Decent files?

[northwest]

These are exceptionally good and not out of sight pricing:

Hand Files - Arc Euro Trade

Rectangular file. Double Cut on both sides with one edge cut and one 'safe' edge. Used for filing flat, broad surfaces and sharp internal corners.

www.arceurotrade.co.uk

There is a video somewhere on the site of Ketan and the Late, Great John Stevenson visiting the manufacturing facility. There is little chance of buying a file made with such care in the traditional manner at such a reasonable price anywhere else. When you are bench fitting they are invaluable.

 

[Keith 66]

About 10 years ago a mate of mine & i cleared a school D&T workshop. The technicians store had been locked up for 18 years, In the cupboards were boxes of brand new files of every description, coarse, second cut & fine, saw files, needle files etc, Mostly Eclipse, some by a company called Sandblast & others unstamped. All were excellent quality.
We even found a big cardboard box full of stuff that had been delivered the day before the store was locked up, nobody had even bothered to open it!
I nor my son will never have to buy files again.

 

[Migmac]

These are exceptionally good and not out of sight pricing:

Hand Files - Arc Euro Trade

Rectangular file. Double Cut on both sides with one edge cut and one 'safe' edge. Used for filing flat, broad surfaces and sharp internal corners.

www.arceurotrade.co.uk

There is a video somewhere on the site of Ketan and the Late, Great John Stevenson visiting the manufacturing facility. There is little chance of buying a file made with such care in the traditional manner at such a reasonable price anywhere else. When you are bench fitting they are invaluable.

You recommended these to me and I haven’t been dissapointed

 

[mtt.tr]

I purchased some from proops, they are more than adequate

 

[RichardM]

My Bahco set seem fine, but I haven't used them much as I still keep sharpening my old ones in acid. Car boot sales top up my file collection now, but only if they are as new and a quality make - Spear, Nicholson, Stubbs etc. I have yet to find a new set of Vallorbe needle files, but live in hope.

 

[OJCar]

That rules me out, registered loony.

FTFY

 

[keithski122]

The ones snap on used to sell were rebranded nicholson files.

 

[julianthegypsy]

Old farriers files are fantastic on ones heels when out of the shower..
not sure of the make though.

Most likely Nicholson.

 

[optima21]

I ended up ordering some smooth (Cut 4) needle files from Zoro. unfortunately they only have a minimum quantity of 5 for each different file. I ended up ordering a life times supply of needle files. if these are half as good as the high quality needle files, for me they are much better as good as the quality ones as I got 50 cheap files for the same price as 3 quality ones.

Hand Needle Files | Zoro UK

Hand Needle Files, 6 products available to order online. Next day delivery available on most items, free delivery on orders over £25!

www.zoro.co.uk

 

[Gragson]

I got a set of 12 of those delivered off ebay, all the different ones in a set for £6 from Zoro ebay store. - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143950075475
Pretty good price, but not as substantial as my original Kennedy ones, in fact they are very similar to the Faithful set I got.

Also got a file brush today, don't thinks it's fine enough for needle files but works ok with my bigger files.




Where can you get sulfuric acid from then?

 

[optima21]

Where can you get sulfuric acid from then?

drain cleaner can be had with sulphuric acid in it....... of just ask Brightspark which garage he gets it from as it is a controlled substance these days for high strength solutions. It might be worth trying citric acid as an alternative though.

 

[MattF]

Also got a file brush today, don't thinks it's fine enough for needle files but works ok with my bigger files.

I use brass brushes to clean my files. Never used a file card. A suede brush would be spot bollock for needle files.

 

[Gragson]

Never used a file card.

You don't know what you're missing - never stripped a knuckle so quickly...

 

[pedrobedro]

Cromwell tools used to sell a good 2nd cut set pretty cheap, I think they are available on Zoro now.

 

[Turbo]

The diamond needle files from Lidl are surprisingly good. Very handy for sharpening wood drill bits like forestner bits, even carbide ones.

 

[RichardM]

I use a flattened piece of copper pipe to clean aluminium clogged files, rubbed across the teeth, seen it on the internet and it works well.

Chalk rubbed on them to stop them clogging so easily.

 

[Gragson]

I use a flattened piece of copper pipe to clean aluminium clogged files,

Be making that cheers

 

[DAPPH]

I got a set of 12 of those delivered off ebay, all the different ones in a set for £6 from Zoro ebay store. - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143950075475
Pretty good price, but not as substantial as my original Kennedy ones, in fact they are very similar to the Faithful set I got.

Also got a file brush today, don't thinks it's fine enough for needle files but works ok with my bigger files.

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Where can you get sulfuric acid from then?

If you've not tried it , try this ......... use a strip of cut steel tin can 30 mm or so wide by 50 mm long ( cut it to suit if you like the method ) and push an edge across the file in the direction of the diamond cut grooves like a scraper , when it stop cleaning the crud out rotate the strip to a fresh edge . You'll notice on the scraper the file grooves have cut into the face edge of the tin .

Conversely if you want a shallower polishing cut from a fine file rub chalk into the file to take up some of the depth of cut .

 

[Gragson]

It might be worth trying citric acid as an alternative though.

24 hours in citric, surprisingly good results.

 

[MattF]

What're the teeth like; Any good?