Who’s making good round files 2019

[Farmchuck]

I like pferd premium line, cut really fast and smooth.
Left is premium and right is their classic line.
Cant say if they are worth it but this is a hobby to me so its mostly for fun anyway.

View attachment 235125

Wonder if the premium are available here in the states. Thank you for sharing sir.

 

[legdelimber]

Interesting view of the two files! Notice how you can see the rolled "knurl" of the first cut on the right side file. Finer pitch but the angle of the second cut is closer to being strait (less shear angle) across the file shaft. Makes for a little more "grabby" feel when pushing.
Whereas the left file has a coarser cut but more of a "shear" angle, so it kind of offsets the grabbiness of the coarser teeth.
gurwald Damn nice camera work! Lighting is excellent, not too grainy looking to see the teeth, focus is on the subject, DOF is nice, etc.. What are you shooting with?
The stuff(images) I see in Craigslist ads just makes me want to weep some days.

I'd be curious how the files look if rolled against each other and under a really tight shot.
I've tried to shoot really close up with my Canon(s) but if I close the F-stop to keep depth of field (DOF) then the lens goes soft on the details.

 

[gurwald]

Article number for the premium file is 11041203.

Thanks, I shot the photo outdoor with my samsung s10. It has a macro option, works very well.

 

[JBW1]

Bump for a good thread...
Any updates you all have found as far as round files go?

 

[Wilhelm]

A couple weeks ago when I helped my neighbor process his firewood there was a bunch of his logger buddies.
Through small talk I found out they use 461's & 661's, flat Stihl files, but round Oregon files.
They confirmed what I have been noticing that the Stihl files dull too fast, they went as far as to call them junk.

I will try and source some Oregon round files, curios to see how they compare to Stihl ones.

 

[RI Chevy]

Guys say the same thing about Oregon files here in USA. Lol

 

[Wilhelm]

Well, crap!
What do we use then?

Recently I converted a couple factory and custom round ground 3/8" Vanguard loops to the Archer FastFiler filing jig.
I started with a Stihl round file that had been used for a while, it simply didn't take a bite on the ground teeth.
I decided to utilize my brand new spare Stihl round file, I barely made it through one 72DL loop and the file became as bad/dull as the previous used one.
Since I wanted to convert a couple more loops I decided to check if any of my old and dull files might be up to the task - lo and behold an old production Stihl round file was biting through ground teeth like crazy!!!

I use this particular file as my main 3/8" file ever since.
It has its markings stamped in, not laser etched.
It says Stihl 7/32" Swiss Made, towards the handle end.

 

[RI Chevy]

Maybe try Vallorbe files Wilhelm.

 

[Wilhelm]

I can't get them locally, I may have to source some online.

How about Pferd, I have seen those being sold online.

 

[RI Chevy]

I've used Oregon, Pferd, and a couple of others. They wear out and I just grab a new one. [emoji2371]

 

[Wilhelm]

Stihl round files, 5.5mm.
Top file is current production (and a couple years back), bottom file is old production which I pulled out of my dull files stash.
The laser edged Germany made files get dull within filing one loop, they will not take a bite in teeth that got hardened by grinding.
The old stamped Swiss made file just keeps eating away teeth loop after loop and it doesn't care about hardened teeth of a ground chain.



I have a brand new Stihl flat/raker file that I intended to reset rakers on a Vanguard loop with - I slid the file over the raker once and it tore a ridge into the file.
Raker 1 , file 0

 

[Wilhelm]

I got me some alternatives, I purchased Dolmar round files and received the following:
- 5.5mm (7/32") - part number 953003040 , though I received Makita branded files article D-67430, has "Makita" and diameter laser edged into it on the handle end, packing clearly says Made in China
- 5.2mm (13/64") - part number 953003110 , has "Dolmar" and diameter stamped into it on the handle end, no info on origin
- 4.8mm (3/16") - part number 953003070 , has "Dolmar" and diameter stamped into it on the handle end, no info on origin

I am curious to see how they'll perform.

Makita files


Dolmar files


My first visual impressions, they don't look too good.
Thankfully they weren't expensive.

 

[Maintenance Chief]

I use a 1/4 inch file on my .404 and its Oregon brand ,I've noticed that its a better file than the 7/32 file?
I also have a old 70s Homelite brand file in 7/32 and I haven't used it alot but boy does it cut steel! I hate to crack open an other wise vintage display piece but its a very good file.
I don't know if it would be feasible to start buying vintage files from ebay but if the quality was better it might be worth it.

 

[Maintenance Chief]

Maybe there's thousands of them out there?

 

[Wilhelm]

I have started to use Husqvarna Intensive Cut round files, so far I like them better than the Stihl round files.
Below copied text from a post made in the Husqvarna thread.

START QUOTE

Husqvarna Intensive Cut round file part numbers

From the official UK Husqvarna pdf catalog:
4.0mm ; 5/32" – 2 pack , 510 09 57-01
4.0mm ; 5/32" – 12 pack , 510 09 57-02
4.5mm ; 11/64" – 2 pack , 577 23 37-01
4.8mm ; 3/16" – 2 pack , 510 09 55-01
4.8mm ; 3/16" – 12 pack , 510 09 55-02
5.5mm ; 7/32" – 2 pack , 510 09 56-01
5.5mm ; 7/32" – 12 pack , 510 09 56-02

From the official Croatian Husqvarna website:
4.0mm ; 5/32" – 2 pack , 510 09 57-01
4.0mm ; 5/32" – 3 pack , 597 35 48-01
4.0mm ; 5/32" – 12 pack , 510 09 57-02
4.5mm ; 11/64" – 2 pack , 577 23 37-01
4.5mm ; 11/64" – 3 pack , 597 35 55-01
4.8mm ; 3/16" – 2 pack , 510 09 55-01
4.8mm ; 3/16" – 3 pack , 597 35 58-01
4.8mm ; 3/16" – 12 pack , 510 09 55-02
5.2mm ; 13/64" – 12 pack , 577 23 38-01
5.5mm ; 7/32" – 2 pack , 510 09 56-01
5.5mm ; 7/32" – 3 pack , 597 35 61-01
5.5mm ; 7/32" – 12 pack , 510 09 56-02

Having been disappointed with the durability of Stihl round files for years now I yesterday started using these Husqvarna Intensive Cut round files.
So far I am very impressed with the 5.5mm 7/32" file I have been using on six 3/8" full chisel chains, Oregon and TriLink.

The Husqvarna Intensive Cut files leave a significantly sharper edge than the Stihl files do.
Also, the Intensive Cut files do not peen the cutters top chrome layer "up" like the Stihl files do.

I am curious to find out how long a single Intensive Cut file will stay sharp maintaining about a dozen loops!
For me the Stihl files would fall flat on their face within a couple filed chains, or ONE conversion from factory ground to round filed!!!
I am talking 3/8" full chisel full complement Oregon, Stihl and TriLink chains , 20"/72DL loops on average.

END QUOTE

 

[Nutball]

I think Stihl is the same as Pferd files. I've been having good luck and life with Oregon lately. I think they are coarser while the Stihl/Pferd are fine double cut. Filing an Archer chain with chrome in the filing area, it felt like the file was about done, then started cutting well again after using a lot of pressure for long enough. It was later that I realized I may have been filing chrome on that chain when I found chrome in the wrong spot on another.

 

[Wilhelm]

First, can we rename this thread by removing the year 2019?
That way it is an ongoing thread about round file quality.

Second, I was at my local Stihl dealer, got talking about Hexa files but then moved to round files talk.
There was a guy I never talked to before and he claims that the 6-pack and 12-pack round files feature different quality, with the former being the higher quality ones.
Did anyone notice this?
I may have to order a 6-pack and give it a try.
I usually just buy one or two, and for a long while now the Stihl round files performed poor when it comes to durability.

 

[Bjorn]

Preferd smooth cut.is the best so far.

 

[Nutball]

Oregon have still been lasting a long time for me lately. They are best in my opinion.

 

[jakethesnake]

I’m using old stock stihl. Down to three.

for my 325 I bought a dozen from baileys years ago. They’re very good