Hal,
They were your Dad's, they aren't junk. I am reminded of screwdrivers that Walter and Fred used every day that were made from files(mostly pilar files). They were twisted( of course while red hot) to keep them from breaking from the torque. I still use files that Walter retired and gave me. Since I wasn't making a living with them, a few extra strokes to finish a cut didn't hurt anything. I'm sure your Dad's files still have useful life left in them; and when not, you can make something.
Mike
