A good way to protect file is to over them with cut up bicycle inner tubes. Any bike shop will give you a few, ask for the skinny ones (700 x 20) they stretch to accommodate large files.
Starret, Kurt, Palmgren, vises to work with
I'm planning to buy a good hacksaw tomorrow. Searched for good hacksaws, found mention of one company I don't know about: Klein. I don't like the tubular top bar, but it has the top tensioner you mention. The Cooper/Nicholson high tension hacksaw looks like it's reasonable. (Not the 4-in-1 Nicholson gewgaw.) The Stanley and cheap clones won't do: the tensioning screw bottoms out too soon. Readers' favorites?
Anyone have problems with the blade retaining lugs snapping off, on any hacksaw brand?
I borrowed SWMBO's sewing machine and made file sleeves from old blue jean legs. OP: don't forget to put good handles on your files. Drill a hole in a chunk of broomstick--works just fine. Oh, and don't waste your money on Indian or Korean files. Get US-made Nicholson at least.
The top two on this page...
Ned Simmons
I have one like the Lenox 4012, and I have to say it's been one of the best tool investments I've ever made. Generally, anything 1/2" or less gets cut by hand because it's quicker than geting out the 4x6 horizontal bandsaw. The difference between the high-tension frame and the crappy old-style low-tension frames is huge. I hope never to go back...
I bought mine at Lowes or Home Depot.
PolyTech Forum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.