Thread: Saw sharpening files 101

I haven't read all these last posts through but some of the files tested lost teeth (and some of them a lot of teeth) in cutting 10 -14 teeth others cut the 10 - 14 teeth and then went on to sharpen a whole saw (with a heavy sharpen at up to 6 strokes per tooth and still not loose any teeth. I think its in the quality of the metal and the good or better formed corner finish/teeth.

Anyway off to bed now, I'll try and catch up in the morning.

Originally Posted by Brit*al

I've seen those diagrams too Brett. V. confusing.

As we all know by now, all of these manufacturers (I use the word loosely) have a lot to answer for.

Got to go do some gardening now. Can't put it off any longer.

Manufacturers? Or manufracturers?

Apparently Australia doesn't have the highest prices on all tools.

A Vallorbe Needle File 160mm Cut 4 is $12 (as far as I know, certainly the Cut 2 is $12) from Aust. Jewellery supplies.

In the UK, a Cut 4 160mm is £10.82 PLUS 20% VAT, and a Cut 6 is £13.55+.

At today's X.rate of A$1 = £0.5726 those prices become:
Cut 4 $22.68 (inc VAT)
Cut 6 $28.40 (inc VAT)

That's without the gold plating, or delivery.

By comparison, an F.Dick (made by Vallorbe) Cut 2 140mm from Dieter Schmid Fine Tools in Germany is €7.50 inc VAT, which becomes $11.35 (but it's 20mm shorter). Worth noting that the toothing diagram for the file in this site is correct.

In Switzerland a Cut 4 180mm from Brutsch-Ruegger is CHF 10.20 (not sure if that includes tax) which becomes A$12.49

In the USA a Grobet (made by Vallorbe) Cut 4 160mm from Otto Frei is USD 10.22 which becomes A$11.63
and a Cut 6 160mm is A$14.50
and a Cut 4 180mm is A$14.42
and a Cut 6 180mm is USD$16.95 but they have them on a super-special price of $39.79 (think that might be an error). In the Vallorbe 'dog there is no 180mm Cut 6 available.

All of the files from Otto Frei are discounted by a further 20% for a quantity of 10+

Can you hide this post

somebody might see it and triple their prices

More info on the price comparisons:

140mm Needle has a toothed length of 2.5" or 63mm
160mm Needle has a toothed length of 3" or 76mm
200mm Needle has a toothed length of 4.12" or 105mm

so presumably a 180mm needle has about 90mm toothed.

Now how much of that extra length goes into the taper, I don't know.

Remember that sales out of Europe do NOT include VAT, and most quoted prices I think include VAT. At 20% in UK, 19% in Germany, 25% in Sweden, this makes quite a difference. Nevertheless, the needle file price differences are significant.

Brett, if your original UK prices include VAT, then the UK price drops from £10.82 to £9.01 or A$15.75 + postage.

Still gouging! Not just the poms, check out the Dieter Schmidt postage minimum...

This Swiss seller of NOS used to be quite cheap, with reasonable postage, no longer unfortunately. However the illustrations show what a Swiss triangular file used to look like!
SWISS TOOLS AND MORE items - Get great deals on items on eBay Stores!

Cheers
Pete

PS a Liogier file 6" X Slim held up quite well on one corner for an 18" Backsaw reshaping, but the adjacent corner bit the dust very quickly on a 28" Mitresaw reshaping; or a least 1/2 of the corner did - the other 1/2 is trying to make up for its weakling 1/2 sibling.

The UK prices are + VAT, but really my point was to illustrate the various local prices. UK is astonishing!

Postage with Schmid is a little confusing. You have to wait until the end of the process or something. I had six files sent out (all 6" and less) and the postage was €7 which was very reasonable.

I just sent him a msg to ask if he knows whether Honauer still make their own files, or whether they get them from Glardon.

Are those tapers causing a bulge Peter?

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

The UK prices are + VAT, but really my point was to illustrate the various local prices. UK is astonishing!

Here is a cheaper UK source:
Vallorbe 2407 Three Square Needle Files

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

Postage with Schmid is a little confusing. You have to wait until the end of the process or something. I had six files sent out (all 6" and less) and the postage was €7 which was very reasonable.

That is good to know, I just went to the shipping page, without actually putting in an order:
Postage information to many countries

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

Are those tapers causing a bulge Peter?

qué

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

I just sent him a msg to ask if he knows whether Honauer still make their own files, or whether they get them from Glardon.

Not making their own files, not buying other peoples files - no longer in business.

...and I have collated them. I have to write some preamble notes, take quite a lot of photos and then they will be ready to publish in a day or two (fair bit of Photoshop work to do as well - combining before/after images, cut teeth yadda).

Good show FF! Look forward to seeing what comes out in the wash.

I note, with some interest, that several posts around #600 have gone missing.

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

I note, with some interest, that several posts around #600 have gone missing.

Thirteen posts were deleted last night by me because they were irrelevant to the thread and added nothing but antagonism.

Keep the thread on line or have it closed.

Neil

PS. for those who don't realise it there were not around 600 posts deleted. The hash tag # means number.
So the literal translation of what was being said above is:
"I note, with some interest,that several posts around post number 600 have gone missing."

PPS. Any smart remarks either in here or in pm's may see this thread closed and possible loss of privileges.