Hi,
I will second Vaughn. I saw a set of files at CostCo and purchased them. I gave away a lot of my old, kinda grungy looking files. Well after a few months I wished I had my 20 year old files back. The new files did not work well very long.
I have some Nicholson files that I purchased in 194?. For the most part they work very well. They work better than newer files. I do take much better care of my files now (including the CostCo set) than I did in the past. Each file has its own slot in naugahyde "roll-ups" that my wife sewed for me.
The "roll-ups" is in quotes because one of them is hanging inside of one of my cabinet doors for easy access...It has never been rolled-up. Two others are laying out flat in the bottom of a drawer for easy access. Some of the unusual, seldom used, files are in the "roll-ups" and are rolled up in a drawer.
To clean I do card and/or blow with compressed air. I do this prior to putting them away for the day. Files are a fine cutting tool just like chisels and turning tools. They deserve better care than most people give them (I'm referring to people on other forums...Not FWW).
I find that most File Cards are pretty useless. There are so many little wire fingers that they keep the file card up on the tips of the teeth and don't let any of the little wires down into the grooves where the cleaning is needed.
Enjoy,
Jim