Files ???

[bratwurst]

So, on what do you use your files for ? I saw a set of files on the tool truck the other day and it made me curious on what you guys actually use them on.
And are they worth purchasing of the truck?

 

[ChrisLS8]

Off the truck no. If you have to ask to their purpose you probably have no need for on especially at inflated prices.

I have a couple old Nicholson US files I use once in a while to clear up a bit of built up powder coat on brake pads to make them fit the calipers better.

 

[four.cycle]

You're up in the Seattle area, right?

Get ahold of the guy down at Tool Town in Des Moines and see if he's got any PFERD left in stock, or check those other hardware outlets I mentioned in the other thread and see if they've got any old stock of US-made stuff.

PFERD = German made. Top quality stuff.

Nicholson is making their product in Mexico now.

What do I use files for? Oh... sharpening stuff. Taking sharp edges off things that shouldn't have sharp edges. Putting sharp edges on things that are supposed to have sharp edges. Smoothing surfaces.
Gotta have good files, and know how to use them.

Tool Town - Des Moines
23639 Pacific Hwy S, Des Moines, WA 98198
(206) 878-1148

 

[bratwurst]

You're up in the Seattle area, right?

Get ahold of the guy down at Tool Town in Des Moines and see if he's got any PFERD left in stock, or check those other hardware outlets I mentioned in the other thread and see if they've got any old stock of US-made stuff.

PFERD = German made. Top quality stuff.

Nicholson is making their product in Mexico now.

What do I use files for? Oh... sharpening stuff. Taking sharp edges off things that shouldn't have sharp edges. Putting sharp edges on things that are supposed to have sharp edges. Smoothing surfaces.
Gotta have good files, and know how to use them.

Tool Town - Des Moines
23639 Pacific Hwy S, Des Moines, WA 98198
(206) 878-1148

I’m form Tacoma, but thanks I’ll look him up

 

[four.cycle]

I’m form Tacoma, but thanks I’ll look him up

okay okay

Try "Tool Liquidators" out in Parkland.
Apparently re-named to "Pro Tool Supply"
8638 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, WA 98444
(253) 539-5579

Not sure if I've ever been to that location. I bought my PFERD down at the Center Street store when they were "Tool Liquidators" five years ago.
Don't waste your time calling them on the phone. Just walk in. See if they've got any old US-made stock of Nicholson or any of that PFERD left.
I got a hell of a deal on the PFERD from the guy on Center Street because I got a couple dozen units all at once.

==

As to the question about "off the truck", I would say "Hell no", because for what you're going to pay that guy on the truck for one file, you can probably buy several old stock US-made Nicholsons or PFERD pieces online and still save some change.

 

[bratwurst]

okay okay

Try "Tool Liquidators" out in Parkland.
Apparently re-named to "Pro Tool Supply"
8638 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, WA 98444
(253) 539-5579

Not sure if I've ever been to that location. I bought my PFERD down at the Center Street store when they were "Tool Liquidators" five years ago.
Don't waste your time calling them on the phone. Just walk in. See if they've got any old US-made stock of Nicholson or any of that PFERD left.
I got a hell of a deal on the PFERD from the guy on Center Street because I got a couple dozen units all at once.

Awesome, do they also sale, snap on, Cornwell etc ???

 

[sberry]

I use a file a little bit once in a while. Got such a variety of grinders that it's rather rare. Can't even remember the last time I sharpened a knife either.

 

[four.cycle]

As to "tool truck":

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-10-Nicholson-Mill-*******-File-08642-Made-in-USA-F-Ship/124016865104

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nicholson-06867-6-American-Pattern-Knife-Smooth-File-USA/392593467949

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nicholson-Hand-Smooth-File-6-Vintage-New-Old-Stock-USA/264570492130

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NICHOLSON-...L-4-FREE-SHIPPING-8-FLAT-*******/254466629098

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nicholson-05771-6-Hand-Second-Cut-Hand-Files-USA/401045646478

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nicholson-Wooden-File-Handle-Type-B-21522N-NEW/401739804244

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nicholson-21862-General-Purpose-8-Flat-File-Black-Diamond-USA/401733664319

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nicholson-...-Triangle-NEW-OLD-STOCK-USA-MADE/323336719518

.... and that's just what caught my eye on the first page.... still ten pages to go....

.... but go see if you can swing a better deal with that guy in Parkland. Again, I'm not sure if I've ever been in that store, and if I was it was at least ten years ago - I'm out in the north end and I rarely go out that way.

 

[four.cycle]

Awesome, do they also sale, snap on, Cornwell etc ???

Highly doubtful.
You gotta get greased up good and grab your ankles and buy that stuff from the guy in the truck.

Check Craigslist - Seattle/Tacoma Craigslist "tools" section is always loaded with Snap-on stuff. They always think it's worth its weight in gold, but the reality is they're selling it because they're broke or they need money for meth.
If you want to go that route feel free to beat 'em down on the price. Retail prices on Snap-on can all be checked online by part number.

Another one is "Offerup.com" - might be worth a look.

 

[bratwurst]

As to "tool truck":

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-10-Nicholson-Mill-*******-File-08642-Made-in-USA-F-Ship/124016865104

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nicholson-06867-6-American-Pattern-Knife-Smooth-File-USA/392593467949

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nicholson-Hand-Smooth-File-6-Vintage-New-Old-Stock-USA/264570492130

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NICHOLSON-...L-4-FREE-SHIPPING-8-FLAT-*******/254466629098

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nicholson-05771-6-Hand-Second-Cut-Hand-Files-USA/401045646478

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nicholson-Wooden-File-Handle-Type-B-21522N-NEW/401739804244

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nicholson-21862-General-Purpose-8-Flat-File-Black-Diamond-USA/401733664319

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nicholson-...-Triangle-NEW-OLD-STOCK-USA-MADE/323336719518

.... and that's just what caught my eye on the first page.... still ten pages to go....

.... but go see if you can swing a better deal with that guy in Parkland. Again, I'm not sure if I've ever been in that store, and if I was it was at least ten years ago - I'm out in the north end and I rarely go out that way.

Awesome thanks again, I’m located right by Home Depot of center street

 

[four.cycle]

I'm going to have to drive down and see what happened to the "Tool Liquidators" on Center Street. Google is telling me it was also changed to a "Pro Tool Supply" but is now permanently closed.
I have to wonder if it changed hands again.

If you're on Center Street - go east toward downtown. They were a little ways past Tacoma Screw - on the north side of the street.

Your other options here are somewhat limited, because Home Depot and Lowes have most of the market. There are a few ACE Hardware stores located here, and a McLendons on North 9th & Pearl and another at 112th & Canyon.
There's a "Tractor Supply" out on 112th & Canyon as well.
Only old-school hardware store around here is Lincoln Hardware at 37th & So. G Street, but if you're in the market for tools their selection is quite limited.

Again, keep your eye on Craigslist, particularly toward the end of the month when the money runs out and rent is coming due.
I don't buy Snap-on but I've scored some ridiculously cheap tools on CL here from people who either needed money or had no clue what they had.
The "pissed-off girlfriend" sales are always great - watch CL on Friday and Saturday nights.

 

[darkzero]

PFERD = German made. Top quality stuff.

95% of my files are PFERD. I like/use their comfort grip handles too.

I use files mostly for metal machining related (hobby), deburring, minor stock removal, shaping, etc.

 

[ex-x-fire]

All my files are from garage sales, flea markets, & swap meets, I buy the lightly used ones for a $1 or less. They serve me well.

 

[MushCreek]

I'm a tool maker by trade, so files get used all the time. Mostly for de-burring machined parts; sometimes for hand shaping a part, or fitting one part to another. I was making some rustic pendant lights out of galvanized funnels the other day, and needed 1/4" square holes for the bulb socket to clip into. Drilled the holes and finished them with a small triangular file. I keep a chainsaw file for, well, sharpening the chains.

 

[bczygan]

Good info in this thread.

I'll file it away.

Bill

 

[Wamsutta]

I use files for sharpening stuff. I prefer the push files. Never liked the pull files.

 

[HenryAZ]

And chalk your files before (and during) use. It will prevent metal particles from sticking in the file's grooves, which, if it happens, will ruin the work piece. You can get file chalk in big sticks, but it's nothing but blackboard chalk.

 

[Bretny]

All my files are from garage sales, flea markets, & swap meets, I buy the lightly used ones for a $1 or less. They serve me well.

I'm the same way. Only files I have ever bought new are for chainsaws. I don't think I have ever even bought a file that had a handle on it.

 

[lardy1]

Mine are mostly used. I make handles out of whatever I have. Broken hammer handles work great.

 

[Rabid Badger]

I keep a set of diamond needle files around for restoring old tools I get at yard sales. They work great for recutting teeth on pliers, sharpening cutters, deburring, etc on hardened metal.

 

[BK13]

I bought a ton of US made Nicholson a while back when Lowes was discontinuing them. Probably more that I'll even need.

 

[matt_i]

File is an extremely versatile metalworking tool, sharpening, deburring, breaking edges, dealing with stuck or binding mechanisms, its more of a detail tool than a heavy hogger...amongst 2 drawers full of them, I have some old Simonds warding files which are my favorite.

I would also add Grobet into your files on file makers its possible they are owned by Bahco but I'm not sure.

 

[81turbota]

I have Grobet needle files and a large array of USA Nicholson. I do a lot of machining and they’re indispensable.

 

[RTM]

I too buy lots of garage / estate sale files, mostly for the odd shapes that you can't get any more. I send them off to Boggs Tools to get resharpened, and they are good to go. (Got 40+# done about 2 years ago, should be good for life) Some people say better than new, but I won't make that claim, since I don't know a good new file.

I use them for sharpening saws, garden tools etc, removing burrs from metal work, etc.

I use rasps for WW, but prefer the new Iwasaka files for their efficiency at removal

 

[lilredex]

I keep a variety of files on hand, hanging and in multiple drawers, for doing all of the above chores. If you are a woodworker, a four-in-hand file is a savior.


https://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-File-Handles-Without-a-Lathe/

 

[Dave455]

Files - one of the most basic engineering tools out there!

Almost every time I manufacture something I need a file. It might be just to clean up an edge or remove a burr, it might be to adjust a ‘fit’ or it might be to completely shape something!

I wouldn’t buy files from a tool truck. I might buy the ‘hard line’ tools from a truck, but those are things the tool companies make themselves. Every tool truck file I have seen has been bought in and rebranded. Snap On are Portuguese made Oberg / Bahco. I can buy identical files in my local DIY shop for less than half the price. Not even particularly good files.

 

[dutchgray]

Seconded what dave said above, I pick up any good used file (ie still sharp) I find, its hard to find new decent files locally, you have to order them. At least with the the Bahco/ Oberg files you can get something not made in China locally.

In the days before files were machine made, more people were employed in the file making industry than the entire rest of the tool making industry combined, though hand chiselling teeth into file blanks was a particularly hard job.

 

[Parrothead]

I bought a ton of US made Nicholson a while back when Lowes was discontinuing them. Probably more that I'll even need.

Same here. They were soo cheap. I’ve got my box full of just about every file they carried at the time. I’ve used them more because I own them, but probably only needed a couple.

 

[four.cycle]

Bratwurst:
I drove down Center Street today, and the building down there is empty.
So I drove all the way out to "Pro Tool Supply" (8638 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, WA 98444) to check things out.
They only have maybe a dozen of those PFERD files left, and they've got them marked up to crazy prices. I believe you'd do better sourcing US-made Nicholson off Ebay.
I'd say probably 85%-90% of the product in the store is all outsourced from Asia - either Taiwain or China. They're heavily into "Performance Tool" (which is also carried by O'Reilly's Auto Parts)
On the positive side, they've got a pretty broad selection of stuff, but probably no more than Harbor Freight.
I picked up one of their little cheapie "bit" kits for the kid. Probably made out of cheese, but I consider these a "disposable" like drill bits and hacksaw blades, so not a big deal.

 

[ZRX61]

I got in on that "5c on the $" pricing screw up for Nicholson files on Amazon a few years back. I know there were a bunch of people on here got part of that deal

 

[fasteddie]

When I was a youngster before I had all the fancy power tools I have now, fabricating any metal part I needed meant hacksaw then file to final shape. Whew, but I had a lot more energy then.

 

[dthor68]

So, can anyone explain why one should not buy the Mexican made Nicholson? I have been using Mexican made Nicholson's for 5 years now and have never had an issue. You can buy them cheap at Home Depot.

 

[mcmlvif100]

Check your local Habitat ReStore. Have bought more USA made Nicholson files than I really need from the one closest to me. Super cheap and surprising in the variety of file types that I've found.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Cleaning holes and whatnot mostly. Like you take out a hub or caliper bracket, and the bolt holes are full of rust. I found these from Innovative tools (IPA), diamond files. They work amazing.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075KPT5WD/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I bought a ton of US made Nicholson a while back when Lowes was discontinuing them. Probably more that I'll even need.

Same here; only now I wish I had bought even more.

 

[WittHay]

Had complete sets of Nicholson USA files from 6" to 12". Stored them in the file pouches Snap-on used to make.

Now, I just go to Home Depot or the local tool stores and buy the Nicholson Brazil and Mexico files. They work fine and the red and green handles are oil and grease resistant

T

 

[M6erfan]

Is there a noticeable difference in quality between the old USA and newer import Nicholson files?

 

[darkzero]

So, can anyone explain why one should not buy the Mexican made Nicholson? I have been using Mexican made Nicholson's for 5 years now and have never had an issue. You can buy them cheap at Home Depot.

It was said that when they first moved production to Mexico the heat treating sucked & the files wore out really fast. They supposedly have fixed the issue since. I don't have any experience with any of the Mexico made ones so I have no idea. People still say they are not the same as the USA made ones but for the average consumer they're probably fine.

 

[CJM8515]

IDK I use them to sharpen stuff, de burr things, knock off sharp edges, file jaws on pliers. Hell I even filed a crankshaft spline (long story it was minimal). I have no idea if my nicholsons are USA made but they are about 15 years old now.

 

[metaldad]

i have added to the collection from ebay.
nos USA nicholson and simmon
all have a handle, on their tang.
i repurpose screwdriver handles for them. all stored, side by side. not thrown into a drawer