Where do you buy your jewelers files?

[mmagliaro]

I mean professional grade watchmakers files, not the
"10 files in a pouch for 10 bucks" variety.

I have a collection I have amassed over the years.  Some are good, some are great (were my
grandfather's jeweler's files).    But some are worn, some have broken over the years,
and so on.  So I'm sniffing around for good sources of these.

On-line typical watchmakers supply sources sell good ones for $12 to $18 a piece.   That can add up quick for
8 or 10 files.   Is there a better way?

Thanks.

[VonRyan]

I mean professional grade watchmakers files, not the
"10 files in a pouch for 10 bucks" variety.

I have a collection I have amassed over the years.  Some are good, some are great (were my
grandfather's jeweler's files).    But some are worn, some have broken over the years,
and so on.  So I'm sniffing around for good sources of these.

On-line typical watchmakers supply sources sell good ones for $12 to $18 a piece.   That can add up quick for
8 or 10 files.   Is there a better way?

Thanks.

I've picked up some good deals on Nicholson files at trains shows occasionally, but that is of course a rare opportunity.
Honestly, I'd look at watchmaker's tool lots on eBay. Some of those lots have a variety of fine files with plenty of life left in them. Heck, a lot of the files in the file-drawer of my tool chest came from a lot of watchmaker's tools that I bought at a yard-sale.

My go-to file is a nice 3-sided Nicholson file that my grandmother gave me. She has a whole box of them, brand spanking new (however long ago she bought them) and unused. I'll snap a photo of it after my doctors appointment.

[robert3985]

Max,

Having been enlisted as a pattern maker a while ago for making HO brass detail parts, I found that my old jeweler's files didn't cut the mustard when fidelity really counts.

The main problems with what you can buy at your LHS or at and "hobby" oriented store, is that the files are not square, not round...generally not consistent in their profiles.  This, you can count on.  I discovered this when attempting to file square holes for one of my brass masters.

I went on a search, and luckily I had a business relationship with a local jeweler's supply warehouse in Salt Lake City where I had purchased all of my investment casting equipment and supplies.  I told the owner what my problem was, and he produced a set of 12 "real" jeweler's files in a small blue folding Vinyl wallet for a mere $78.00. The brand is "Grobet USA" out of Carlstadt NJ. and I am positive they'll be more expensive now than they were 20 years ago.

I bought 'em, and they've been very good to me...and worth every penny over the years I've used them.

I'd suggest you call or contact Freshman's Inc. in Salt Lake City here: http://www.freshmans.com/ and tell them your application and they'll come up with an answer...and it will most likely be expensive...but just what you need.  They may sell the files individually, which will save you quite a bit if you don't need every type.

(edit) I also found the Grobet USA site here: http://www.grobetusa.com/  and I didn't look at the prices....yet.  Looks like you know what you get here for sure, and their quality is undisputed.  Try 'em, you might like 'em!

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[PGE_Modeller]

Max,

Like Bob, I found the best files come from a watchmakers' supply house.  Most "hobby shop" needle files are a quite coarse #2 cut - if you are lucky you might find a set of #4 cut - that simply cannot match a watchmaker's escapement file for quality.  I got mine years ago at Page & Wilson, a Vancouver, BC, jewellers' supply house.  These are available in cuts at least as fine as a #8, sometimes as fine as a #10.  They are not inexpensive, however.  I recently came across an invoice for a #8 cut square escapement file manufactured by Grobet in Switzerland that I bought about 10 years ago - $22.95!  The thing about these files is that a "square" file is actually square!

Cheers,

[Lemosteam]

(edit) I also found the Grobet USA site here: http://www.grobetusa.com/  and I didn't look at the prices....yet.  Looks like you know what you get here for sure, and their quality is undisputed.  Try 'em, you might like 'em!

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

Also just as interesting are all of the carbide burrs in their catalog.  Wowsers.

[mark.hinds]

Anyone have experience with diamond files, like these?  In particular, do they clog when filing soft metal alloys, and if so, how does one clean them?

http://www.eternaltools.com/blog/top-10-uses-for-diamond-files?

BTW, here's another on-line seller who lets you buy individual Grobet needle files:  https://contenti.com/metal-files/needle-files/grobet-needle-files .  I'm trying to decide on the difference between a marking and a half-round needle file.  Perhaps the point is sharper on the former? 

MH

[mmagliaro]

Well, without tipping my hand, a few of you guys mentioned the magic word, "Grobet".

Yes, among my best files, are a few Grobet brand,
 which did indeed come from my grandfather, who was indeed a jewelry maker and diamond setter.
I had already scoped those out, and yep, that's what I am pretty sure I want.

But I didn't want to come right out and say that, so as not to bias anybody's answers.
Since you came to that same conclusion, I guess I better accept it: #4 or finer escapement files. 

In the grand scheme of things, I suppose $100 - $200 is not too awful much for a set of tools that are
so critical to everything I make.  After all, if you want to scratchbuild without a good set of files, you may
as well pack up and go home.

Thank you, thank you, for confirming my suspicions (even though it's not going to be cheap!)

[Chris333]

This reminds me. Just a few days ago I needed to slide a brass gear onto a steel axle. I wanted a NWSL Sensipress, but at $100 to press one gear and maybe use 4-5 other times in my life, I passed. Then I remembered at work there was a tool sale and we got an arbor press for $30. So I go look and I can't find one for less than $70.

So...  I ended up using the the drill slide tail stock attachment in my lathe with the axle chucked into it and the gear flat against the jaws. It pressed on perfectly straight and didn't cost me a thing.

BUT if it was a file. I would have spent the money and used them many times over.

[Iain]

I'll also toss in my hat with Grobet.  I found that #0 cut was good for most tasks, though I do have a set of #2s.

http://www.amazon.com/Grobet-Swiss-Pattern-Needle-Files/dp/B0002FS82K/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1449790585&sr=8-7&keywords=grobet+needle+files+cut+0

[mark.hinds]

Well, without tipping my hand, a few of you guys mentioned the magic word, "Grobet".

Yes, among my best files, are a few Grobet brand,
 which did indeed come from my grandfather, who was indeed a jewelry maker and diamond setter.
I had already scoped those out, and yep, that's what I am pretty sure I want.

But I didn't want to come right out and say that, so as not to bias anybody's answers.
Since you came to that same conclusion, I guess I better accept it: #4 or finer escapement files. 

In the grand scheme of things, I suppose $100 - $200 is not too awful much for a set of tools that are
so critical to everything I make.  After all, if you want to scratchbuild without a good set of files, you may
as well pack up and go home.

Thank you, thank you, for confirming my suspicions (even though it's not going to be cheap!)

Why buy a whole set?  The link I gave in my previous post sells individual Grobet needle files, at prices averaging $10.00 each.  Just buy the ones you normally use.  BTW, WRT Ian's post, 0 and even 2 cut are pretty coarse.  MH

[mark.hinds]

BTW, here's a link to a "file terminology" PDF, from Grobet USA:

http://www.grobetusa.com/content/swiss_file_terms.pdf

MH

[Lemosteam]

^^^ Thanks for that Mark, I was wondering which number was finer vs. more coarse?

[mark.hinds]

Swiss Pattern files on the other hand, come in seven grades of cut, from ØØ to No. 6 where the ØØ represents the coarsest and 6 the finest cut.

from this article: 

https://www.kmstools.com/blog/hand-file-identification/

MH