Needle files

[Ives]

I want to get some small ones for something I make. There are the Axminster ones for £5 something, but with £5 postage, and B&Q have them for £8. Would the Axminster ones be better and I should get those even though the postage is practically the same as the cost of the files?

I was going to check Screwfix but their website is down right now.

Anywhere else to look?

 

[Cheshirechappie]

GOOD needle files will cost you £5 or more EACH. If you are after such, try HS Walsh or Cousins Material House, both specialist suppliers to the horology trade. If you just want cheap ones, Axminster will be as good as anybody.

 

[devonwoody]

I used to get mine from a model railway shop, do you have one in Eastbourne or close by?

 

[RogerP]

I want to get some small ones for something I make. There are the Axminster ones for £5 something, but with £5 postage, and B&Q have them for £8. Would the Axminster ones be better and I should get those even though the postage is practically the same as the cost of the files?

I was going to check Screwfix but their website is down right now.

Anywhere else to look?

It does rather depend on what material do want to use them for? Cheap files don't last very long on hard metals.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Sometimes motor parts suppliers do mixed sets cheaply-I got a set with needles, files, diamond rifflers and rasps (several dozen) for £7, and they're all perfectly useable. However, if a better finish is needed, go for Vallorbe or similar and PAY THE MONEY!

 

[Ives]

It's for sanding/carving a small section on a piece I make, which is hard to get to. Also for sanding inside holes and more hard to get to spots on other things I make. It's on wood, mostly poplar.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Ives, for that purpose you may be better off with rifflers than needles: they are generally coarser and also they are shaped, which may be a real advantage for carvings.

 

[AES]

Ives,

What everybody else says, above, also:

If you're really only going to work with wood, you don't actually want needle files at all - even cheap n nasties will clog up with sawdust about every fifth stroke and drive you potty (please don't ask how I know this!).

If there's one near you, pay a visit to a local modelling shop (aircraft, boats, trains, etc) and if you can afford it, get a set of Xacto modeller's rasps. They're just like big rasps in terms of their cut & pattern ("teeth"), but much smaller physically, pretty much the same length as needle files. These are not cheap but certainly cheaper than a set of Valorbe or similar decent Swiss files.

Also: And/or keep your eyes open while wandering round B&Q, other DIY Emporia, market stalls, etc. You'll be looking out for a set of Warding files (usually in some little plastic wallet). Their teeth are not so fine cut as needle files (and they're a lot cheaper than all but the cheapest needle files) but will do a pretty good job on wood.

I use both the above on my aircraft modelling sometimes, working with balsa, ply, liteply, beech, oak, and GRP, etc. Whilst the tougher/harder the material takes longer to work to final size (of course) I still have a many years old set of Xacto modeller's rasps, plus a set of CK Warding files that I bought cheap off a market stall and both sets are still doing a good job.

And if you do go this route, do yourself 1 more favour - buy a small wooden brush with brass spines, as used for cleaning suede shoes. Brilliant for clearing all the gunge out of the file teeth.

Cheers

AES