george wilson
10-08-2015, 4:41 PM
Be sure to read all of this post:
I tried the Mexican Nich.(abbreviating Nicholson) file on a piece of steel today,comparing it to a new old stock Nick. USA made file. I am happy to say that the Mexican file seemed in all ways the equal of the USA made Nich. file. It had that "bite" which the old USA made ones had,and which I have not felt in any of the Asian made files.
Out of desperation,I did try a HF file a while back,and while it did file,it was a poor substitute for "The real thing". At that time,I was trying to find an easily obtainable file. The problem seems to have been solved now though.
There was no crumbling of teeth on the Mexican file. In all ways I was quite satisfied with it.
Caution though: This one file does NOT mean that every Mexican made Nich. file on the shelves will be a good one. There probably are still quite a few early production Mexican files still out there. So,proceed with caution.
I advise buying a Mexican Nich. file and first testing its hardness with an old FINE CUT USA made one,if you have one in your shop to use. File the front corner of your new file,where there are no teeth to ruin. If you do not,at least file a little SOFT steel with your new Mexican file. Look carefully at the teeth to see if they look shiny. If they do,take it back for a refund. Wait a while longer for the store to sell their stock and try again. I'd suggest buying from a high volume store like Home Depot,which sells Mexican Nicholsons(Lowe's sells Asian Kobalt files which I have tried,and which I feel are AWFUL).
There is still the chance that you could find a new old stock USA made Nich. file,so don't give up yet. However,I now have found my new Mexican file to be just fine. But for the tiny "Mexico" stamped on the file,I would not have told it from the old USA product. And,I am one PARTICULAR person,especially when it comes to files(and everything else,actually!:))
I tried the Mexican Nich.(abbreviating Nicholson) file on a piece of steel today,comparing it to a new old stock Nick. USA made file. I am happy to say that the Mexican file seemed in all ways the equal of the USA made Nich. file. It had that "bite" which the old USA made ones had,and which I have not felt in any of the Asian made files.
Out of desperation,I did try a HF file a while back,and while it did file,it was a poor substitute for "The real thing". At that time,I was trying to find an easily obtainable file. The problem seems to have been solved now though.
There was no crumbling of teeth on the Mexican file. In all ways I was quite satisfied with it.
Caution though: This one file does NOT mean that every Mexican made Nich. file on the shelves will be a good one. There probably are still quite a few early production Mexican files still out there. So,proceed with caution.
I advise buying a Mexican Nich. file and first testing its hardness with an old FINE CUT USA made one,if you have one in your shop to use. File the front corner of your new file,where there are no teeth to ruin. If you do not,at least file a little SOFT steel with your new Mexican file. Look carefully at the teeth to see if they look shiny. If they do,take it back for a refund. Wait a while longer for the store to sell their stock and try again. I'd suggest buying from a high volume store like Home Depot,which sells Mexican Nicholsons(Lowe's sells Asian Kobalt files which I have tried,and which I feel are AWFUL).
There is still the chance that you could find a new old stock USA made Nich. file,so don't give up yet. However,I now have found my new Mexican file to be just fine. But for the tiny "Mexico" stamped on the file,I would not have told it from the old USA product. And,I am one PARTICULAR person,especially when it comes to files(and everything else,actually!:))