Everybody seems to use power devices. I just bought a l-o-n-g bastard file and make about three long passes down across the guide foot in the direction of ring to foot and get nice smooth taper. Small guides only take one pass. Just passing it along.

3 long passes to grind down an Aftco WInd-on guide? Nice

That's what I'm talking about! A long agressive file used correctly will remove a lot of metal in a long swipe! Just keep the teeth clean with a file card so they are not filled with particles and the file will continue to cut like all get out on each pass.

Many people don't know that most files only cut in one direction. Every time you pull a file back across a surface under pressure, you dull it. I'd guess most home hobbyists ruin a file the first time they use it.

A file is no good without a file card.

The only trouble with files on smaller guides is that they can cut too quickly and often you remove too much material or get into a finger.

None of this is any reason not to use a file, but like any hand tool, it takes some practice to get the most out of it.

..........

All very true!

If doing it by hand and no power, I would opt for either an India stone, Ceramic stone or a Diamond stone. I have never used a file. I have over 1,000 files of all sizes and shapes and it never occurred to me to use one on a guide foot. Too coarse.

I hand file with assorted needle files. I tried to power prep some guides but ended up removing too much material and "burning" the guide feet. Hand filing works best for me. After I file, I smooth and slightly polish with MicroMark "flexi files".

Rog

James,
I only have two hands and find it difficult to hold a long file with one hand and the guide with the other hand to do a hand file of the guide.

This is one of the reasons that I much prefer the use of the power vertical belt sander.
Easy to hold the guide and guide it against the spinning vertical belt sander to get the perfect finish on the guide in a second or two.

By the way, I don't understand the posts about folks who say that they "polish" their guides after filing or sanding. Why?

Whenever I sand, I always sand perpendicular to the length of the guide foot. This sanding with 150 or 220 grit sanding paper leave tiny scratches in the surface of the guide that do a very nice job in holding the thread on the guide. The scratches are not so large that they have any negative affect on the thread, but certainly make it easier to wrap the guide without having the thread slip off the guide foot.

Be safe

I have 2 adapters that thread right on to the spindle of my renzetti lathe. I use 1 for a fine grinding stone and 1 for a wire brush. I first grind them and then a wire brush them. They come out nice and smooth.