Saw sharpening files

[Arron]

I have come across a supplier of saw sharpening files which may be of interest to Sydney people. Jewellery House - in York Street. One of the guys there is from the cabinet making industry and knows his stuff.

My problem was finding files to sharpen saws with 20 tpi and below. They supplied some 'three cut files' in size 2 and 3. These are like a double extra slim taper but much finer - 3mm against 4.2mm when measured in the middle. They are also much nicer made then the typical engineering supply shop file, as you would expect from a jewellery supplier.

They also have a range of those interchangeable file handles - the ones with a screw collet on the end. Havent seen those in a hardware store for years.

Arron

[Ivan in Oz]

http://www.hoj.com.au/

:D

[MikeW]

From other suppliers these are known as 3-square files. Nice tight corner edges on them--and that can be a problem. At least with saw teeth below say 14 ppi.

One larger teeth, the gullet radius becomes important to ensure the saw plate doesn't tear at the base of a tooth. The issue is that a radiused corner allows stress relief that a sharp corner doesn't.

This is almost a non-issue on smaller teeth as the stress of sawing is proportionally less as the teeth get smaller.

So while I will use a 3-square file on 16 ppi on up, I won't on anything below [except for cutting in and shaping teeth].

As another source, 3-square files are used by many machine shops and can be found at suppliers who service them. Most any industrial supply will have them, and usually less expensive than so called saw files.

Take care, Mike

[markharrison]

Thank you for that. I'm going to pop around on Monday and get a few as I have a couple of saws that need sharpening.

[derekcohen]

I ordered files (for 15 tpi) from Lie Nielson in the USA. These are now available in Adelaide at Lie Nielson (Australia). http://www.lie-nielsen.com.au/

Regards from Perth

Derek

[MikeW]

I ordered files (for 15 tpi) from Lie Nielson in the USA. These are now available in Adelaide at Lie Nielson (Australia). http://www.lie-nielsen.com.au/

Regards from Perth

Derek
And the saw files that LN supplies are made by Grobet, a great Swiss file company.

These files, as well as the Bahco/Sandvik and Nicholson files all have a larger gullet radius than saw files once had regardless of file size. Pity, too.

But the Grobet and Bahco files do last longer than the Nicholsons, so that's a plus. And I am fairly rough on files, so being able to last more than a few filings is necessary.

Take care, Mike

[Robert34]

And I am fairly rough on files, so being able to last more than a few filings is necessary.

Take care, Mike

Mike

Have you ever tried to resharpen your files. If not have a look at this Site.

http://www.ilovewood.com/alburnam24.htm

Scroll down to the section on sharpening files and rasps. There is also some other interesting stuff there as well.

Robert34

[MikeW]

Hi Robert,

I have done larger files, but the failure of a saw file is usually the edge teeth breaking off. This happens due to the pressure when cutting hard steel with fine files. The vibration, even though held tightly in a vise, combined with the steel's hardness, causes this breakage.

But the technique is sound and works well. Just not well enough to replace teeth!

Take care, Mike

[Arron]

Yes Ivan, thanks for the much needed clarification. It is indeed House of Jewellery, not Jewellery House.

Arron