Educational video on the art of filing

[Reidy41]

Christmas is upon us and I always get asked for gift ideas from my young adult daughters. Something in the $50 to $100 range. I tried the I don't need anything but that does not work. I will be putting hand Files on the list this year. They come in handy and I use them a bit. Every 5 or so years I get a new set and am surprised how well they work.

With that in mind, what are the good brands these days. I know many companies keep the same brand but sometimes drop the quality and trade on reputation.

Thanks Steve

[BaronJ]

Hi Guys,

Some of the files that I am using must be getting on for 70 or 80 years old. Good quality Sheffield (UK) made ones. Most have been handed down to me from various people. Though a few years ago I bought a very nice looking set of five, non of them has lasted for more than a few hours before becoming blunt, so much so that I have developed using just a few old favourites.

The new ones can be revived a little by carefully using a sharp chisel after cleaning any pinning out of them. My conclusion is that the new ones are quite soft. Heating one to red hot and then quenching in oil made little or no difference to the hardness.

[kafie1980]

I am a sucker for old Wiltshire (Aussie) and old Nicholson (US) hand files.

They sell for like $1 or $2 at farmers markets but I only buy when I see very good condition ones.

If buying new I have heard Bahco is a reasonable brand if you find the German made ones.

Don’t buy Bahco’s from Bunnings because they are lower quality made to price point.

[racingtadpole]

Pferd or Bahco if I’m buying new. The small Nicholson needle file set in the case is pretty handy if you’re machining stuff, if you don’t have one already.

[racingtadpole]

I am a sucker for old Wiltshire (Aussie) and old Nicholson (US) hand files.

They sell for like $1 or $2 at farmers markets but I only buy when I see very good condition ones.

If buying new I have heard Bahco is a reasonable brand if you find the German made ones.

Don’t buy Bahco’s from Bunnings because they are lower quality made to price point.

Bahco files are made in Portugal, formerly Oberg in Sweden
Nearly all of their manufacturing is still European based despite having been acquired by Snap On.

Pferd are German

[kafie1980]

Sorry, no idea why German came to mind.

Correct, Bahco are Swedish and mention that on their old files and adjustable spanners.

Edit: I am very sure I have seen some Bahco adjustable spanners and a few socket sets over the years that didn’t mention a country of manufacture. So I am not sure that means they are EU made. Those could have been Asian made.

But then I have seen some Bahco adjustable spanners, pliers and vice grips that are made in Spain.