Files- best bang per buck

[Ketan SwaliParticipant @ketanswali79440]

After reading about Tomé from Dias Costas post, I asked him about them, discussed with our John S, and we decided to pay them a visit last Thursday. Here is a link with pictures and some factory footage of our day trip to Lisbon.

Arc is hoping to carry a range of their products soon. Thank you Dias Costa for introducing us to Tomé.

Ketan at ARC.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Fantastic News, Ketan

Thanks to all concerned.

MichaelG.

[MWParticipant @mw27036]

How intriguing, I look forward to it.

Michael W

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

I bought a couple of the files on ebay that I mentioned. They are very sharp. A bit heavily built for flat precision work but I suspect that is down to the style of file.

I'll keep one for use on wood but they are too thick to fit in a groove in a piece of timber to straighten them for working thin edges straight.

John

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[dcostaParticipant @dcosta]

Hello Ketan,

Ketan: Arc is hoping to carry a range of their products soon. Thank you Dias Costa for introducing us to Tomé.

I was very happy to help you.
And by extension I also helped a Portuguese company that makes good products.

Dias Costa

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

During my apprenticeship we were always instructed to break in new files and brass components or scrap brass before using them on cast iron or steel.

I remember a fiendish test where we had to file out a 1" square hole in a plate and then file up a 1" cube so that it would fit without rattling in every possible way of fitting it.

[Tim StevensParticipant @timstevens64731]

How long before someone makes a model file cutting machine and demonstrates at a show how needle files are made?

Cheers, Tim

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I wonder how many times this "Leonardo da Vinci" design has been mindlessly reproduced on the web by people who have not looked in the lower right hand corner

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

Posted by Brian Hutchings on 28/07/2016 20:55:52:

During my apprenticeship we were always instructed to break in new files and brass components or scrap brass before using them on cast iron or steel.

I remember a fiendish test where we had to file out a 1" square hole in a plate and then file up a 1" cube so that it would fit without rattling in every possible way of fitting it.

Brass. Lucky you. I was given rather large chunk of steel, a new 10" 2nd cut file, a surface plate, an angle plate, raddle and told to make a dice. Perfect 1.690" cube with the spots positioned by eye to 0.001" via boxes scribed with a height gauge. I can't remember how big the chunk of steel was really but I suspect 4" a side. It took some blisters and months to make it. From memory it was around 1 3/4 per side when they told us to finish it to size. The sizes used were historic and left people reasonably capable of fairly accurate work with a file.

Then came the 1" square within a square that was about 3/8" thick followed by a bit of press tool work. Making a curiously shaped template on a shadow graph and then fitting that to a hole in a hefty block of steel. Also a number of oddments. Cold chisel, screw driver blade, odd leg callipers, a tap wrench and a tool makers cabinet out of folded sheet steel.

Raddle is very fine red lead oxide mixed with a very light oil. They did tell us to wash our hands carefully before eating. It's better stuff to use than blue. Cleaner as well.

John

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[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 29/07/2016 08:55:22:

I wonder how many times this "Leonardo da Vinci" design has been mindlessly reproduced on the web by people who have not looked in the lower right hand corner

Is that your Mondayo Neil ?

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by John Stevenson on 29/07/2016 09:50:25:

Is that your Mondayo Neil ?

.

Nay Sir, 'tis an eckerplopter.

MichaelG.

[Ketan SwaliParticipant @ketanswali79440]

Posted by dcosta on 28/07/2016 20:05:09:

Hello Ketan,

Ketan: Arc is hoping to carry a range of their products soon. Thank you Dias Costa for introducing us to Tomé.

I was very happy to help you.
And by extension I also helped a Portuguese company that makes good products.

Dias Costa

Finally put into stock this evening at ARC.

Ketan at ARC.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Looking closer at that pic again, there's a rocket at top right and try reading the text backwards

Neil

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

Posted by Ketan Swali on 17/10/2016 20:06:34

Finally put into stock this evening at ARC.

Ketan at ARC.

But when will they appear on the website so we can buy them?

Ian P

[Ketan SwaliParticipant @ketanswali79440]

Posted by Ian Phillips on 17/10/2016 22:02:41:

Posted by Ketan Swali on 17/10/2016 20:06:34

Finally put into stock this evening at ARC.

Ketan at ARC.

But when will they appear on the website so we can buy them?

Ian P

Hi Ian,

They are on the website in the cutting tools section, link

Ketan at ARC

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

So that's how they do it. Fascinating stuff. Thanks for posting the video.

[MWParticipant @mw27036]

Posted by Ketan Swali on 17/10/2016 23:12:01:

Hi Ian,

They are on the website in the cutting tools section, link

Ketan at ARC

Thats my christmas present sorted Thanks!

Michael W

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

As an apprentice I too did some of the filing exercises, surely the point of them is to practice using a file and the tight tolerance sorts out the people who have the temperament to keep going and produce the best attempt they can. It will tell you and your employer something about you not just your skill with a file. The fact that the task is difficult but not impossible does not seem unreasonable to me. I have seen some of he work from the youngsters involved in the 'skills olympics' and the standard is extremly high and very impressive that such high skill levels are present in our apprentices.

Mike

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

That's all true Mike. My initial training with a file was hard. Blisters and all. It can all have an interesting effect on people. They see everything they do as a competition with themselves. Some one said to me maybe 30 years after I completed my training that if I thought back carefully I would realise that I am competing with myself all of the time I was working.

No time off for blisters. Just keep going. When they burst they are sore for a short time and then slowly go hard. H&S would probably put a stop on that sort of thing these days. Maybe there should have been another RSPCA where the A stands for something else. Chances are if some one refused to work they would be put down as well.

John

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[Matthew ReedParticipant @matthewreed92137]

Two Tome hand files, 2 and 3, received from Arc: usual brilliant service.

I can't believe how much difference they have immediately made to the accuracy and finish of my work. Or more to the point, I can't believe what a numpty I have been using rubbish files from a well known chain: no wonder I thought I was useless at hand finishing. I can't recommend them enough. It's not just the quality of the cutting edge, it's also about balance, feel, evenness of cut, and just plain solidity.

Now for the important question… ergonomic handle, or traditional wood? I have one of each at the moment. One is comfy, but the other just feels right.

Matthew

[MWParticipant @mw27036]

Posted by Matthew Reed on 09/11/2016 19:31:37:

Or more to the point, I can't believe what a numpty I have been using rubbish files from a well known chain: no wonder I thought I was useless at hand finishing. I can't recommend them enough. It's not just the quality of the cutting edge, it's also about balance, feel, evenness of cut, and just plain solidity.

Now for the important question… ergonomic handle, or traditional wood? I have one of each at the moment. One is comfy, but the other just feels right.

Matthew

I can well believe it, i know the feeling, the files i used at college were about as sharp as a butter knife or worse, really made hard work of it.

I'd say the wooden handle, it just feels more quality, i can live with an aching hand if i can look back at my tool bench and think "wow, are those my files?"

The needle files look good too and are probably where good sharpness matters for the delicate work.

I bought the 1,2 and bastard cut of the regular hand files at 12" for a good stroke, and a superfine finishing file at a slightly shorter length 250cm. And no i'm not allowed them yet, not until the 25th 

Michael W

Edited By Michael Walters on 09/11/2016 19:48:05

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

How were they packed when delivered?

[MWParticipant @mw27036]

Posted by KWIL on 09/11/2016 20:31:37:

How were they packed when delivered?

One outer plastic sack and inside with bubblewrap around each file. The file itself has also been factory shrink wrapped with a small card insert and the tome logo emblazoned on each one. 

Michael W

Edited By Michael Walters on 09/11/2016 21:41:07

[Michael Cox 1Participant @michaelcox1]

The problem with files is that even cheap, rubbish files work to an extent. However, it is only after using a really good file that you appreciate the difference between good and bad.

Mike

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