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How to use files - film

C

Chris152

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I thought some of you might enjoy it as much as I did. Back in the days when they left the credits on screen long enough to read them!

 
I was taught how to use a file correctly as an apprentice back in the 60's. For some odd reason we had to place our forefinger at the handle end under, not on top of the file - Rob
 
My dad eschewed the farm and did engineering in Coventry. One of his apprentice tests (he told me years later) was filing a perfect cube of metal by hand. He was good with a file. Not sure what use a perfect cube of metal is though.
 
AJB Temple said:
My dad eschewed the farm and did engineering in Coventry. One of his apprentice tests (he told me years later) was filing a perfect cube of metal by hand. He was good with a file. Not sure what use a perfect cube of metal is though.
Click to expand...
I've been told that a similar test for RN fitters was to file a cube and a matching square hole in a bigger bit of metal. The cube had to fit whichever way round it was.
 
If anyone fancies a bit of filing practice, holes and solids, then have a go at this.
I saw this made in metal years ago and thought I would have a go. One 3d object will pass snuggly through all 3 holes.
20210609_073918.jpeg
 
AJB Temple said:
My dad eschewed the farm and did engineering in Coventry. One of his apprentice tests (he told me years later) was filing a perfect cube of metal by hand. He was good with a file. Not sure what use a perfect cube of metal is though.
Click to expand...
That's a common one. The poor sod who's got to do the test is simply given a lump of mild steel, files, vice and bench. He's then instructed to make a cube, size irrelevant as long as it's a perfect cube

AndyT said:
I've been told that a similar test for RN fitters was to file a cube and a matching square hole in a bigger bit of metal. The cube had to fit whichever way round it was.
Click to expand...
My old dad was a Fleet Air Arm apprentice (joined the RN in 1946; I still have and use his toolbox) and he no doubt did something similar but I can't ever remember him telling me tales like that - Rob
 
We're learning to use files (hence my initial interest in the film) and I've been looking online (ebay) at old ones for sale. Some bundles are very cheap (£50 for 50 old files etc). Anyone who's experienced in such things - what percentage of any bundle might you expect to be in decent condition? Most ads show they're clearly nor loved, heaped in a pile and messy, but if they are good beneath the mess we could restore them. If it's a bad idea, what specific (old or new) brands should we be looking for?
 
Chris152 said:
We're learning to use files (hence my initial interest in the film) and I've been looking online (ebay) at old ones for sale. Some bundles are very cheap (£50 for 50 old files etc). Anyone who's experienced in such things - what percentage of any bundle might you expect to be in decent condition? Most ads show they're clearly nor loved, heaped in a pile and messy, but if they are good beneath the mess we could restore them. If it's a bad idea, what specific (old or new) brands should we be looking for?
Click to expand...
I wouldn’t bother buying second hand files most I have seen on car boot sales have been very blunt. You are buying a blade you can’t sharpen so go for a new one.

Pete
 
I'd suggest looking instead for "new old stock" and buying anything made in Sheffield.
 
OK, we'll park the idea of a bag of old ones and search for NOS - I'm surprised how many there are listed, it hadn't occurred to me.

Thanks both.
 
But, but..........the whole online world insists that you should remove the file from the work on the return stroke.

-

The couple of things I noted were the use of an oil lubricant to prevent the build-up of waste on the file, and, the fitting of a handle only when using the file.
 
Mike G said:
But, but..........the whole online world insists that you should remove the file from the work on the return stroke.

-

The couple of things I noted were the use of an oil lubricant to prevent the build-up of waste on the file, and, the fitting of a handle only when using the file.
Click to expand...
Fireball tools did a very indepth test on the use of files, it was to prove or dispel old myths of using a file.
 
wallace said:
Fireball tools did a very indepth test on the use of files, it was to prove or dispel old myths of using a file.
Click to expand...
This is the link:

There's also a Part 1 that shows the setup being made, I quite enjoyed watching it.

I've made a decision on files - rather than start looking for new old stock, I think first we need to get used to three new ones (flat files - bastard, 2nd cut and smooth) to see how they work. Once we have that clear in our minds, we can explore others. I'd like to find all three in NOS but that's tricky to find in one purchase, it seems (buying from different sellers, the postage adds up). So we're going to go with either Bahco Oberg or Pferd, both seem to get decent reviews across the net.
 
We went for 3 x 250mm Vallorbe in the end, about £40 from Axminster in Cardiff. Collected yesterday and we've not used them yet, and won't be able to review as we have so little experience to compare with anything else. But they look and feel lovely!

EDIT - I didn't notice til I looked at the photo - the no. 3 isn't a Vallorbe! :-(

Further edit - After much hunting, I found this on a FB group where the same issue arose for a buyer from Axi. Their account is:

'Vallorbe relaunched the Engineers files when they went back to the old pre fix part number VLX and the re branded them Valleco. They are still made and come from Vallorbe in Switzerland.'
IMO the finish is not as good, though. And you have to wonder what the 'eco' stands for!


IMG_20241101_081753_edit_7856913840467.jpg
 
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Pete Maddex said:
I wouldn’t bother buying second hand files most I have seen on car boot sales have been very blunt. You are buying a blade you can’t sharpen so go for a new one.

Pete
Click to expand...
But if you happen to find old ones what might not be so easy to purchase new, then they can be made work
if it's the right file for the job, you'll likely be still able to get a second life out of it,
provided you can use your weight, and/or favouring the near side, i.e leaning down on the handle side.

I only seen that video recently it's a good watch, seeing the draw filing was interesting,
though still I noted with such a rigid file...should some hollowing techniques be omitted from the video,
pretty much impossible not to end up with something dead on flat,
and you'll go back and fourth eliminating the last error/pattern from the opposite filing direction.

Kind of a cruel trick to play with students, should it not have been mentioned before the exercise.
I'd like to have another try with a new chainsaw file I got of recent,
A Swiss brand chainsaw file, what's very skinny, (sorry not got any better pics of it)
and it might be able to take a scooping cut, as I guess it's only about 3mm?, thick...should it not snap in the process.

SAM_5784.JPGSAM_5790.JPGSAM_9086.JPG

All the best
Tom
 
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