I received a package of Mexican made Nicholson files a few days ago. They are triangular files. They look very well made,with sharp,accurately cut teeth. BUT,there have been discussions of them being soft here,so I took a fine cut USA made Nicholson mill file to the front edges of them. I was able to file a bevel about 1/32" wide before I got down to hardened steel. This means that the files are soft all the way through their teeth,even down to below the gullets.
I took an old new stock triangular USA made Nicholson,and it was hard as glass. I could not even begin to scratch the corner.
I do not know why these files are too soft. Maybe they are tempered at too high a temperature after hardening. They are very hard below the soft skin,but that leaves the teeth soft,too soft to file a saw made of 1095 steel,which even tried the durability of the old USA made Nicholsons. They might file lesser quality saws that are made of lower quality steel,or were hardened to a lower Rockwell number. Our saws were 52 Rockwel C.,as I am sure all of the expensive,small maker's premium saws. Even old Disstons were tempered several points below 52 R.C..
I could make these files useful by case hardening them in my electric furnace in a closed steel container of charcoal. Then,draw them till water would sizzle off them. That's how I treated my self made sets of riffler files. This was called "taking the snap out of it" in the old days. Unfortunately,how many of you are able to do this,or have the means?
I'm not bothering to order a #49 rasp,as I've seen pictures of how grossly oversize their teeth are. They look more like a horse rasp in the pictures! I don't need one anyway. Luckily I have a few USA made ones.
This is a truly low point in an American icon,and my favorite file brand. I doubt we will see improvements for years to come. It really is sad.
This is not a rant. It is the result of a careful test I made to these new triangular files,and I'm passing it on to you for your own conclusions.
I have searched for any rule against mentioning manufacturer's names,but haven't seen any. I know that the Saw Stop saw has been mentioned many times and discussed plenty,both positively and negatively.
I this post is against forum rules,please delete it and excuse my ignorance. I did not see Nicholson among our advertiser's list.