Files

It's been a bumpy ride here at VintageSaws.com as it relates to the files we have carried. I started with Simonds and carried them for a few years. The quality tailed off, and after complaining about it, the company actually fired us as a client. Undaunted, I next moved on to Sandvik. Their quality was good, but over the past 5 years they have gradually dropped files which we feel are important to the point where we couldn't offer a full set. Add to that 6 month periods where certain sizes were out of stock, and I had to find a new partner.

I started searching the web for various vendors who made quality saw taper files. Grobet quickly rose to the top. They have been in business since 1871 making files and other tools. They are based in Switzerland, and they make the vast majority of their tools there as well. The Swiss are known for precision and high quality, and their files are no exception to the rule. Best of all they are always in stock and the distribution center for me is in New Jersey. A partnership was formed. I placed my first order. I was very pleased with the quality, not only with respect how they cut and hold an edge but also with respect to the professionalism in packaging and their eagerness to have Vintage Saws as a client. Like all files, they eventually get dull, but, I'm convinced that they last longer than other brands we have carried or I have tried.

Below you will find a wide selection of files that completely encompasses all the files needed to sharpen saws from 4-20 points per inch (ppi). Look in the table to find out which file you need for the saw that you have. To determine how many points per inch your saw has, take a ruler and align the inch marks on the cutting tips of the saws teeth. Count the number of points that fit into the inch on the ruler as seen at the left. You may also find that the number of points per inch is stamped near the heel of the saw. Then look in the table and pick the file that is right for the saw that you have. In general, the shorter the file, the finer teeth it can file. For any given length of saw file there are four tapers: Regular Taper, Slim Taper, Extra Slim Taper, and Double Extra Slim Taper. For a given length of file, the more tapered the file, the finer the saw teeth you can file. If all this is confusing, don't worry. The files recommended below are the ones that I use for the saws that I file for sale here at Vintage Saws. I have over 15 years of experience using files, and they are guaranteed to work. New with Grobet is the reintroduction of the 4" Double Extra Slim Taper file. This was dropped long ago by other makers, but Grobet has always carried it. The 6" Double Extra Slim Taper is so fine that we feel that it could do everything that the 5" Double Extra Slim Taper could do. So, the file count remains the same, six, and the range increases down to 20 points per inch.

In addition to the wide selection of saw files, we are also proud to offer several other files and rasps that woodworkers sometimes need. A brief description of each is included with each photo below with some comments from me to help you make a selection.

As an added incentive, you will notice several samplers that I have included to maximize your savings. A flat shipping rate of $9.00 applies to every order. No matter how many or how few files you purchase, this is the shipping charge that applies. Vintage Saws ships via Fedex Ground or USPS Priority Mail. A tracking number is sent at the time of shipment from Fedex or the USPS.

Finally, and perhaps most important of all, despite the fact that these files are higher quality, they are also cheaper. The set of files is a full $6.10 cheaper than the Sandvik version. That's something everyone can appreciate.