While using the jewelry bench Monday evening, I realized that while all our new tools make it lovely to sit and make things over there, there is one key set of tools we still need, a set of hand files and file handles. There are currently 3 hand files in the jewelry bench drawers, one hlf round and one round file, but they are old worn out files that I grabbed from the hive’s tool cabinet drawer when I first started setting up the jewelry bench, and they are so worn out as to be nearly useless.
I have put together a list of 6 basic/common shape 6" hand files, German cut #2 (swiss cut #0), which are typical, medium-cut files used for roughing in or semi-finishing jewelry and other metal projects. The files I have selected are on the cheaper/budget end of the spectrum without dropping below the threshold where they won’t last (Really nice files are VERY expensive, 2x-3x the cost of these, but amazon/harbor freight files often are so poorly made they won’t cut). I have additionally included file handles for each, as well as for the 12 needle files we currently have that do not have handles. Pumice powder abrasive has also been included for finishing/polishing pieces.
The full list can be found here, it totals just under $200 before tax and shipping, so I propose a budget of $250 fto cover those expenses as well.
Thanks,
Kevin McLeod
Hot Crafts Warden