These are buys from the last month or so. A lot will need cleaning and some will will be tossed. I always grab all files and wind up paying 10-50 cents each, when bundled. Most of the estate sale people are surprised anyone would want them. Surprisingly a lot of the files I get are still very very good and some barely used at all. Great names like Heller, Carver, Arcade, Rex and of course Nicholson.
American made files
- Thread starter NJ Marty
- Start date
Askme42
Well-known member
Been buying up all of the NOS nicholsan I can find the last year or so.
Steevo
Well-known member
NICE!!
I love American made files!
I love American made files!
rsanter
Well-known member
Do. It throw old files away
There are knife makers that will want them
Bob
There are knife makers that will want them
Bob
mikebaker1129
Well-known member
Are they no longer American made ?
Youngguns
Well-known member
Those files won't be too nice after being thrown in a box like that! Each one of those files are roughly the same hardness and have no problem dulling/chipping/damaging each other through contact.
mikebaker1129
Well-known member
Well I guess I will have to add this to my flea market list along with US made vise grips !
metalhead212121
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2010
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I've heard of guys on here grinding down the worn out files and using them as chisels.
metaldad
Well-known member
kinda brittle to be using as a striking tool.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
AFAIK Grobet still makes files in the USA.
I am gentle with them, I just spread them out like this for photos. When storing they are gently handled and placed back, not thrown around to clank. But you are correct with the care needed for files, I just have so many, boxes are the way to go or Id be tripping over files.
slyonedoofy
Well-known member
I was thinking the same thing.
woody 73
Well-known member
I could be wrong but the last time I checked their web-site every file was made in India
; Do you know something that we don't know?justme-
Well-known member
Think wood chisels not cold chisels... and if that's not enough for some, proper use of wood chisels is not to hit them. Wood chisels should be sharp enough to pair wood down under hand pressure and unless they have through shanks with metal caps (what many call demolition chisels because that's all they are really good for) should only be helped (hit lightly) with a mallet (of wood, rawhide, rubber, etc). Side - there are such a thing as construction chisels - all metal one piece, some straight shaft others with offset shaft made to be hit with a claw hammer for fitting casings, door hinges, lock plates, etc. I don't see them come up often. there was a set sold under the Craftsman line at some point. Still brittle steel, but the 1 piece resists some damage better from metal hammer use.
Chisel steel is fairly brittle. I pick up abused ones all over for next to nothing (or less) and regrind them.
I could be wrong but the last time I checked their web-site every file was made in India
Well it's deffinately worth a call last time I went in probably September or so August they had them in nearly all sizes. They had just bought a pallet of them but they didn't have them out on the floor yet . I would give them a call if you fancy your files like I do
CudaChick1968
Member Emeritus
If you have or get any mini files (1/4" or less) you don't want I'll buy them whether they're for steel or aluminum. I use them all the time ... because castings look like this. 
rancherbill
Well-known member
Files can be 'sharpened' by soaking them in acid.
I got this off another site, and they say it breathes new life into old files. I forget the name of the acid, but it is fairly common.
I got this off another site, and they say it breathes new life into old files. I forget the name of the acid, but it is fairly common.
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
Any pippin files (teardrop shaped) in there?
Galvonzo
Well-known member
Possibly muriatic acid?