A source for half decent hand files?

PaulT · Oct 18, 2011

Some of the hand files I've had for a zillion years are getting a little tired so I tried to order some new ones, Nicholson, replacing the ones I had.

Popping them out of the box, uh oh, Made in Mexico, well maybe they're still ok.

The surfaces look ok but sighting down the end leads to major depression, they're both pretty warped.

I was able to bend on the 10" one and got it at least approximately flat, but not as good as my old one.

The 6" one of course snapped in 3 pieces when I tried to straighten it.

Does anybody have a source for a better made file brand?

I like the mill shape ones but McMaster doesn't even list that type.

If you can't even buy a half decent hand file anymore I'm definitely going to hang it up and just open a hot dog cart.

Thanks,

Paul T.
Power Technology

Chazz · Oct 18, 2011

In the US of A, try Welcome to Apex Tool Group, they seem to have a good selection of files.

My 2 pesos,
Chazz

Ries · Oct 18, 2011

Vallorbe and Grobet seem to be about the best you can get these days-
but they are not easy to find in the USA, and they sure arent cheap.

Files-Grobet Swiss Vallorbe Files-Hand, Needle, Escapement & Diamond : Hand Tools-Flexshafts, Saws, Files, Pliers, Burs & Gauges : Tools & Metals : Otto Frei Files-Grobet Swiss Vallorbe Files-Hand, Needle, Escapement & Diamond - Tools, Equipment, Fin
Lie-Nielsen Toolworks USA | Vallorbe Patternmaker's Rasps

PaulT · Oct 18, 2011

Chazz, thanks for the tip, I'll take a look at Apex.

Actually as far as McMaster goes, they do sell the "mill" type files, they just call them "single cut tapered edge".

Has anybody ordered a file from McMaster recently and can you tell me what brand they are and if they were any good?

Thanks,

Paul T.
Power Technology

Ries · Oct 18, 2011

Since Apex is the parent company of Nicholson, all of the files on their website are those made in Mexico Nicholsons.

JRIowa · Oct 18, 2011

AFAIK, Simonds doesn't have a Mexican plant
Files
JR

Keith Krome · Oct 18, 2011

Grobet files are available from MSC (I hate their website BTW).

If you want decent file handles, I recommend PB Swiss.

alex71 · Oct 18, 2011

I have some NOS, American made Nicholsons for sale.

FILES, RASPS, SAWS, ETC.

Limy Sami · Oct 18, 2011

+ 1 on Vallorbe

And they're still all made in Switzerland

http://www.vallorbe.com/Standard.php?p=200&m=2&l=3

EddyCurr · Oct 18, 2011

PaulT said:
... so I tried to order some new ones, Nicholson, replacing the ones I had.

Popping them out of the box, uh oh, Made in Mexico, well maybe they're still ok.

The surfaces look ok but sighting down the end leads to major depression,
they're both pretty warped.

What do you think about going through the exercise of submitting a comment
to Apex/Nicholson about your experience?

'Our Leadership'

Steve Breitzka - President and Chief Executive Officer
John P. Constantine, President, North American Hand Tools

Maybe '[email protected]' ?

.

Pattnmaker · Oct 18, 2011

20 years ago of I worked for a place where myself and the guy I worked with would regularly go through a box of 6" nicholson files in a couple of days. We would always sight down the files to find the bow to the file. Most of them had a bow. We would only use the convex side as we were filing spot repairs on large chromed cylinders and we didn't want to risk scratching with the ends of the files. I suspect they have always had a bow at least in the smaller sizes.

PaulT · Oct 19, 2011

Pattnmaker said:
20 years ago of I worked for a place where myself and the guy I worked with would regularly go through a box of 6" nicholson files in a couple of days. We would always sight down the files to find the bow to the file. Most of them had a bow. We would only use the convex side as we were filing spot repairs on large chromed cylinders and we didn't want to risk scratching with the ends of the files. I suspect they have always had a bow at least in the smaller sizes.

Just to make sure I wasn't expecting too much, I went and sighted down the end all my old Nicholson files. They are all totally flat to the eyeball but they are all 10" and above so maybe the shorter and thus thinner ones are more prone to have a bow.

In the "mill" style I'm after, MSC only shows the Nicholson and Simonds brands, with the Simonds actually being a little cheaper.

Does anyone have experience with a recent version of one of these Simonds brand files? At that price I'm assuming they must be imported also. But if they are flat, I guess I could live with them.

I'm going to call McMaster and find out what file brand they sell. I've got a feeling its going to be Nicholson so I'm probably just going around in a circle. This sucks, sometimes I wish I was born 50 years ago.

Paul T.
Power Technology

Keith Krome · Oct 19, 2011

You're right, MSC doesn't carry the Grobet American pattern files.

Reid tool has them:

Files

Edit: you have the choice of American or Swiss pattern on the upper left sidebar.

I think that if it is Grobet, it is Swiss. I think they have another name for their import files (Hablis?).

BMyers · Oct 19, 2011

JRIowa said:
AFAIK, Simonds doesn't have a Mexican plant
Files
JR

Nope all made in Hondurus.

gwilson · Feb 11, 2014

Grobet USA files are made in INDIA. How they can call them USA,I don't know. Avoid them. Bahco files are still good. So are Vallorbe. Google where to get them. They are Swiss made in Vallorbe,Switzerland. They are also sold on Amazon.

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A source for half decent hand files?

PaulT

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Chazz

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Ries

Diamond

PaulT

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Ries

Diamond

JRIowa

Diamond

Keith Krome

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alex71

Hot Rolled

Limy Sami

Diamond

EddyCurr

Aluminum

Pattnmaker

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PaulT

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Keith Krome

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BMyers

Hot Rolled

gwilson

Diamond

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