Die Filer From Bar Stock With Video and Plans

**jjr2001** · Jul 20, 2020, 06:26 PM

Indeed. Sometimes I think I am in this just to build the tools! But I do like to do a cannon or special part
for my son every now and again. Just started making a bracket for his plane to hold his Ipad just where he needs it.

I did not get my metal shop going until about 2014 or so. Computers and Navigation systems from 1965 till 2000.
Woodworking was always one of my hobbies since we wanted furniture made of wood not particle board and vinyl!
After retiring from my 31 years at a computer firm and traveling a bit to many of the National Parks ( I love Eagles) I
moved into RC model aircraft (yea, had to do a couple of "drones"). I still have a contra rotation prop drive motor that
I want to build. I won't fly it, just run it like a steam engine model. The die filer for the small shop still looks like a very
useful tool. I don't think any are being manufactured today except for the casting kits and bar-stock units like mine.

Cheers, JR

**old_toolmaker** · Jul 21, 2020, 06:07 AM

jjr2001,

I have a new old stock Unimat fret saw that can be used as a die filer but I am not going to “defile” it as it is a collector item.
I recently sold an old Delta scroll saw that could be used as a die filer. In fact Delta billed it as such in their old advertising.
Interesting how things in life come full circle!

**jjr2001** · Jul 21, 2020, 08:07 AM

Looking forward to the pics of your build TM.
Dick, I had a scroll saw but I seem to remember that the speed was not adjustable
and it ran fairly quick. It would be interesting to see how they retained the file!

Cheers, JR

**old_toolmaker** · Jul 21, 2020, 02:20 PM

jjr2001,

I had a variable speed motor and control on the 1940’s vintage scroll saw. The file was able to be held in the scroll saw chuck. Either round shank or parallel shank files could be clamped via thumb screw. I had rebuilt it with new old stock parts I found on EBay. The machine was all cast iron.
Dick

**Toolmaker51** · Jul 21, 2020, 08:50 AM

File retention is quite simple. The round shank is gripped by a split collet clamp; not at all unlike big end of an engines connecting rod. Mine [commercial] is two speed via step pulley. Only a few have an adjustable yoke for stroke length. Most have an upright pillar from the base, a springy arm as a hold down. Real tough to maintain contours when part hops with the file.