Thread: Saw files

did you find xxslim bahco sourced anywhere?

Bahco's files tend to have pretty strong (thick, but not garish or sloppy - just wide) corners and are fine for 10 tpi but unless you can find xx slim, the x slims are pushing it a little bit on 15 tpi.

In the US, they are pretty easy to find (bahco), but the last time I ordered files, they still only had part numbers for xx-slim and none had actually been sold here. My fat edge comments are based on the slim and x slim varieties.

they're not expensive here if bought in packs of 10.

Nicholson on the other hand has taken their lumps switching to mexico and now their files are "OK", but sometimes can be found here for $2 per file. They're not world beaters, but the edges are OK - not as durable, but narrower and for saw restoration and new tooth cutting they may be lacking. For routine sharpening, they're fine.

do you have an industrial supply place similar to mcmaster carr in the US? I don't know how else to explain it other than they list a type of something, but not necessarily the brand. we can order xx slim files from mcmaster if they list them, but won't know the brand of them. I haven't gotten anything unusable from them and they tend to be more expensive than buying by the dozen from a drop shipper, but they are a lot less expensive on some things than woodworking or one off orders at home depot (our bunnings). Some of our other places that do the same service (grainger) are not so cheap, though - if you have something like the latter, they'll want $15 for an individual file that could be $4 somewhere else. Mcmaster will ask $4.50.

Hi jpdv. Try Gasweld, I ordered a pack of 10 from them not too long ago.

jpvd, I wouldn't use the same file for 10tpi that I'd use for 15 - there's a very big difference in the gullet sizes between those tpis. A 5 inch XS file would be fine for 10 tpi, but the corners will be too fat for 15, you'll get wide gullets with tiny teeth. They'll work, but are hard to set accurately & they look odd.

The smaller regular-style files are getting harder & harder to find in Oz, no-one bothers to carry them, presumably due to very small demand. For 15tpi & finer, I use jewellers needle files. These have very fine corners, probably a bit too fine for 15, but I've not had any trouble with any of my small saws. The darn things are poisonously expensive when bought singly from any of the jewellers' supply places ($19 each for the last lot I bought & that was just before rampant inflation set in!). However, it's not all bad news, the good quality files (Like Glardons which is what most suppliers here sell) outlast any Bahcos I've had by at least 2 to 1, so the cost per saw sharpened works out much the same or better.

As Mountain Ash said, try Gasweld, they seem to carry the best range of Bahcos. I get mine there....

Cheers,
Ian

Originally Posted by D.W.

do you have an industrial supply place similar to mcmaster carr in the US? I don't know how else to explain it other than they list a type of something, but not necessarily the brand. we can order xx slim files from mcmaster if they list them, but won't know the brand of them. I haven't gotten anything unusable from them and they tend to be more expensive than buying by the dozen from a drop shipper, but they are a lot less expensive on some things than woodworking or one off orders at home depot (our bunnings). Some of our other places that do the same service (grainger) are not so cheap, though - if you have something like the latter, they'll want $15 for an individual file that could be $4 somewhere else. Mcmaster will ask $4.50.

We unfortunately don’t have anything the size of McMaster down here,(As a former prime minister put it so nicely we’re the end of the world) also McMaster will only ship internationally to businesses not private.
Then you have the shipping costs, I had some 1095 spring steel sent over the shipping was a killer,

Cheers Matt.

Thanks guys, Gasweld is the answer - and points re 10 vs 15 tpi noted.

Next step is confirming with them why their website says that they 'have no shipping options' for my address - North Brisbane! Why is this so damned difficult! All I want is a couple of bloody saw files, delivered to a metro capital city location. Does my head in.

Originally Posted by Simplicity

We unfortunately don’t have anything the size of McMaster down here,(As a former prime minister put it so nicely we’re the end of the world) also McMaster will only ship internationally to businesses not private.
Then you have the shipping costs, I had some 1095 spring steel sent over the shipping was a killer,

Cheers Matt.

bummer there isn't something smaller scale. I didn't know mcmaster would ship internationally, but the cost of shipping would make it a deal killer. It's seemingly random what stuff is OK and what's not. For example, brass sheet is prohibitively expensive, and then you turn around and get bar stock ground by starrett (like O1) precision ground or oversize as cheap as you can find it anywhere in the US without going with "unknown mill and brand" stock.

Shipping from the US to australia is at terrible rates to say the least.

Gasweld appear to offer 125mm and 150mm DEST file, but in 100mm only EST: EST is OK for 12ppi perhaps, but not small enough for 15 ppi or greater for the reasons outlined above. You could try Blackwoods as they have quite an extensive range of needle files.

Search double&x20;extra&x20;slim&x20;taper&x20;file | Blackwoods

However I did not get to checking prices as I had to log in and I am already behind the schedule for this morning .

Regards
Paul

Gasweld were happy to quote and send. It ended up running me $140 for 10 files, postage included. That's more than I hoped, but they're brand new and reputable, so in the end I'm happy. For reference for anyone else looking to renew or initiate their stock...

Just keep the spares wrapped in the paper in the box & they'll last indefinitely.

A timely post, I had a saw-sharpening session myself today, didn't feel like doing anything that involved exercising the grey cells too much, so sharpening saws filled in the afternoon nicely. In the process I broke out my second-last 5" DEST, so it's time I put in an order for a new box meself....

Cheers,

Of interest Ian, how many saws do you get 'per file'? I know that's a bit of a how long is a piece of string question, but do you think to yourself '5 saws and I'll throw this one', or do you just wait until it feels blunt?

Originally Posted by jpdv

Of interest Ian, how many saws do you get 'per file'? I know that's a bit of a how long is a piece of string question, but do you think to yourself '5 saws and I'll throw this one', or do you just wait until it feels blunt?

The latter, jpvd - it's pretty easy to tell when a file is no longer cutting!

Yes, it is very hard to say "how many" sharpenings you get from a file. The length & number of teeth matter, of course, & just as importanly, it depends on how much remedial work is required before setting & sharpening. More than once, I've killed a file just re-forming the teeth of really sad cases (some old saws are much harder than nails!). However, if your saws are currently in good condition, you could easily get 8 or more sharpenings of a 250mm backsaw from a decent file. I recommend "a little & often" though I am as guilty as the next man of pushing a saw past its "best by" just to get a job finished, but a light re-sharpen as soon as it starts to dull takes less life from the file & keeps your saw in prime cutting condition. The Grobet needle files can give a dozen or so sharpenings (shorter saws, but the fine teeth mean as many to file). THese are very rough guidelines, mileages vary considerably...

It really pays to move to a fresh sides as soon as one corner stops cutting cleanly. It's important that the file takes the same amount off per stroke, one of the main things to learn with saw sharpenings is to make very consistent strokes, otherwise you'll have a devil of a time making or maintaining even teeth. I always use a fresh corner after setting, and make one light stroke on each tooth. That leaves the best surface that particular grade of file is capable of.

Hope that's some help.
Cheers,
Ian