Die Filer - options..

[raynerd]

I'm in the market for a die filer - I have a use for it, I've had one before and I miss it!!

I can't see anything for sale at present and I've been looking at two kits. Firstly, the kit from Hemingway
http://www.hemingwaykits.com/acatalog/Sawing___Filing_Attachment.html

and secondly a kit from the USA, Andy at state college central.
http://www.statecollegecentral.com/metallathe/MLA-18.html


I KNOW the second kit from the USA is ideal and just what I want but it is annoying that the postage to the UK is $140 which is more than the actual castings! This is not Andys fault but it still pains me to pay postage. I'm not sure the Hemingway kit is of the same design quality.

I could hold out and try and get a another large commercial die filer but they come up very infrequently.

Any thoughts from anyone who has made the kits?

Chris

[vtsteam]

Maybe get the plans and have some nearby Madmodder cast it for you?

[Jeff Michel]

 http://www.martinmodel.com/ offers castings for a small die filer as well. FWIW, I have bought several castings from both Andy and Gary and they are very good. Shipping will probably be the deal breaker.

[PekkaNF]

I could hold out and try and get a another large commercial die filer but they come up very infrequently.

Here filing machines and combinations with band saw seems to pop up regularry. My friend sold one small 200 kg 60*60 cm foot professional one. 200€ I think. Lifton Limatic-C13. Does this show:
http://www.kotiverstas.com/keskustelu/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=18985.0;attach=42529;image

This kind of machines goes few hundred euros:
http://www.kv.fi/hahnkolb.html

I have tried one and would have got the first linked one if I had a space. Adjustable stroke and speed. Very nicely made.

Then at the other end of the spectrum there was one design on MEW few years back. It was fabricated, no castings were used. Maybe someone else has recolection of the article/writer?

Pekka

[John Rudd]

I could hold out and try and get a another large commercial die filer but they come up very infrequently.
[/quote


Then at the other end of the spectrum there was one design on MEW few years back. It was fabricated, no castings were used. Maybe someone else has recolection of the article/writer?

Pekka



The design was by Harold Hall and featured in MEW
Here's a link to H's site with the article
http://www.homews.co.uk/page475.html

[Chuck in E. TN]

Harold Hall's series of articles on building his Die Filer started with March, 2010 issue of MEW.

Chuck

Edit: I find I have March, April, and May 2010 issues, but the series continued... I have enough to build it, but wish I had the rest of the series.

[raynerd]

I know some of you won't want to hear it because we meant to be makers but I'm not really greatly enthused by the thought of building one!! I have 101 projects and the die filer serves a function to me - I really should never have sold my original one but needs must and was moving house at the time. I think Harold Halls build is superb but I've got my heart set on one of Andy's castings or better still a manufactured ready running filer! Has anyone used or seen The Hemingway kit  - I'm confident you could motorise it rather than run it off the lathe. I just prefer the look of the kit from Andy in which the mechanism is submerged.

[mattinker]

I know some of you won't want to hear it because we meant to be makers but I'm not really greatly enthused by the thought of building one!!

I didn't know we were meant to be anything!


Regards, Matthew

[raynerd]

I like to think I am... I presumed others would! Clearly not.

[mattinker]

I think your a maker, but you don't have to be all of the time!!

[PekkaNF]

I'll get it. Some machines are beautiful and often cast iron is just so "right".

But sometimes I buy stuff insted of making one.

Pekka

[MetalMagus]

Hi,
Came across a die filer for sale on the lathes website for sale page while browsing / window shopping.

http://www.lathes.co.uk/advertphoto/151103thiel/

£850

Thought it might be of interest.


Cheers

Sean

[gerritv]

One option, at least in the new world, is to find a Sears Dunlap 18" scroll saw. No idea when these were built but it is very heavy cast iron. Good blade/file supports on top and bottom.

Intended as a scroll saw, the 4 page manual mentions that by removing the caps on the blade mounts, you can insert files as well. Sears Roebuck used to have them in their catalog.

These are some photos of the one I just bought off Kijiji.ca . Just need to get some files now, Stihl dealer is close by to get chainsaw files as a starter. I will change the pulleys as well to slow things down, I won't be using this for wood.

[awemawson]

Well my Die filer when I  had it (sold it last year) had an extra over arm to double up as a scroll saw - just some guides and a big spring pulling upwards.

[Andrew Wildman]

Chris, I know you said that you would rather not make one but I am putting together a simple die filer from the scrap box. I have a thread in the project logs forum.  I am hoping this will cost me less than a fiver to make and if you get a decent run at it (unlike me!) It should probably only take four or five evenings.  I am hoping function will be similiar to the unit you posted a link to the castings for.

Best of luck with the hunt for a solution :headbang:xx

[raynerd]

Chris, I know you said that you would rather not make one but I am putting together a simple die filer from the scrap box. I have a thread in the project logs forum.  I am hoping this will cost me less than a fiver to make and if you get a decent run at it (unlike me!) It should probably only take four or five evenings.  I am hoping function will be similiar to the unit you posted a link to the castings for.

Best of luck with the hunt for a solution :headbang:xx

Yes, watching it with interest!

[Anzaniste]

I have one that is cluttering up my shed. PM if you are interested.