question about file nomenclature atmo -

[e-RICHIE]

i am retooling for my return to the bench and am replacing all of my files. we had that thread a while
back and i was convinced to get the grobet brand. in the past i was either/both a bastard cut and
smooth cut cat over at the nicholson drive thru. i see grobet lists #00 cuts through #4 cuts. that's
six choices imho. i'll be buying at least 18 new files. what cuts are you all using?

[Doug Fattic]

American pattern files have bastard, 2nd and smooth cuts. Swiss pattern files use #00 to #4 cuts. The difference is that Swiss pattern files have a more pointed end and are used more in fine finishing. They aren't for hogging off material and are just in the smaller sizes.

My preference is to have a size run (4" to 14") of American pattern half round files in a bastard cut and anther run of round files in 2nd cut. My Swiss pattern sets are 6" in both half round and round with all the different cuts. If someone is on a tighter budget, I'd get just the SP #1 6" HR for doing lug edges and shaping and a #2 or #3 for getting rid of file marks.

My preference for handles are the Skroo-zon brand where the files twist into the white birch handles.

[e-RICHIE]

http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/GSDRVS...00000124111197

am i missing something - does grobet make an american pattern file atmo?

[Doug Fattic]

Yes, Grobet makes both American pattern and Swiss pattern files. However MSC only sells the SP and Reid Supply only AP. I like Simonds pretty well too for American pattern stuff.

Remember if you are ordering from MSC, be sure and click on "Special Offers" and when that opens click on "Special Web deals". If you are patient, sometime in a month they will have some deal where you can get them 30% to 40% cheaper than listed price. Every day they have some different kind of deal with a different amount off in some specific category.

[e-RICHIE]

cool.
good call atmo.

[e-RICHIE]

well i just ordered about 13 grobet files from reid online and the total was less than 64 dollars imho.
man i hope these are okay and not kid's toys. they averaged 2-4 dollars each.
those are 1940s prices atmo.
http://www.reidsupply.com/GrpResults...&apid=10022856

[EricKeller]

I was thinking about trying Cutting Edge Tool Supply. PDF sales flyer for Grobet files here

I've heard positive reports about them, but no experience myself. Prices on the files looked really good.

[steve garro]

well i just ordered about 13 grobet files from reid online and the total was less than 64 dollars imho.
man i hope these are okay and not kid's toys. they averaged 2-4 dollars each.
those are 1940s prices atmo.
http://www.reidsupply.com/GrpResults...&apid=10022856

let us know how those work. i'm due for a whole run of files myself & have been watching to see what you all decide on. i use a 14" & 10" bastards & 8" smooth and 2nd cuts 90% of the time. need to find a nice 6" warding, too. also 8" & 10" rounds. FWIW, i have some snap-on needle files and i'm very, very sad that they are winding down - they were sweet........

[Tommy Nash]

let us know how those work. i'm due for a whole run of files myself & have been watching to see what you all decide on. i use a 14" & 10" bastards & 8" smooth and 2nd cuts 90% of the time. need to find a nice 6" warding, too. also 8" & 10" rounds. FWIW, i have some snap-on needle files and i'm very, very sad that they are winding down - they were sweet........

I just got a set of the # 2 Grobet needles and they are shuwweeet!

[zank]

I like the 0 and 1 cuts for my half-rounds and rounds. I also got the 6 piece Riffler set and it is really nice.

I also really like the Grobet file handles. They are plastic, thread on, are re-usable, and are pretty rock-solid.

[jerk]

i like snap-on files, awesome handles and made by bahco or valorbe or some shit i think. expensive though.

jerk

[abbeyQ]

how about one of these instead?

http://www.amazon.com/DELTA-GR450-Sh...4653275&sr=1-1

i keep 2 files in the shop and this gem does the rest.

[Charles Lathe]

well i just ordered about 13 grobet files from reid online and the total was less than 64 dollars imho.
man i hope these are okay and not kid's toys. they averaged 2-4 dollars each.
those are 1940s prices atmo.
http://www.reidsupply.com/GrpResults...&apid=10022856

That's awful cheap. (Unless they charged you $150 for shipping.) Hope you let us all know how they hold up.

Regards, Chuck Lathe
Franklinville, NC

[WadePatton]

hey, while were on files. i recently learned of a file refreshing service.http://www.saveedge.com/index.html haven't tried it yet, but plan to do so unless someone tells me it's not worth it. iirc they claim 4-5 refurbs per file possible.

might not beat richie's dealmo. hey rs-you got the van loaded yet?

[bellman]

Just out of curiosty, how many of you use a file card to clean them up from time to time? I have one from an estate sale that is basicly new and just works wonderfully, I don't even know if you can still buy them new.

[zank]

I do after every use. Just habit after my ski tuning days.

[pereiracycles]

I'm with Zanc. I use one regularly and I was also a ski tuner for many years.

[e-RICHIE]

back to the drawing board atmo.
the grobet files (american cut) suck.
i bought all types from 4" to 12" in half round.
i have all of them in bastard cut, and the 4 shortest ones in smooth cut as well.
and i have a host of bastard cut rat tail files from 6" to about 12" too.

next brand atmo...

[zank]

Well that sucks. That's no chump change. Sorry, brutha. Did they not hold up? I haven't used the American Cut.

[pereiracycles]

Richie,
I was a diehard fan of Nicholson files until my local supplier stopped carrying them because they felt the quality had taken a nosedive after production was moved to Brazil. They have replaced them with Bahco brand and I have followed suit. I pretty much only use 2nd cut, but have found them to be very sharp and at least as long lasting as the Nicholsons. Supposedly the Bahco brand is now owned by Snap-on which should say something about their quality.
Cheers,
Tony