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+-- Thread: Garage sale find - what is it? (/showthread.php?tid=7373907)
Garage sale find - what is it? - toolmiser - 09-17-2023
I picked this up at an estate sale. Nothing of significance for tools-the others didn't give a hint for this one. Blade is 4 1/2 x 1/2 x 1/8" thick. Flat portion is smooth, but the edges are concave and have teeth like a file. I have big money invested in this ($2.00) so I hope it is valuable. At worse case I can reuse the handle. I wasn't even going to purchase it, but the curiosity got the best of me. That style of handle looks familiar to me.
Does anybody know what it is used for or take a guess?
Thanks
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RE: Garage sale find - what is it? - iclark - 09-17-2023
It is called a "float."
There are basically 2 types: file action only on edge or file action only on face.
I heard about them from people who make wooden planes. There may be other uses for them.
RE: Garage sale find - what is it? - ChuckHill - 09-18-2023
(09-17-2023, 11:36 PM)iclark Wrote: It is called a "float."
There are basically 2 types: file action only on edge or file action only on face.
I heard about them from people who make wooden planes. There may be other uses for them.
I have some floats, but I have never seen one with concave (or convex) teeth. I can't think of what this would be for.
RE: Garage sale find - what is it? - Nordic - 09-18-2023
It’s a “fret” file, for rounding / shaping frets on a guitar or similar stringed instrument. See:
https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/tools-by-job/tools-for-fretting/shaping-and-crowning/
RE: Garage sale find - what is it? - toolmiser - 09-18-2023
(09-18-2023, 02:55 AM)Nordic Wrote: It’s a “fret” file, for rounding / shaping frets on a guitar or similar stringed instrument. See:
https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/tools-by-job/tools-for-fretting/shaping-and-crowning/
Sure looks like it. There was no guitars that I saw, Only thing close I remembered was a music stand
I guess I learned something new today, thanks to you folks, and it only cost $2.00
RE: Garage sale find - what is it? - iclark - 09-18-2023
(09-18-2023, 02:55 AM)Nordic Wrote: It’s a “fret” file, for rounding / shaping frets on a guitar or similar stringed instrument. See:
https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/tools-by-job/tools-for-fretting/shaping-and-crowning/
Thanks for the better answer. I learned something today, too.
RE: Garage sale find - what is it? - AHill - 09-19-2023
Whatever luthier owned this was pretty proud of it considering the very nice handle.
RE: Garage sale find - what is it? - toolmiser - 09-19-2023
(09-19-2023, 09:30 AM)AHill Wrote: Whatever luthier owned this was pretty proud of it considering the very nice handle.
It's in very nice shape. The finish is good. That's why I was questioning if it was even a tool. I know we like to keep them in nice shape, but this didn't show any use.
RE: Garage sale find - what is it? - Nordic - 09-19-2023
I recognized it from my own:
![[Image: IMG_1222.jpeg?itok=bvyyiN4g]](https://norsewoodsmith.com/files/temp//styles/medium/public/photos/image_1/IMG_1222.jpeg?itok=bvyyiN4g)
Stew Mac sold these for years. There is a similar one still on the link I sent earlier, a “Gurian” quarter round fret file, “Gurian” being a brand.
https://www.gurianinstruments.com/showcase/musical-instrument-parts-and-manufacturing/fret-files/
They aren’t really “heavy” use files. The teeth will probably wear out before the handle does.
I’ve used mine on about 2 dozen fret jobs or so? The only way you can really tell is the condition of the teeth.