Recommended Brands for Quality Lathe Files?

[erikmannie]

How many for the price?

I got one file for $18.76. Includes tax & shipping. Open box & no warranty.

 

[erikmannie]

Double cut files are only for rough shaping work at the bench, I hardly ever use them, and then only for the roughest sort of work. About Mexico, I do not know, but they certainly have to be better than Chinese manufacture.

Hopefully Nicholson is keeping up their good name.

 

[mmcmdl]

I have a few of those flat bastards , along with the round MF's .

 

[erikmannie]

I have a few of those flat bastards , along with the round MF's .

MF = “medium fine”?

 

[erikmannie]

What file do you guys use to bring your lathe work in the last thou or last few tenths?

Or to beautify a poor finish? I am usually unsatisfied with the finish (on steel workpieces) from both carbide & HSS cutters.

I will use 60 or 80 grit emery cloth, but that makes for a lot of cleaning afterwards (removing grit from the ways & everywhere else).

 

[mmcmdl]

I just have them in buckets .

 

[erikmannie]

I just bought a NOS Nicholson 08737N which is a 12” flat single cut bastard for $15.26 delivered. Made in Mexico.

 

[7milesup]

Pferd.
Just picked up one for $11 delivered.
Also Simonds. Picked up two Simonds black Maxi Multi Kut 10" with handles off of eBay for $18 delivered. They seem to be real nice albeit somewhat aggressive.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-SIMONDS-BLACK-MAXI-MULTI-KUT-10-FLAT-SPEC-FILES-SINGLE-DOUBLE-CUT-W-HANDLES/301223944085?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649​

 

[sycle1]

Pferd here as well.
Nicholson used to be good, and are still miles better than Chinesium.

 

[erikmannie]

Last file purchase for now: a Nicholson 12134 (12” single cut bastard round) for $15.79 delivered.