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#1
11-22-2015, 05:53 PM
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Looking to purchase a set of precision needle files
Looking to purchase a set of precision needle files.
Has anyone an opinion on NICHOLSON 37761 Needle File Set ? Will I be able to do bridge and nut slots with these? 
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#2
11-22-2015, 06:26 PM
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That might be the set that I've had for 30 years. I was shocked to find that the set is selling for about $120.
Most of the shapes I don't use and don't find very helpful. The rat tail (round), the two teardrop shapes, the flat and the triangular cross section with a curve and safe edge are the only ones I really use. The two teardrop work well for nut slots and some bridge pin hole slotting. The flat file I sometimes use for intonation saddles, though I often use the side of a ba$$tard mill file for that. I'm generally in favour of buying good tools, but the price of that set seems very high. There are sets on amazon, for example that are under $20 and are probably adequate. For example, there is this one, though I haven't used that particular set: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=sr_1_6&sr=8-6
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#3
11-22-2015, 06:36 PM
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WOW! Those are expensive, but I'm sure they work well. I have a 6 piece Nicholson hobby set from Home Depot (about $30) and a cheap 12 piece $8 set from China. Between those I get most everything done.
__________________
Bryan 
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#4
11-22-2015, 06:59 PM
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Thanks!
I'll keep my eyes open at area garage sales for a few weeks before committing. The next job, adjusting a fiddle nut and bridge, I can do with my jewelers files. But it's about time I had a good super-tiny file. "Mouse Tail Needle File" was recommended. And a few others to round out my tools. There is a new-old-stock 37761 set on the 'Bay for $100 in a blue pouch.
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#5
11-22-2015, 07:17 PM
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I will say that my favorite file for bone is my trusty old 6" nicholson ba$tard mill file. I use it almost every day and it was like $4. For the price of those needle files, you could get a decent set of nut slotting files if that's what you're working on.
__________________
Bryan
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#6
11-22-2015, 08:11 PM
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Quote:
http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/pag...=1,43072,43089 But if you want precision for nuts, I recommend thicknessed individual files. PS - For bridge slotting, I have a jig-saw blade mounted in a file handle.
__________________
---- Ned Milburn NSDCC Master Artisan Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
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#7
11-22-2015, 09:19 PM
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I scored a new Nicholson 12 Piece Needle File Set #0 -37392- for $35 delivered off eBay. Fairly coarse files, but I did want to round out my tools. Not sure why it was so cheap, but it looks like the real deal and the seller has a long 100% history.
They should work out well on an ebony violin nut adjustment coming up. Next maybe a #2 mouse tail file. There's a place on Jewelers Row that'll be able to sell me a decent one without breaking the bank. Probably I'll get a set of dedicated string slot files after a few more jobs roll in. Quote:
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#8
11-22-2015, 09:54 PM
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Rio Grand has a pretty wide variety of needle files, from Chinese ones that run a buck apiece or so, all the way to some really fine European one:
http://www.riogrande.com/Search/needle-files Good tools are often worth the expense, but cheap ones can often do a decent job if you're not too demanding.
__________________
Cheers, Frank Ford
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#9
11-23-2015, 06:46 AM
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Quote:
 I'm quite forgiving but my "clients" are the worse bunch of curmudgeons on the planet!  This is Hugh. I did a bunch of work to his 1991 Santa Cruz. He's the one who lent me his Collings MT2.  These are the #0 Nicholsons I scored for $35 delivered. I've got a few files that may be finer than #2; I'm thinking one more, maybe a Grobet #2 mouse tail. 
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