Buying a File
Guide updated on 18th April 2019 to recommend the Bahco file.
Guide updated on 14th October 2019 to remove the recommendation for a four-in-hand farrier's rasp as this is not hardened.
Guide updated on 11th November to recommend a bastard cut file too.
A 12” (305mm) file is usually the longest length used in woodworking and metalworking, Paul recommends using a 10” (255mm) or 12” (305mm) flat file ideally with second cut (medium) teeth, but a bastard cut file will work well too. The difference is simply the size of the teeth. We purchased this Bahco 10” file from Amazon, it cost £22.25* and Paul uses it daily. He would recommend this as a first choice. This is also available on amazon.com
*Price correct as of December 2019, the price of this file has gone up since we purchased it so if it does not suit your budget, we recommend shopping around.
Further Reading
To read more on this we recommend the following from Paul’s blog:
4 Comments
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Can you confirm the link is to the correct cut? On Amazon it seems to say it is bastard cut not second cut as recommended.
Cheers
Hi Glen,
Paul says a bastard cut works well too, we have now updated the guide to include this.
Kind Regards,
Izzy
Hello,
There seem to be several Bahco files with similar descriptions for sale on Amazon in the U.S. Is there a difference between a “Mill Saw File” and “Mill File”?
For example, the “Bahco 4-138-10-1-2 Mill Saw File” from your link seems to only be available in the UK, but a “Bahco 1-143-10-1-2 Mill File” is available in the U.S. Both seem to be Bastard cut 40 TPI.
Al
Hi Al,
I passed your question on to Paul and he said:
I don’t know what the difference is, chances are it will work in a similar fashion and give the same results.
Kind Regards,
Izzy