Small file guides suck

Or else I just don't know how to use them. I just bought one by Swix because I thought I could put regular files in it, but it comes with a tiny stone (which I didn't realize) and that's the only thing you can use. The thing is, it doesn't cut--you can't even orient the file the right way to get the grooves at that 45 degree angle you need. But it would'v been nice because it adjusts from 0-2 degrees for base and 0-5 for side. Instead it's useless.
Or am I doing something wrong? In my experience 6-10" files are the way to go. (The thing I got might be good for a polishing stone.)
Related question: does anyone find that files made specifically for skis (and therefore more expensive) are much better than regular mill bastards you get at the hardware store? I've seen some pretty expensive files, supposedly made using laser technology, and they claim that the things last longer and cut better.

Tognar supplies files for the tool you're describing and they're not that expensive. I've got the mtk-701 from tognar (which I think is pretty much the same thing) that only uses the 2.5" files/stones. Seems to work well enough for me.