Bahco Files

So.... I was draw filing the Woodsrunner barrel with some Nicholson files and realized that it was going to take me about a week at the rate I was going and remembered Jim Kibler mentioned some Bahco files in one of his videos, ordered a couple and WOW.

I finished the barrel in probably less than two hours and it is smooth as can be. I just ordered a couple of smaller ones and a set of their needle files for filing sights, I hope they are as sharp and work as well as the previous ones I bought.

FYI

Was your Nicholson dull or not a mill bastard (or a dull mill bastard)? I can finish a bbl in a few hours with my Nicholsons.

Good to know about Bahco files.

I suppose my Nicholson could have been dull, I take pretty good care of them but it had been used, I just know I was really impressed as the Bahco just peeled shavings off that barrel.

Soak the dull file in vinegar for a day or two and see if it will cut then. Works on mine.

Dull files come from abuse. To use files for years , w/o damaging them , always rub chalk on the teeth. The chalk somehow keeps the file teeth from loading with metal shavings. Same thing goes for using files and rasps on extremely hard burl wood. Chalk also keeps rasps from loading up with filings working burl hardwood. Been there done that...............oldwood

Yep, I use chalk and keep the filings brushed out of the teeth, have not tried vinegar yet though.

Files do dull after years of use.

Same here with the chalk. I use those big sidewalk chalks.

I never use chalk. I'm sure I've tried it before, but never found it to be that great for me.

Do yourselves a favor ... and make some cardboard storage sleeves for those nice Bahco files! Do NOT bang or store them on top of your other files ...

The new Nicholson files are not great, I have worn out a brand new 10" mill bastard on a single build, there is about 3" at the tip and 2" at the handle that are still fairly sharp but the middle on both sides is done. Always stored in a sleeve. used properly, not abused at all. I'll make a knife out of it and that will be the last Nicholson I ever buy. The name escapes me now but there is another swiss or german brand, name starts with "O", I will buy some of them and some Bahco and test head to head. The O files are very popular with bladesmiths.

I use my Bahco files when I want a nice finish and fast material removal. I use my other files when I am not worried about what the end finish looks like . The Bahco files are VERY good and better than most.

There is a company called Sun Valley Ski Tools that carries very nice Austrian files. They are very popular in the axe community. They are frequently on sale for half off. Definitely worth checking out.

https://www.svst.com
SR1

DCAN said:

Soak the dull file in vinegar for a day or two and see if it will cut then. Works on mine.

Click to expand...

I tried soaking one of my old favorite (4" Nicholson knife file) but dull files in some vinegar for about 24 hours and was impressed by the crud that came off it.

I have got to many irons in the fire right now but will give it a test run tomorrow

Used Bahco, I don't think I spent more than 20 minutes on my Rice barrel from Kibler's for my SMR and it came out beautiful...