Can anybody suggest some good quality engineering file brands?

[ian maybury]

Hi guys. This is a woodworking query in that it relates to making parts for jigs and the like, and on this forum since it's hand work related. As some may have noticed I make a fair amount of use of files for shaping metal parts - something to do with my engineering background. (they by the way with proper selection and technique far more effective than most these days realise)

I'm finding myself increasingly unable to source acceptable quality items locally in box stores and farm supply places. The last went in the bin, it just skids off even mild steel - no proper 'cut' at all. I had a source of Bahco which if not up to the Nicholsons or whatever of years ago were not too bad, but i recently got a couple of bum ones from them too. They don't last very well either. It's next to impossible to find some of the coarser grades.

It's down to mail ordering some, but i'd rather not end up buying junk given the logistics and cost involved.

Can anybody suggest some brands and if necessary grades still made to a decent quality level, and likely to be sold this side of the Atlantic?

Thanks

[michael langman]

Ian, Gessewein Tools sells good quality files. Also Grobet makes good files. Mike

[David Bassett]

I see Grobet consistently mentioned as good, though I've seen mixed reviews of the files they now make in Spain.

Other than that, Bahco and Nicholson N.O.S. Made in USA files are mentioned enough I noted them as possibilities. (I have a long term improve my files project going that's made very little actual progress so far. In the US we really need Nicholson to find their recipe again. Maybe Grobet is more available where you are.)

[ian maybury]

Thanks guys.

I've a suspicion there's probably German market and German made premium files to be had too. Trouble is they are not necessarily sold in the Ireland, the UK or the US - at least not widely.

e.g. these guys - the trouble is i've never heard of them: http://www.hase-feilen.de/scripts/PL_2013.pdf

Grobe/Vallorbe/Habilis (well known, but not sure it's all positive): https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/ha...vallorbe-swiss

Simonds in the US (new to me): http://www.simondsint.com/handfiles/Pages/default.aspx

[george wilson]

Notice the "International" under the Simonds name? I think they MAY be made in India now,but I could be remembering something incorrectly.

[Rollie Kelly]

Tom Lipton (Oxtoolco) seems to like Pferd files.
Rollie

[john zulu]

I use bahco. It works very well with mild steel. The edge retention is pretty good. Pferd is another brand. That is a bit more expensive but it is an amazing file for metal.

[ian maybury]

Thanks again guys. I'm guessing Geroge that Simonds was a good quality US maker?

Will take a look at Pferd, i know the name (now that you guys mention it i seem to recollect it coming up before) but haven't been able to handle the goods - but judging by the catalogue they look like one of those German companies that has prospered by putting out a quality specialised product.

I had some pretty disappointing Bahco files lately John.

Proce is clearly a factor in this. There's files under $10 in large sizes which presumably have all the good/quality squeezed out of them as is common in budget tools, and others costing three and four times that. Wonder if paying more reliably buys more?

[Tom M King]

The only Simonds files I have any experience with are the red tailed 8" Mill files. They're really not bad at all. I contacted them and asked if they would send me some hand saw files that I would write and post a review on how well they worked for sharpening handsaws seeing that the void for such was widening fast. They sent me a box of the 8" mill files. I had seen them sold in Horizon Forest Products flooring supply store, and the salesman said that all the flooring guys liked them fine. I'd still like to try some of the triangular tapered files for handsaws, but I never was motivated to do anything else with them. The need for a mill file came up sharpening scrapers, so I pulled one out of the box. They're as good as any mill file I've used, although I used to like 6" best for this type of scraper, these 8"ers surprised me with how fast and smooth they cut.

I bought some boxes of Pferd chainsaw files probably ten years ago, and I like them a lot. No other experience with any other Pferd files.

My favorite handsaw files are NOS Black Diamonds that I found boxes of on the shelf in my Grandfather's store that was closed in 1935.

[Mel Fulks]

The Plasticut brand files made for plastic laminate work are sharpest I've seen. You can cut yourself handling them. Have no idea why they don't try to broaden their customer base,but the files work well on steel.