who MAKES the best files

[Brett Hurt]

I just wont too know what files you use Brett

[3 Phase Lightbulb]

I think I make extremely high quality .c, .h, and .asm files.

[BCRider]

For basic metal work I wish that Sandvik was still making basic tools of that sort. The ones I'm still using are just now wearing out to where some of the newer cheap stuff is cutting as well as the old Sandvik.

I bought a couple of Jet brand files a while back. Just the fairly fine ones that are one piece with the integrated flat steel handle. They were intended for just casual deburring but they proved to work very nicely. Based on that I'd be quite happy to try a couple of more Jet brand files.

But they still are not as nice as those old Sandvik files......

I understand that Nicholson has cheap consumer grade stuff and then better quality stuff. But how does one know, other than by the price, which are the better ones?

[Noitoen]

Portuguese manufacturer Tomé Feteira. You can get them at Arc Eurotrade, I think.

[Tony Ennis]

Clickspring does a fine job.

[Mark Rand]

Vallorbe are the best I've seen or got. Oddly the Oregon chainsaw files I've got are all made by them as well. Don't know if they still are, these haven't worn out over the last 20 years!

[754]

I had good luck with the wavy teeth files.
My favorite files for cleanup, deburring, adjustments, are warding files.

[Paul Alciatore]

And WHERE do you go to get them?

[Tundra Twin Track]

Pferd makes good files since 1799 in Germany,US Head Office Milwaikie WI.If you ever come across NOS
Wiltshire files are very good made in Australia,I stumbled on to bunch and after a lot of use still very sharp.

[MattiJ]

Bahco made in spain/portugal ones are decent (ex sandvik, now part of crap-on corporation)

Grobet (swiss) wasn’t mentioned yet, just stay away from USA stamped grobet files , apparently not that good.

Vallorbe is probably your best bet and they have file for every purpose that you didnt even know!

[Noitoen]

And WHERE do you go to get them?

https://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catal...-Feteira-Files

[MattiJ]

And WHERE do you go to get them?

Since You asked..
https://webshop.sar-machine.fi/verkk...gory&id_lang=2

[mars-red]

LOL Tony beat me to the Clickspring reference.

I use Nicholsons for daily beaters but they are definitely not good quality anymore. They're convenient because I can get them locally for only a few dollars. My favorite files are those I've found second hand (some used, some unused). I have most of the usual high quality suspects: Vallorbe, Grobet, Ludell, old U.S. made Nicholson, and they are all wonderful though Grobet are my favorite. I have a very old screw-head slotting file that I don't recall the make, and a set of English made rifflers that I also don't recall the make, I'll edit this post later tonight with the makes of those.

Auctions, estate sales, and yard sales have turned out to be my best sources for good files. At some point I'll want to order something new, either some particular small precision file that I don't have yet or replacements as my old ones finally wear out. I think I'll bite the bullet and go with Grobet.

These are my two favorite files in the shop, that old Nicholson, and the pivot file (a very old Vallorbe):

[jmm03]

I second mars-red on the NOS and old Nicholsons and Grobet. I know I have files that are 30 plus years old and I use them alot. Jim

[RWO]

I last bought files here: https://www.riogrande.com/category/t...quipment/files They sell Vallorbe and Friedrich Dick. Costly but absolute top quality. Swiss made Grobet are very good as well.

RWO