I have had some luck in finding more information on files for use in
small die filers. First of all, I have discovered that no US manufacturer
makes them anymore. Andy Lofquist (he of MLA) recommends McMaster-Carr as
a source for files, including a 1/4" square 00 file 8" long. McMaster no
longer carries this file. I bought one before they stopped, and it was made
by Nicholson. Nicholson still show parallel machine files in their catalog,
but today I found out that on their price list they show all parallel files
as discontinued. Simonds is the other US file manufacturer and they stopped
making these years ago. I could only find 2 other companies anywhere who
still actually manufacture these files. One is Swiss (or was told to me to
be Swiss) and is said to be phasing out. The other is a plant in India
owned by Warrensville File and Knife, a Norcross, Georgia company. They
still make parallel machine files. They do not sell to the public, but
another Georgia company (at the same address) does. They do not have a
Web presence. Here is the source:

Tooling Enterprises
1780 Corporate Drive
Norcross, GA 30093-2936
770-564-1385

They sent me a fax today which shows a picture of a small die filer which
didn't come through legibly at all, but whose specifications exactly match
those of my little Keller Model 256:

Stroke: 1-1/2"
Srokes/min.: 350/450
Min. file size: 1/8" (without adaptor)
Max. file size: 1/2x1/2"
Table size: 10x10"
Table tilt: 8 degrees in 4 directions

Here is their product line and pricing (in USD, August 2004):
Cut Diamond
Parallel Machine Files for Die Filer 00 PRICE 120G PRICE
------------------------------------------------------------------
Round 8" x 3/16" 70206 9.17 89250 38.50
Round 8" x 1/4" 70209 9.58 89251 40.25
Round 8" x 3/8" 70211 10.00 89252 42.00
------------------------------------------------------------------
Half Round 8" x 1/4" x 1/8" 70204 16.67 52086 70.00
Half Round 8" x 3/8" x 3/16" 70202 17.50 89249 73.50
------------------------------------------------------------------
Equalling 8" x 3/8" x 3/16" 70200 11.67 89248 49.90
------------------------------------------------------------------
Pillar 8" x 3/8" x 3/16" 70224 12.50 89256 51.67
Pillar 8" x 1/2" x 1/4" 70225 15.00 89257 55.00
------------------------------------------------------------------
Crochet 8" x 3/8" x 3/16" 70160 12.50 89247 52.50
------------------------------------------------------------------
Square 8" x 1/4" 70212 10.42 89246 43.75
Square 8" x 3/8" 70213 10.83 89245 45.50
------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Square 8" x 3/16" 70215 11.67 89244 49.00
Three Square 8" x 1/4" 70216 12.08 89243 50.75
Three Square 8" x 3/8" 70217 12.50 89242 52.50
------------------------------------------------------------------
Knife 8" x 1/2" x 1/8" 70218 15.00 40017 55.00

Did you try these folks?

http://www.fedfile.com/parallel.htm

Thanks for posting the other info.

"Grant Erwin" wrote in message
...
I have had some luck in finding more information on files for use in
small die filers. First of all, I have discovered that no US manufacturer
makes them anymore. Andy Lofquist (he of MLA) recommends McMaster-Carr as
a source for files, including a 1/4" square 00 file 8" long. McMaster no
longer carries this file. I bought one before they stopped, and it was
made
by Nicholson. Nicholson still show parallel machine files in their
catalog,
but today I found out that on their price list they show all parallel
files
as discontinued. Simonds is the other US file manufacturer and they
stopped
making these years ago. I could only find 2 other companies anywhere who
still actually manufacture these files. One is Swiss (or was told to me to
be Swiss) and is said to be phasing out. The other is a plant in India
owned by Warrensville File and Knife, a Norcross, Georgia company. They
still make parallel machine files. They do not sell to the public, but
another Georgia company (at the same address) does. They do not have a
Web presence. Here is the source:

Tooling Enterprises
1780 Corporate Drive
Norcross, GA 30093-2936
770-564-1385

They sent me a fax today which shows a picture of a small die filer which
didn't come through legibly at all, but whose specifications exactly match
those of my little Keller Model 256:

Stroke: 1-1/2"
Srokes/min.: 350/450
Min. file size: 1/8" (without adaptor)
Max. file size: 1/2x1/2"
Table size: 10x10"
Table tilt: 8 degrees in 4 directions

Here is their product line and pricing (in USD, August 2004):
Cut Diamond
Parallel Machine Files for Die Filer 00 PRICE 120G PRICE
------------------------------------------------------------------
Round 8" x 3/16" 70206 9.17 89250 38.50
Round 8" x 1/4" 70209 9.58 89251 40.25
Round 8" x 3/8" 70211 10.00 89252 42.00
------------------------------------------------------------------
Half Round 8" x 1/4" x 1/8" 70204 16.67 52086 70.00
Half Round 8" x 3/8" x 3/16" 70202 17.50 89249 73.50
------------------------------------------------------------------
Equalling 8" x 3/8" x 3/16" 70200 11.67 89248 49.90
------------------------------------------------------------------
Pillar 8" x 3/8" x 3/16" 70224 12.50 89256 51.67
Pillar 8" x 1/2" x 1/4" 70225 15.00 89257 55.00
------------------------------------------------------------------
Crochet 8" x 3/8" x 3/16" 70160 12.50 89247 52.50
------------------------------------------------------------------
Square 8" x 1/4" 70212 10.42 89246 43.75
Square 8" x 3/8" 70213 10.83 89245 45.50
------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Square 8" x 3/16" 70215 11.67 89244 49.00
Three Square 8" x 1/4" 70216 12.08 89243 50.75
Three Square 8" x 3/8" 70217 12.50 89242 52.50
------------------------------------------------------------------
Knife 8" x 1/2" x 1/8" 70218 15.00 40017 55.00

I know about them. That's why I mentioned *another* source. I don't see
any way to order online from Federal - have you actually ever ordered one?
I'm real curious where these files come from. No prices on their Web page
either.

Grant

Mike Henry wrote:

Did you try these folks?

http://www.fedfile.com/parallel.htm

Thanks for posting the other info.

"Grant Erwin" wrote in message
...

I have had some luck in finding more information on files for use in
small die filers. First of all, I have discovered that no US manufacturer
makes them anymore. Andy Lofquist (he of MLA) recommends McMaster-Carr as
a source for files, including a 1/4" square 00 file 8" long. McMaster no
longer carries this file. I bought one before they stopped, and it was

made

by Nicholson. Nicholson still show parallel machine files in their

catalog,

but today I found out that on their price list they show all parallel

files

as discontinued. Simonds is the other US file manufacturer and they

stopped

making these years ago. I could only find 2 other companies anywhere who
still actually manufacture these files. One is Swiss (or was told to me to
be Swiss) and is said to be phasing out. The other is a plant in India
owned by Warrensville File and Knife, a Norcross, Georgia company. They
still make parallel machine files. They do not sell to the public, but
another Georgia company (at the same address) does. They do not have a
Web presence. Here is the source:

Tooling Enterprises
1780 Corporate Drive
Norcross, GA 30093-2936
770-564-1385

They sent me a fax today which shows a picture of a small die filer which
didn't come through legibly at all, but whose specifications exactly match
those of my little Keller Model 256:

Stroke: 1-1/2"
Srokes/min.: 350/450
Min. file size: 1/8" (without adaptor)
Max. file size: 1/2x1/2"
Table size: 10x10"
Table tilt: 8 degrees in 4 directions

Here is their product line and pricing (in USD, August 2004):
Cut Diamond
Parallel Machine Files for Die Filer 00 PRICE 120G PRICE
------------------------------------------------------------------
Round 8" x 3/16" 70206 9.17 89250 38.50
Round 8" x 1/4" 70209 9.58 89251 40.25
Round 8" x 3/8" 70211 10.00 89252 42.00
------------------------------------------------------------------
Half Round 8" x 1/4" x 1/8" 70204 16.67 52086 70.00
Half Round 8" x 3/8" x 3/16" 70202 17.50 89249 73.50
------------------------------------------------------------------
Equalling 8" x 3/8" x 3/16" 70200 11.67 89248 49.90
------------------------------------------------------------------
Pillar 8" x 3/8" x 3/16" 70224 12.50 89256 51.67
Pillar 8" x 1/2" x 1/4" 70225 15.00 89257 55.00
------------------------------------------------------------------
Crochet 8" x 3/8" x 3/16" 70160 12.50 89247 52.50
------------------------------------------------------------------
Square 8" x 1/4" 70212 10.42 89246 43.75
Square 8" x 3/8" 70213 10.83 89245 45.50
------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Square 8" x 3/16" 70215 11.67 89244 49.00
Three Square 8" x 1/4" 70216 12.08 89243 50.75
Three Square 8" x 3/8" 70217 12.50 89242 52.50
------------------------------------------------------------------
Knife 8" x 1/2" x 1/8" 70218 15.00 40017 55.00

Grant,

I haven't ordered any yet as my shop still doesn't have a functional die
filer. One day I may build the MLA unless a great deal on a used, domestic,
die filer shows up locally.

I also have a brochure from Oliver Adrian listing a number of parallel
machine files. The letter is dated 2002 and prices ranged from $18 to $35
each depending on size and style, but they note that these are only
available until existing stock is sold so they're probably all gone now..

They also sell (or sold, maybe) metal cutting saw blades that would
presumably fit die filers at $-13 per dozen.

"Grant Erwin" wrote in message
...
I know about them. That's why I mentioned *another* source. I don't see
any way to order online from Federal - have you actually ever ordered one?
I'm real curious where these files come from. No prices on their Web page
either.

Grant

Mike Henry wrote:

Did you try these folks?

http://www.fedfile.com/parallel.htm

Thanks for posting the other info.

"Grant Erwin" wrote in message
...

I have had some luck in finding more information on files for use in
small die filers. First of all, I have discovered that no US
manufacturer
makes them anymore. Andy Lofquist (he of MLA) recommends McMaster-Carr
as
a source for files, including a 1/4" square 00 file 8" long. McMaster no
longer carries this file. I bought one before they stopped, and it was

made

by Nicholson. Nicholson still show parallel machine files in their

catalog,

but today I found out that on their price list they show all parallel

files

as discontinued. Simonds is the other US file manufacturer and they

stopped

making these years ago. I could only find 2 other companies anywhere who
still actually manufacture these files. One is Swiss (or was told to me
to
be Swiss) and is said to be phasing out. The other is a plant in India
owned by Warrensville File and Knife, a Norcross, Georgia company. They
still make parallel machine files. They do not sell to the public, but
another Georgia company (at the same address) does. They do not have a
Web presence. Here is the source:

Tooling Enterprises
1780 Corporate Drive
Norcross, GA 30093-2936
770-564-1385

They sent me a fax today which shows a picture of a small die filer
which
didn't come through legibly at all, but whose specifications exactly
match
those of my little Keller Model 256:

Stroke: 1-1/2"
Srokes/min.: 350/450
Min. file size: 1/8" (without adaptor)
Max. file size: 1/2x1/2"
Table size: 10x10"
Table tilt: 8 degrees in 4 directions

Here is their product line and pricing (in USD, August 2004):
Cut Diamond
Parallel Machine Files for Die Filer 00 PRICE 120G PRICE
------------------------------------------------------------------
Round 8" x 3/16" 70206 9.17 89250 38.50
Round 8" x 1/4" 70209 9.58 89251 40.25
Round 8" x 3/8" 70211 10.00 89252 42.00
------------------------------------------------------------------
Half Round 8" x 1/4" x 1/8" 70204 16.67 52086 70.00
Half Round 8" x 3/8" x 3/16" 70202 17.50 89249 73.50
------------------------------------------------------------------
Equalling 8" x 3/8" x 3/16" 70200 11.67 89248 49.90
------------------------------------------------------------------
Pillar 8" x 3/8" x 3/16" 70224 12.50 89256 51.67
Pillar 8" x 1/2" x 1/4" 70225 15.00 89257 55.00
------------------------------------------------------------------
Crochet 8" x 3/8" x 3/16" 70160 12.50 89247 52.50
------------------------------------------------------------------
Square 8" x 1/4" 70212 10.42 89246 43.75
Square 8" x 3/8" 70213 10.83 89245 45.50
------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Square 8" x 3/16" 70215 11.67 89244 49.00
Three Square 8" x 1/4" 70216 12.08 89243 50.75
Three Square 8" x 3/8" 70217 12.50 89242 52.50
------------------------------------------------------------------
Knife 8" x 1/2" x 1/8" 70218 15.00 40017 55.00