobets and Bahco which are made in Portugal.

I had to buy a set for a fine bench tools class and the Bahco were the best I could find in the sizes needed.

Bastard, single and double cut and they are excellent.

I think its important to reiterate that files cut in one direction, everyone should have and use a file card for cleaning and storing files so they are not banging into each other and damaging the teeth.

Another point that I learned in the bench tools class was that any oils on the work piece make filing harder and scale destroys files quickly.

Also diamond files in the small needle shapes are very useful and will cut hardened steel working in any direction.

You can get diamond files in many grits. In the highest grits you can basically polish to around 400 grit with them.

|quoted:

I own a lot of files.

I seem to have a bit of a problem and have had times where I cleared out bins of them that went to scrap.

At this point I love Grobets and Bahco which are made in Portugal.

I had to buy a set for a fine bench tools class and the Bahco were the best I could find in the sizes needed.

Bastard, single and double cut and they are excellent.

I think its important to reiterate that files cut in one direction, everyone should have and use a file card for cleaning and storing files so they are not banging into each other and damaging the teeth.

Another point that I learned in the bench tools class was that any oils on the work piece make filing harder and scale destroys files quickly.

Also diamond files in the small needle shapes are very useful and will cut hardened steel working in any direction.

You can get diamond files in many grits. In the highest grits you can basically polish to around 400 grit with them.

Speaking of file cards, I've heard of them but never seen one. Googling reveals them to look like a sort of wire brush. I currently use the little wire brushes that are about 6" long with about a 1" patch of either brass or steel bristles, to clean my files. I occasionally have prieces of steel stick in the file that the brush wont get out, and end up using a pick to try to get it out.

Are the bristles on a file card stiffer than a wire Brush? Do they work better?

File cards are very stiff and coarse and mine are a few inches wide.

You should be able to get one at sears.

And you can get them on Ebay for about $5.

Search file cleaning brush.

My most used file is my No. 49 Nicholson Cabinet Maker's Rasp.

I have used that file to shape the handles on 95% of all knives I've made since I got it maybe 15 years ago.

And I'm still using it.

|quoted:

don't buy files are hardware stores, order from industrial suppliers better files and less money.

Matt,

Can you please give examples? I see a lot of places, but never seem to know who's good and who's not.

I generally order from McMaster carr online, travers or MSC are other choices. Jewelers suppliers like Gesswein or Otto frei that cater to Professionals rather than hobbyist are generally better quality as well.

MP