Files and stones for idiots

[Bill in Oregon]

(The idiot being none other than meinzelf. )
In addition to some 600- and 1,000-grit wet or dry sandpaper, I am thinking I need to have a "safe"-sided triangle file for sight dovetails and a simple Arkansas stone for cleaning up metal surfaces. The idea is that in keeping it minimal and simple, I may be prevented from destroying critical surfaces inside my guns. Suggestions?

[stretch]

In a previous life, I worked for a musical instrument maker.

I have filed, sanded, and buffed literally MILES of precious metal tubing,
as well as steel, aluminum, brass, copper, various species of wood, and
different plastics.

Here's my advice: Buy good files. DO NOT buy the cheap Chinese effluent.
They are worse than useless. Grobet is very good indeed, as is Nicholson.
Buy USA made, Swiss made, German made, etc.. They are NOT cheap.

Take some time and learn how to use files and take care of them. Your time
doing this will be rewarded a hundred-fold.

Here's a link to MSC Industrial supply - this is just one example of a vendor - and
a set of Grobet needle files. These are the best of the best, and worth EVERY NICKEL.

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/60304995

Good Luck!

-Stretch

[Bill in Oregon]

Stretch, your advice is well taken. I have had the misfortune of using Chinese files on wood projects. They make Nicholsons look like Grobets. I'll probably order the 60-degree dovetail file and an Arkansas stone from good old Brownells.

[stretch]

I have had the misfortune of using Chinese files on wood projects.

So, you know!

I have always had good results ordering from Brownell's. Let us all know how you get on!

-Stretch

[Old No7]

Here's my advice: Buy good files. DO NOT buy the cheap Chinese effluent.
They are worse than useless. Grobet is very good indeed, as is Nicholson.
Buy USA made, Swiss made, German made, etc.. They are NOT cheap.

Take some time and learn how to use files and take care of them. Your time
doing this will be rewarded a hundred-fold.

Great info there by Stretch -- that should be "filed" away for future reference.

Q: Which instrument maker was it?

Old No7

[Bill in Oregon]

Darryl, not sure who makes this one for Brownells:

https://www.brownells.com/tools-cleanin ... =080648160

[Paladin]

I have had the misfortune of using Chinese files on wood projects.

So, you know!

I have always had good results ordering from Brownell's. Let us all know how you get on!

-Stretch

+1

[Walt]

'I retired from MSC Industrial Supply Co. after 43 years in the business. They do indeed have the best cutting tools in the business as well as a million other top quality products.

[earlmck]

I'm glad to hear Nicholson has upped their game. Back when I was making a living with a chainsaw the only files worth buying were the Swiss. Anything American made was a soft piece of buffalo dung. And the German or Portuguese were not a lot better, and not all the Swiss were created equal.

[GunnyMack]

Bill, do yourself a favor and get a Nicholson OO Swiss file as well. These are very fast cutting ( think shaping) just in the off chance you need to remove a lot of material.
When in skool we were to have 6" mill bastard, 10" mb, OO Swiss, a #49 pattern makers rasp, a tri square file, needle files. Not to mention what ever else we wanted. Also a 6" half round mb!
Also buy handles for each file you buy. It's not worth swapping handles from file to file- And safer .