Where to buy files?

[Mr_Bones]

Hello, where can I buy the correct files for impressioning? I'm looking for a rat tail/pippin file that is fine enough to use for impressioning. Where do you guys buy yours?

[kwoswalt99-]

Dang, these things are expensive. http://www.amazon.com/Grobet-Swiss-Pattern-File-Pippin/dp/B000H1U28C
I've never bought one before, so no help there, sorry.

[MBI]

This guy placed an ad on my forum and sent a sample file to the other owner of the forum to try out. He loved it. Previously he'd been using other improvised files, chainsaw file or something, I can't remember. Said he'd never go back to anything else after using one of these Grobet files for impressioning.

http://toolsforlocksmiths.com/grobet.php

I don't get anything for promoting his site, but I pass it along any time anyone is looking for impressioning files because his prices tend to be better than any locksmith or lockpicking supply places that I've seen. I think that Amazon link is the first time I've ever seen a lower price than on his small site. Still posted it though because he sells other impressioning supplies that might be useful to someone.

[jacobbiljo]

I bought mine from LockPickCanada and with the Canadian dollar the way it is right now you would be smart to buy from there in the US as well.
http://www.lockpickcanada.com/category_s/61.htm
I have no affiliation I just am always impressed with the service.

[billdeserthills]

Hello, where can I buy the correct files for impressioning? I'm looking for a rat tail/pippin file that is fine enough to use for impressioning. Where do you guys buy yours?

Fact is you can do impressioning with a 4,6 or 8 inch #4 cut round file,
I like the 6 inch model which costs about $23. The pippen file is less suited
to a beginner, and better used on cam lock impressioning, as it is too narrow
for some pin tumblers.

[YouLuckyFox]

@Billdeserthills: Agreed. I bought a Grobet 6" 4-cut round file on amazon years ago and it's suited me fine. I use some techniques so that my keys look just as good as if I used a pippin, but it does a great job overall.

Off topic but, I've been looking for a place to discuss magnifiers for impressioning. When I started impressioning I went for high magnification and found a 10x jewelers loupe and even got a 60x pocket microscope. But when using them I had trouble identifying marks because it was zoomed in so much and on such a small area. I accordingly just used naked eye up until recently. These welding magnifiers work much better for me because they are not zoomed in more than they need to be and cover a larger magnifying area: http://www.amazon.com/3M-Speedglas-Magnification-Welding-06-0500-57/dp/B004RH1CE0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449904371&sr=8-1&keywords=welding+magnifier
They help out with GTAW a great deal, too!

[Jacob Morgan]

For what it is worth, MSC Industrial sells Grobet 6" Swiss pattern pippin #4 cut, part number 60211349 $75.65,
and Grobet 6" Swiss pattern round #4 cut, part number 60112349 $27.15 (MSCdirect.com) MSC has a massive catalog and has enough stuff to start your own machine shop, not enough of a price difference compared to the locksmith supply house listed in a prior post unless someone needs to order other stuff from MSC anyway (drill bits, taps, sanding belts, grinders, vises, etc.)

McMaster-Carr (another massive industrial supply catalog) has a #4 cut 6" round file, part number 4256A32, for $14.43 (mcmaster.com) McMaster-Carr does not mention the brand (they usually do not), but they tend to carry good quality items.

McMaster-Carr and MSC are industrial supply houses but they will sell to anyone. If you order something (other than the above mentioned files) from MSC, cross check the availability with Enco (use-enco.com), Enco appears to be the discount side of MSC. When I used to buy a lot of machine shop tooling the only difference was that Enco did not carry all the stuff MSC had, but the prices were lower and the packing slip was identical except for the name on it and the color of the paper.

I'm not sure if would be the ideal file, but Harry Epstein carries some new-old-stock Nicholson (old enough to have been made in America) round smooth-cut 6" files, part number 11781, for $4.50. Not as fine as a #4 cut but a lot smoother than what one might find in a hardware store. (harryepstein.com)

[jeffmoss26]

HJE is one of my favorites!!

[Shifty1]

I bought a fairly pricey Grobbet 6" #4 Pippin file when I first started impressioning and I've never regretted it. And for all the locksport equipment that I own, that file is most important to me. As for magnifiers, well I've tried a few. Sometimes I will use a combination of small magnifiers to judge marks, especially with flat bottomed pins. Oh yeah, a 4" set of Vern's and some numbers to run with and let me at it!

[Squelchtone]

I bought mine while visiting Lockmasters.. #4 cut for $65 dollars a couple years ago. Can't beat the quality, but it does take a while to file down a full cut depth.

[Jacob Morgan]

Lockpicks.com is having a sale on #4 pippin files, $49.99. Does not say if they are by Grobet, but they are made in Switzerland. I have never ordered from them before.

[Jacob Morgan]

Lockpicks.com is having a sale on #4 pippin files, $49.99. Does not say if they are by Grobet, but they are made in Switzerland. I have never ordered from them before.

Well, I went ahead and bought one of the files from the above source. It is a Grobet (albeit made in Italy, not Switzerland, possibly Grobet is making them there now?) The files on their site are still listed as $49.99, and that seems to be the lowest price out there right now for that particular file. The shipping was a little slow for some reason, but everything I ordered showed up without any problems.

[kwoswalt99-]

Lockpicks.com is having a sale on #4 pippin files, $49.99. Does not say if they are by Grobet, but they are made in Switzerland. I have never ordered from them before.

Well, I went ahead and bought one of the files from the above source. It is a Grobet (albeit made in Italy, not Switzerland, possibly Grobet is making them there now?) The files on their site are still listed as $49.99, and that seems to be the lowest price out there right now for that particular file. The shipping was a little slow for some reason, but everything I ordered showed up without any problems.

A quote from OttoFrei.com

Starting in 2014 the Grobet File Company of America has partnered with an Italian firm to manufacture Grobet Swiss pattern files for distribution in the USA.