All this talk about 1911 frames...

[wwboater]

Dobbs threaded this one...Pretty sure he wont do that again....

 

[RamRoddoc]

Yeah, I saw the vise in a buddy's shop and was like WHERE did you get that!?!?

The small files I have suck, I'm looking for better, will have to check those out. Are the diamond files and good? I have some but haven't found occasion to use them much.

I'm not sure. I haven't used them. The tool steel files at Lowes and I think Northern Tool work great. The Harbor Freight small Jewelry files are either too soft or hard and dull/chip to become worthless.

 

[jglenn]

yep quality files do make a difference and last pretty much forever if you use them correctly

nicholson files are hard to beat.

 

[bluesman2a]

So I learned a valuable lesson today, several actually.

• If you order from Mcmaster-Carr early enough in the day, it will be on your doorstep by the time you get home.
• They charge LESS for this service than Brownells for files and the like.
• Swiss-pattern files are typically for finer work.
• The higher the cut number, the higher the number of teeth so it's finer the lower the number the coarser/faster the cut.
• "Pillar" files have safe edges, meaning there are no teeth so they don't cut on the sides, so these are good for stuff like barrel hoods and the like.
• While they are not branded on McMaster's website, the files I received were all Nicholson with one particularly nice Grobet.
• Here's a picture of the files:

From McMaster's site:


1
[Broken External Image]:

Precision File for Stainless Steel

Rectangular, Finish No. 0, 6" Long
8184A12

1
Each
$23.34
Each
$23.34
2
[Broken External Image]:
Rectangular Precision File

Finish No. 4, 4" Long
4251A23

1
Each
15.90
Each
15.90
3
[Broken External Image]:
Rectangular Precision File

Finish No. 2, 4" Long
4251A22

1
Each
13.95
Each
13.95
4
[Broken External Image]:
Rectangular Precision File

Finish No. 0, 4" Long
4251A19

1
Each
13.95
Each
13.95
5
[Broken External Image]:
Rectangular Precision File

Finish No. 4, 6" Long
4251A31

1
Each
18.95
Each
18.95
6
[Broken External Image]:
Rectangular Precision File

Finish No. 2, 6" Long
4251A29

1
Each
16.35
Each
16.35

 

[jjrock]

I'm still figuring out the files....I really want the needle file set on Mcmaster-Carr's site. The standard set is $160!!! the economy set is $20. I wish there was a "middle class" set.

 

[bluesman2a]

Come on over, you can look at the ones I got and decide what you like. I think the pillar file is going to come in handy, with the safe edges.

 

[jjrock]

Come on over, you can look at the ones I got and decide what you like. I think the pillar file is going to come in handy, with the safe edges.

We should def get together. Been traveling a lot lately....gotta pay for the tools and parts somehow I suppose. Are all their rectangular files "pillar" files? I saw in the description that one edge has grooves while the other doesn't but didn't see the word pillar anywhere.

 

[bluesman2a]

All the ones I linked are, but they have all kinds of files and stuff

 

[jjrock]

Just ordered a few.

 

[jglenn]

actually some of the economy needle file sets are pretty good. you can buy a few for $20 if need be