ABRAFILES

[metalfettlerParticipant @metalfettler]

ABRAFILES.

I saw a message (somewhere) very recently referring to breakage of a sole remaining abrafile. ISTR the maker went bust some decades ago. My homebrew filing machine and fretsaw is doomed unless I am mistaken.

To ward off obsolescence I stocked up on chain-saw sharpening files and coping saw blades but would prefer to have access to the originally determined files/saws.

For those ” in the dark” Abrafiles were like a metal string clad all round with a cutting dust and incorporated hooks to permit tensioning in a hacksaw – ideal for squaring the corners in panel cutouts. Over enthusiasm with tensioning resulted in snapping but the saws were otherwise quite robust.

Any thoughts on current availability,   Regards  Les

 

 

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Back in the sixties I used abrafiles, they worked well but were flexible and looked like they were made of some hard aluminium. ones I used were may be about 1/4″ dia and had a handle.  Noel.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

Mine are 10 inch for h/saw frame but down to my last half dozen or so

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

There is [or was] an American product, very similar.

… Sorry, can’t go looking for details just now.

MichaelG.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

The original ‘Abrafiles’ were very thin steel files, and fitted a hacksaw via clips so if you needed cut a profile entirely within the material the pilot-hole for their end beads was of minimal diameter – about 1/8″ I think.

They have disappeared, but the abrasive wire-saw blades sold in hardware-shops and builders’ merchants for cutting tiles and the like will cut mild-steel. I have not tried them on other metals – aluminium would probably clog them.

As these are for cutting glazed ceramics they might work on High-Speed Steel, for roughing a blank to shape. I’ve not tried it though.

They are even more fragile than the Abrafiles were, and their crimped-eyelet ends require a sizeable pilot hole.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

https://bestwayproductscompany.com/

MichaelG.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Plenty of threads on here about Abrafiles and sources/alternatives.

Can still be had on ebay as NOS

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Does anyone import those Bestway blades?

[metalfettlerParticipant @metalfettler]

Thank you all for your replies concerning availability of Abrafiles. I did a search on ebay but no joy. I may check on the American supplier. First, to find the hooks to render a hacksaw usable. £8 a pair sounds a bit steep. The mention of a wooden handled stand-alone file reminds me after 70 years that this “mousetail” version was my introduction to the beast – used for balsa shaping – aeromodelling on the kitchen table! Was priced at 1s0d; such is inflation.

Regards to all,     Les

[Nigel Graham 2]

On Nigel Graham 2 Said:

Does anyone import those Bestway blades?

See here, and read between the lines:

https://altrish.co.uk/abrafile-replacement-axminster-tools/

Credit: Alan Wood

MichaelG.

[george baker 1Participant @georgebaker1]

Hi

I found a brand new (But very old) one in the garage today with fixed wire handles.

 

Somewhere I have a brand new abrafile, new because I only have one end clip. If anyone has a spare to donate please get in touch.

 

George

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Thank you for that link, Michael.

That certainly looks a possibility!

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi George Baker 1, the clips are quite easy to make, and although I have a pair of clips, they wouldn’t fit onto the only hacksaw frame I have, that couldn’t be made shorter for some 8″ files that were on e-bay around this time last year. My original clips have a spring retainer to keep the on, but they aren’t essential.

This is the frame I had to shorten with a replacement piece of hollow section.

Regards Nick.

[george baker 1Participant @georgebaker1]

Hi

thanks Nick, I have just seen your post cos I dont pop in often

George

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

The spring clip retainers were a “Luxury” version for hamfisted Inginhears.

Regards  Ian.

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