Decent general purpose file set?

[m6z]

Looking for a decent general purpose set of metal files.

Are these Beta files any good? Any recommendations appreciated, looking to keep this purchase under $100.

Beta T236 5 Piece File Set in Plastic Module Tray

Contains: 1719BMA/Q File 1719BMA/T File 1719BMA/P File 1719BMA/M File 35 Flat Chisel Empty Tray: TV235 (024000453). Weight: 870g

www.primetools.co.uk

 

[darkzero]

I've been pretty happy with my Pferd files. I didn't buy a set though, I just purchased all the ones I wanted individually. They were very reasonably priced on Amazon, at least they were. They stopped restocking some of them at one time, not sure about now.

I know others will say "the old X or X brand are better" but I didn't want to hunt down NOS files. The Pferds are readily available.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I’ve always had good luck with Nicholson files. I believe they got bought out a few years ago though so I’m not sure how they are now. No personal experience with the Beta files. Actually didn’t even know they made files so no recommendations on that from me.

 

[darkzero]

I’ve always had good luck with Nicholson files. I believe they got bought out a few years ago though so I’m not sure how they are now.

Nicholson was aquired by Cooper quite sometime ago, looks like it was always Cooper since I was born. Cooper is Apex now & Nicholson is still their brand but they are branded Crescent Nicholson now.

The old USA ones were good. Some years ago they moved production to Mexico & those were reported to be junk. I heard they took care of their heat treating issues since though. But I still won't buy them as I try to stay away from anything Apex if possible.

 

[RoninB4]

Won't go into the new vs. old thing, if you know files then you already know the answer and why. For those that don't it all depends upon what you're going to use them for. If it's for brass or aluminum then I suppose about any file ought to do. If it's going to be a throw away or short life tool then about any make will do. For steel or expected long(er) life....that's another matter. Good files are no longer cheap, that's why there's so many cheap ones out there now. All mine are NOS from decades ago but some companies like Grobet are still making good files. Simonds is supposed to be a definite cut above the once standard Nicholson (now made to different standards in Mexico). I've never had the pleasure of driving a Pferd through metal so I can't speak to that brand. After using some of the newer Nicholson's I wish I had tried a Pferd. There are several types/cuts/patterns for files so for general de-burring I'd opt for either a Mill ******* or 2nd cut pattern. It's all about how fast a metal removal rate/quantity and how good a finish it leaves. There are also a couple of file techniques that affect the previous two conditions to learn. Be careful how hard a material you try to file and the geometry you're trying to file. If a file "skates", snags, skips teeth, or makes an awful grating sound it's bad for the file itself.

For wood I've seen expensive hand patterned rasps from Italy that caused my wallet to pucker. An expensive wood rasp isn't of much value to me as I use other methods for wood removal and finish.

Keep your files cleaned, lubricated (wet or dry) and you'll enjoy whatever brand you choose a lot more. YMMV

 

[RoninB4]

The old USA ones were good. Some years ago they moved production to Mexico & those were reported to be junk. I heard they took care of their heat treating issues since though. But I still won't buy them as I try to stay away from anything Apex if possible.

Big discussion about this on a machining board a while back. Complaints about files not being flat (warped) and suggestions that they were only case hardened (not good). Won't buy from them now, if you cheapen something basic like a good file what can I trust you to do properly?

 

[mhejl]

I've been pretty happy with my Pferd files.

Same here. Its rather hard to decipher the different cut patterns, though. The set I bought was 16079, American pattern double-cut similar to an old Nicholson ******* pattern.

The Pherds ("fert", meaning horse IIRC) cut better than my old USA made Nicholsons. Well, they are old and probably used up, though.

 

[RTM]

For your non thrashed files, Boggstool.com can resharpen them at a reasonable price.

Pferd are good, vintage almost anything else.

Here is a reference for the various cuts and shapes of files

Nicholson File Catalog N-S : 1957 : Nicholson File Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

69 p., illus., 27.5 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[jbfsr]

reminds me of that joke: guy asked the clerk at the hardware store for a file. Clerk asked if he wanted a *******? Guy says, no. I want that flat motherf***er.

 

[lentuk]

I build muzzle loading rifles and knives for my own use, I have many old Nicholson files, some I have had resharpened but a rifle builder on the muzzle loading forum suggested Bahco from Portugal and they are excellent, reasonably priced and much better than anything else I have in my shop new or used.

 

[KnurledNut]

I build muzzle loading rifles and knives for my own use, I have many old Nicholson files, some I have had resharpened but a rifle builder on the muzzle loading forum suggested Bahco from Portugal and they are excellent, reasonably priced and much better than anything else I have in my shop new or used.

Snap-on and Bahco files are both made at the SNA Europe factory in Portugal.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I build muzzle loading rifles and knives for my own use, I have many old Nicholson files, some I have had resharpened but a rifle builder on the muzzle loading forum suggested Bahco from Portugal and they are excellent, reasonably priced and much better than anything else I have in my shop new or used.

I just bought a couple of Bahco sets, reasonably priced and very good quality. They have nice handles too.

 

[lentuk]

I have purchased the handles since then, they are very nice.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I have purchased the handles since then, they are very nice.

I bought them in sets with the handles fitted. This small set is really useful:

 

[lentuk]

Do you have a part number for that set?

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Do you have a part number for that set?

Yes, 1-476-04-3-2.

They're 4" files.

 

[timgunn1962]

Bahco are pretty decent. Pferd also good. Vallorbe excellent.

I've not tried the Beta, so can't comment on their quality. It's worth noting that the supplier in the OP's link lists Bahco too. The 10" Bahco ******* set 1-478-10-1-2 AND the 8" Bahco second cut set 1-478-08-1-2 have a combined price lower than the 8" Beta set. That seems like a better way to spend the money to me. Obviously, if you are just using the link as an example and need to look for a more local supplier, things may be very different.

I've been using the Bahco file sets for general plant maintenance work for several years and can't fault them. It's difficult to realistically assess longevity, because much of my work is outdoors on site and in the English climate: I've wrecked a good few files by essentially abusing them (filing millscale, filing hardened steel, etc) and by getting them rusty, but I've not had any proper "that should have lasted much longer" moments without most of the blame being down to me.

I've had Stubs (British), Vallorbe (swiss), Grobet (Swiss), Simonds (USA), Nicholson (USA), Oberg (Swedish), Tome Feteira (Portugese) and many others over the years. Generally speaking the top-of-the-line older stuff always seemed better than the newer stuff.

For precision bench work, I'd probably choose/recommend Vallorbe as the best of the current production: QC seems to be superb and the range includes just about every file anyone could want. However, I'd also suggest that anyone doing much bench filing will have far more skill and knowledge of the tools needed than I do and shouldn't be listening to me.

For general use, I'd recommend Bahco, or maybe the Tome Feteira: I've only used other people's Tome Feteira and I have no idea how well they'll hold up long-term.

 

[dutchgray]

I have used recent Bahco and Pferd files, they are fine and not overly expensive.
I have older files too, I buy NOS when I find it.
Occasionally I have found used files that were in good enough condition to warrant buying, but I might buy 1 in 100 that I see.
They are all consumables, even the best of the best of the old makers.

 

[nezzman]

UK here myself.

Look up Vallorbe files on eBay. Swiss made, and very high quality.

 

[m6z]

Thanks for the recommendations guys. I'll look into the brands mentioned.

 

[Vicks]

no one mentioned Tsubosan yet ? Japanese and great quality although the hand stitched files may not meet machine stitched perfection sometimes. I’m not sure if the Tsubosan set comes with handles ? (I made my own after buying just the files)


Tsubosan hand stitched file


The Pferd file set is a great option too.


Their handles are great, the file quality is second to none.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

Are the Pferd blades still made in Germany? The last set we ordered at work had China as the COO on the packing list but the box just said Germany. Nothing about where the actual files came from.

Nicholson is ok. So is Simonds. I like the Bahco. Realistically though, files are pretty consumable. We burn through them regardless of brand.

 

[jsmeece]

I guess I have been pretty lucky with finding slightly used older Nicholson files around my neighborhood for a buck a piece sometimes less. This year alone probably picked up 4 or 5 files from just local yardsales or estate sales. Around me is an aging population and their kids just want to get rid of their stuff after they pass. My wife already told me after I die, she was going to have a huge yardsale and get ride of "my ****" as she calls it. I tell her "my ****" fixes her car.

 

[Bubba Fett]

I love to find old files in yard sales, etc. I've cleaner up a few old rusty files, and gotten good use out of them.

 

[dnschmidt]

Pferd, and the proper pronunciation for you non German speakers is FERT which is the German word for horse if you ever wondered where the horse symbol came from on anything Pferd makes.

 

[gMaxx]

proper pronunciation for you non German speakers is FERT

Meh, wouldn´t really agree. Might depend on local dialects, but at least in Austria there´s a audible "P" as in potato up front, and a soft "d" as in bored in the back.

 

[bwringer]

Meh, wouldn´t really agree. Might depend on local dialects, but at least in Austria there´s a audible "P" as in potato up front, and a soft "d" as in bored in the back.

Yep, I was taught that it was basically pronounced something like "faired", although that's not quite the right vowel sound.

However, the "p" at the front may be difficult to detect, but it is there -- for most people it boils down to starting the "f" sound with your lips closed instead of open.


Anyhoo, back to the topic: yes, Pferd makes great files, and they're a bit spendy but easily available. The Nicholson stuff found in home stores will get the job done.

The main thing, as noted above, like any cutting tool, files are consumables, not heirlooms. There's little point in buying them used, especially if they've been rattling around in a drawer rubbing on each other for a few decades. I guess if they're still in good shape and protected, and you can inspect them carefully they might be fine.

I inherited a large pile of worn-out files from my Grandpa and Dad, and not one was usable; they couldn't bear to throw anything away, and could hardly stand to buy new files. Or maybe they had a source of used ones from the back door of some factory somewhere. I was a grown man before I ever used a new file and understood they were actually cutting tools...

 

[dutchgray]

The only real use for worn out files was that blacksmiths used them as a source of good usable tool steel for making knives, blades, tools, wear edges etc
Nowadays straight in the scrap bin.

 

[dnschmidt]

As RTM mentioned there is an acid etching method for resharpening files that works pretty well. We used it for body files used in the autobody business 50 years ago back in Pittsburgh. A guy came around took all the dull files and came back with sharp ones. Worked quite well.

 

[RTM]

Boggs uses a water jet, not acid etching

 

[Vicks]

Are the Pferd blades still made in Germany? The last set we ordered at work had China as the COO on the packing list but the box just said Germany. Nothing about where the actual files came from.

Nicholson is ok. So is Simonds. I like the Bahco. Realistically though, files are pretty consumable. We burn through them regardless of brand.

Now that you mention it, i too wonder if the Pferd files are made in Germany ?? Does anybody know for sure ?

Edit: found some info here - its not definitive but yes, some additional info for sure.

 

[darkzero]

I've got Pferd files & I'm happy with them. Back when I started buying them I searched & many reputable vendors all say they are made in Germany. Like MSC, their pages say COO is Germany. But I don't recall ever seeing their packaging actually say made in Germany or on their website. I think I still have some of the sleeves, I'll take a closer look tomorrow.

Edit: I just checked random files on Amazon & MSC, still say COO Germany. I checked Zoro, most of the sets say COO China & India. Checked some individual files on Zoro & some say India, Italy, & Germany. Who knows what is accurate & what's not.

Checked my Amazon order history, most of the ones I bought (all individuals, no sets) either say COO Germany or nothing at all. But most of the ones I purchased say currently unavailable. I bought most of of them in 2015.

 

[Vicks]

Pferd, and the proper pronunciation for you non German speakers is FERT which is the German word for horse if you ever wondered where the horse symbol came from on anything Pferd makes.

and the Horse symbol is used because Pferd originally started out/became famous for making Horse hoof rasps.

 

[tester19]

The last Pferd I saw was made in India?
Pferd Files
.
.
.

 

[Grant Gunderson]

I have a Snapon / Bahco set. I really like them and and they work well and have held up really well, but I am also religious about cleaning them after each use before they go back in the drawer. I have Pferd for AL and other soft metal uses so the steel ones dont get gunked up. I purchased the snapon handles separately and added them to the non-Snapon files as I really like those handles.

 

[KnurledNut]

I know the OP just asked for a decent file set, and in typical GJ fashion, the thread turns into recommending top tier boutique brands.
So since it already went there, i’ll add another brand that I like:
Friedr. **** GmbH - https://www.****.de/feilen/en
I dont think there are any distributors for the full line in the US.
The company branch HQ’ed in NY only deals with their culinary tools.
Rio Grande sells some of their Precision files.
https://www.riogrande.com/product/friedrich-****-hand-file-sets-set-of-5/114771GP/?code=114771

 

[ecotec]

I know the OP just asked for a decent file set, and in typical GJ fashion, the thread turns into recommending top tier boutique brands.
So since it already went there, i’ll add another brand that I like:
Friedr. **** GmbH - https://www.****.de/feilen/en
I dont think there are any distributors for the full line in the US.
The company branch HQ’ed in NY only deals with their culinary tools.
Rio Grande sells some of their Precision files.
https://www.riogrande.com/product/friedrich-****-hand-file-sets-set-of-5/114771GP/?code=114771

A pic of one of mine:
View attachment 1710875

They make nice kitchen knives.

The 1905 series is really cool looking.

For files… I would always suggest lightly used American and Swiss from estate sales and garage sales. My whole file drawer cost less than any 4 new files.

Okay… that can’t be true. I paid retail for the two Snap-on needle file handles.

 

[Steve_P]

Almost all of my files are USA Nicholson that I bought when they were moving production from the US- and they're excellent. Recently I bought a few Bahco files and have been impressed- they have an excellent handle included, and the price is reasonable for the quality. I also have some Bahco and Grobet needle files which are excellent; I think both were made by Vallorbe in Switzerland- I purchased these 5+ years ago.
If I was buying a set today, I'd go with Bahco.

 

[matthew]

I have some Bahco files from Lee Valley. Oberg pattern, which I think I read equates to mill file. Not that I use them a ton, but I really like them, and would definitely buy more when they need replacing.

 

[MDJames]

For anyone interested, I've had Pferd files in my Amazon cart for a while. Price dropped by about $20 this morning so I pulled the trigger.

Pferd 542WR250H2 $55.14 from Amazon UK so it might take a little longer to ship, but worth the cost IMO​