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Hey what kind of files or other tools do you all use for fretting guitars?

I know there are different ways of doing this, and StewMac has several different fretting files. I am wondering if there really is much advantage to using their specialty files or if it is normal to just use regular files. I was thinking about getting the three corner files because they have the smooth edges, and maybe just trying to make a beveling file block. My dad has a drawer full of files and i figured I could cut an angle into the corner of a 2x4 and clamp a regular file in that.

I am trying to balance quality craftsmanship with a short budget.

your opinions?

that'll work fine.

I ground the edge off of a standard 3 corner file and used that to do my fret ends too. I finally got a 'real' fret file from SM to do my re-crowning, but did three fretboards with the modified 3-corner file.

So, here's what I'm thinking:

I have (and by that I mean "My dad has") a drawer with several different files.
My dad has a benchtop grinder
If I were to talk my dad into grinding the edges of a three corner file, that would work fine for fret ends.
I could just take a 2x4 and cut an angled groove down one corner, insert a file and stick some screws in the side to hold it in place for bevels. (I'm not sure if I trust myself to get a good and consistent angle)
And I could probably use the same file taken out of the bevel block to do the levelling.

Am I on the right track here? Can I still get away without the crowning files and have a good fret job or is that worth the money?
Also for levelling, should i modify the ends of the file? (curve them so they don't gouge high frets, remove the tang, etc.)