File re-sharpening

armorer951

armorer951

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Just a heads up for those of you who do metal work and gunsmithing work on a regular basis. Many of you may already be aware of Boggs Tool and File Sharpening in Paramount, California. I just recently learned of the company.

Not too long ago, I sent them several old "swiss pattern" files, including some Nicholson barrette and safe edge hand files.

Charges were very resonable @ .20 cents per inch for American pattern files and .40 cents per inch for Swiss pattern...... and the resharpened "like new" files were returned in about two weeks. Even with the ground shipping figured into the equasion, this was much less expensive than buying new files, and the returned ones were clean and very sharp. As a special offer, one of the files included with your first order is sharpened for free.

This is another cost effective way of getting more use out of these "old" hand tools. Web site address is listed below.

BOGGS TOOL & FILE SHARPENING COMPANY - WELCOME
 
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I thought about doing a post on Boggs some time back but just forgot--glad you brought it up.

A great service. Frankly it breaks my heart when I see people making knives etc. out of old files when they can be brought back by Boggs.

Files of this quality are really not made anymore.
 
Armorer951:

You are 6 months too late - at least for me! I just tossed a bunch of old USA made Nicholson files away because they were shot. It took me MONTHS to find and receive "new- old stock" Nicholson USA files (on ebay) to replace what I tossed. I even bought a bunch of extras as Nicholson no longer manufactures files in the USA. They are now being made in Mexico and are not even close to the quality they once were. I did a post on this a few months back and even suggested in that post that anybody out there like us who does a fair amount of metal work procure the new-old stock Nicholson's while they are still available. Had I know about this Company I would have given them a shot I think. Thanks for the post and I still have some original ones that I might send out soon - now that I am aware of these guys. I must have 3 - 4 dozen assorted files of all shapes and sizes and use them all the time. I hate using dull files!

A few questions please..........

Is the charge of .20 cents per inch for each side or combined?

When they sharpen them how does that affect the temper and can I expect the same longevity as new?

regards,
chief38
 
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Twenty cents per inch total. (both sides of the American cut files)

The sharpening is done by using a high pressure steam and abraisive process....

From the Boggs web site:
"Using steam, we relief-grind with abrasive blasting, taking material from the back edge of the tool to reform and sharpen the edge. Our process will give you the sharpest edge possible."

As a result of the process they use, I don't believe there should be any effect on the harness of the surface. In my experience, the sharpened files cut and retain a sharp edge just as well as they did when new.
 
When I sold my Mercedes repair shop in 2000 I took all of my files (many, many) and sent them to Boggs. Now that I'm the only one using them, they are as sharp or sharper than when they were new. A mix of old Nicholson and Oldburg files I've owned since the 50's. They really know what they are doing.
 
Thanks so much for this post, I have book marked the website. I did not know you could have files re-sharpened. A great resorce.

thanks
 
As a kid I grew up not far from Boggs and once tried to get a delivery driving job for them but landed something better. Every shipyard and machine shop I knew of and gun related businesses like my next door neighbor Frank Snow ( Sierra Bullets) , Mr. Pachmayr, Santa Anita Engineering Co ( SAECO ), you name it all used Boggs. The one thing I almost always heard on tooling, files etc was they came back cutting better than new. I know mine did. If you decide to visit in person I suggest you carry -- used to be a risky neighborhood and very close to Compton.

Regards
 
Files can be sharpened by soaking them in nitric acid. The acid etch sharpens the teeth. They may have some sort of a new wrinkle or special acid mix they use, but that's how it's done.
 
The acid soak works OK, but what Boggs uses is an abrasive blasting technique of some sort that really brings an old dull, dead file back to new again.
I've used them for many years and never had a complaint. The files they rate as second class after their re-sharpening are still way better than any Chinese or Mexico import you buy off the shelf these days.

I'm waiting for handful of rasps to come back from them now incl a set of hand stitched 1/2rd Czech made beauties that I found at a barn sale for $2e. They'll make quick work of the stock jobs waiting on the bench.

They resharpen milling cutters and the like too with excellent results also.
 
GOOD STUFF!!!! Never heard of this, and will be giving it a try with some cabinet rasps and pattern makers files first.
Thinking how over the years, I passed up literally hundreds of old files at auctions.... boxes full, that could have been bought for less than scrap price. Usually the auctioneer will let you pick through them and bundle the good ones if you ask, but there were never many of those.
Thanks again..... not a day that I don't learn something on this forum.
Bill
 
I have 50-60 dull files sitting on my workbench right now of both American and Swiss patterns. All quality tools and 90% made by Nicholson that I've found, bought or inherited over the years.

They'll be on their way to Boggs in the next couple of days so I can put them back into service.

Of course once they are sharpened I'll have to come up with a storage solution for them to keep them sharp.
 
M1Garandy said:
I have 50-60 dull files sitting on my workbench right now of both American and Swiss patterns. All quality tools and 90% made by Nicholson that I've found, bought or inherited over the years.

They'll be on their way to Boggs in the next couple of days so I can put them back into service.

Of course once they are sharpened I'll have to come up with a storage solution for them to keep them sharp.
Click to expand...

Other then separate compartments in a tool chest or hanging them on a wall from hooks, the best option I found for mine was to use cardboard and duct tape wrapping to make covers to fit over the cutting surfaces.
This also allows writing what file and cut was inside.
Wrapped like this you can still pitch them in a drawer or tool chest without damage.
 
Don't forget to make sure you get and use a good quality File Card to clean them after use. Soft metal like Brass and Aluminum clog them up in no time!
 
dfariswheel said:
Other then separate compartments in a tool chest or hanging them on a wall from hooks, the best option I found for mine was to use cardboard and duct tape wrapping to make covers to fit over the cutting surfaces.
This also allows writing what file and cut was inside.
Click to expand...

That is my current plan as I'm out of wall space to hang the majority of them up.

The LGS has/had a ratty Kennedy 520 machinist chest for sale for not that much money. It's make good file storage, if I had the bench space to put it on.

I shipped 62 files off to Boggs earlier today. They were not sure how well some of the very fine Swiss files would resharpen but I was told that they'd for sure be better than when I sent them in.

The Post Office lady told me I was getting my money's worth out of the flat rate box I sent.
 
A tip for the most commonly used files, find an old knife block. doesn't take up much room, and the ones you use most are right there. Mark
 
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