I just cut a 1" long piece off a single-cut bastard file with a lathe mounted cut-off wheel and this is the best investment I've done since I started filing my Lee-Enfield 4mk1.

The small file allows me to file a lot of surfaces that cannot be reached with a full-length file. It is a blast to use because it's so short and light, no need to carefully balance it, I can press it against a surface and go nuts. In a few minutes I have a surface done!

Yet the process of cutting the file with a cut-off wheel is time consuming and dangerous, the wheel became loose on the arbor several times(once I really torque it in it never happened). Maybe there are things like that 1" file available in the market for sale?

Do any of you gunsmithes use files like mentioned or you have other solutions?

Thanks

You can cut files off with a wood band saw. Use an old dull blade and just push it in. Called friction sawing. Watch the heat so you don't burn the tires off your saw. Remove flammable materials from around the saw. First.

Use the cut-off wheel to score the file then put it in the vise with the score at vice jaw level and hit it with a hammer. Grind smooth.

I use them some short files but use short pieces of polishing stones epoxied to a home-made handles nearly every day.

Mr. Belk,

How do you break/shape the stones to a useable size? Presumably these are new stones so the epoxy will stick?

You can cut the stone on a cut off wheel or scribe it and break with your hand, or use the pieces from stones you have drop and broken..

On a 10" piece of larger welding rod that has a 1/2" flat ground on one end and put a wood handle on the other...Epoxy the piece of stone to the flat, clamp and let stand overnight. Shape slightly on the grinder.

Great for polishing out the rails of your rifles action...I have dozens of them...they will take on whatever shape your polishing in a few strokes, then you mark their use on the handle...