Forester double bevel square files. quality?

[JIMG]

I have been using Bahco files I get through Zoro but they are NLA. Does anyone have input on the forester brand double bevels?
At about $90 a dozen they are certainly cheaper than the trusted brands.

 

[Sloughfoot]

I bought some files a few years ago that might be the same make as what Forester is selling. They were about half the price but didn't last half as long as the Pferds or Vallorbes. No identifying mark on them. Might be Woody's.

 

[JIMG]

Yeah, these at the Forester site are Woodys brand.
I better find some Pferd or Vallorbe. Bahco were good but I'm down to my last two.

 

[Sloughfoot]

You'd think if a good round file could be had for a couple of bucks then a good double bevel could be had for ten.
Doesn't make sense.

 

[EFSM]

Supply and demand actually isn’t that complicated. Almost no loggers or homeowners have ever heard of square ground chain.

 

[Ketchup]

Foresters don’t last long.

 

[Sloughfoot]

Don't think I got through touching up a 2nd chain before the one I have got noticeably duller.

 

[foresterntree]

I’ve got experience with the Forester/Woody’s db files, too. Noticeably lower quality, particularly on the long edges where it would go into the corner of the cutter (doesn’t always maintain the same width on the short bevel side of the files). I figure they’re useful for someone looking to try out square filing and see if they want to invest in better quality files.

 

[Sloughfoot]

Maybe Woody will start making them a little truer and a little harder. I'd pay a few dollars more for one than what they're selling at now if it was almost as good as the main brands.

 

[JIMG]

I'm going to go with a dozen pferd from @foresterntree.

 

[Sloughfoot]

Quantity is the smart way to go on these. Care to share what you're paying?

 

[foresterntree]

Quantity is the smart way to go on these. Care to share what you're paying?

I'm selling them for $150/dz shipped in the US. I need to check updated pricing from Pferd in the next week or two for my next order, and prices may go up after that. I still have a couple dozen on hand.

 

[Sloughfoot]

That's an excellent price. $180/dozen is about the cheapest I'm seeing online.
I've got 4 left that should last me through spring. I'll check back with you in a couple months.

 

[Sloughfoot]

.

 

[Sloughfoot]

I've got two left that are unlabeled. They're both slightly thicker than the pferds and quite a bit wider.

 

[foresterntree]

Are those larger ones Pferd as well? I've observed the same from Vallorbe, their double bevels are half the width of the old models (I've got some of their double bevels, chisel, and three-square/triangle that I sell, too). The direction all the square file manufacturers are moving seems to be narrower files - probably less steel they need to pay for in the long run...

 

[Sloughfoot]

I believe the wider ones are Woody's. There's no mark on them. The narrower ones have the Pferd logo.

 

[foresterntree]

I believe the wider ones are Woody's. There's no mark on them. The narrower ones have the Pferd logo.

Yep, it looks like those have the uneven side bevel widths that I was referring to earlier. The top bevel seems a little wider than the bottom - characteristic of the ones I've got as well...

 

[Sloughfoot]

. Never occurred to me they could be different dimensions. When I switched files to touch up a chain it did take a lot more work than it should have.

 

[Sloughfoot]

Yeah, these at the Forester site are Woodys brand.
I better find some Pferd or Vallorbe. Bahco were good but I'm down to my last two.

Forgot about Bahco. This place and Lee Valley say they have them.

https://www.autotoolworld.com/Bahco-4-150-07-3-0-Flat-Chisel-Bit-File-7_p_189146.html?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20146941832&gbraid=0AAAAADutwyJAMZ-a5_Vrle3HNRadttTd8&gclid=CjwKCAiAoNbIBhB5EiwAZFbYGCHv4fjrGxmFbFamYRA73wlJAS_Z-7txlSADhevsjYhtqIxq6q3_jhoCE9EQAvD_BwE