File Handles. What to choose?

[danc333]

My Amazon order has arrived. Now that I have more files then I know what to do with, I need to get handles for them. I am considering PB swiss and Snap on soft grip. I like the Snap on soft grip handles I have on my screwdrivers but at over $11 each I'm looking at $200+. The PB swiss handles look pretty cool and are between $4.50 and $7.35 each, but I'm not sure how well the would stay on the file. They look like they just press on to the end and perhaps have some type of barb in the hole to hold them on. I don't want wooden handles so I'm not considering them. Any thoughts, help or opinions would be great. Thank You
Dan

 

[HandyManny]

I've always used Lutz wooden handles available from my local Ace. They seem priced right and are comfortable in the hand. Just my input.

 

[JimDon]

Used golf balls, if you like a round file handle. Drill a pilot hole the appropriate size for a tight fit, about half way into the ball. Pound on the rest of the way. May not be the prettiest handle ever, but is functional, will keep the file tang from becoming part of your anatomy and is very low cost.
Just a thought.
Cheers,
JimDon

 

[JeremyManning]

nicholson make a holder that the files fit into an insert and then into the handle

 

[Steve_P]

the nicholson ergo handles are nice. They're $4-5 each so they'll add up. I found the best price locally at lowes.

 

[SARG]

* That's why I only purchased the sets with Handle included *

 

[TheGrooveking]

Files handles a must!!! Glad you are thinking about them. I've got a little story to tell.....

way back when I was in my early 20's I worked part time at a mold shop doing rough milling and grinding and other machinist work. Well I started at 4:00 p.m. and some of the guys from days would leave at 5:00 p.m.. So this day I come in and there is bunch of blood all over the floor and one the chuck/bed of lathes. I come to find out that one of the moldmakers was using the lather and he cut off a part and then usd a file without a handle to break the edge of the piece in the chuck and when he got a little to close to the chuck with the end of the file, it pushed the tang into the base of his palm and into his wrist.

So the guy returns to work 8 weeks later wearing a glove on his injured hand, this time he is drilling a 2" diameter hole into a 4" thick steel plate on a Ooya radial drill. Sure enough the bit has two huge three foot long chips whipping around and he reaches over to break them off. Not a good idea, the chip grabbed his glove and that then pulled his thumb off, including the tendon from completely up his arm!! I'm in the back of the shop and I hear screaming and run up to see him standing there with his thumb and tendon spinning around on the 2" bit. The shop foreman hit the stop button and they called the ambulance. He ended up loosing his thumb, he ended up retiring after that, which is a good thing because at the rate he was going he was going to end up dead.

So the lesson learned from this story is, - use a handle on the file.

TheGrooveking

 

[toymn6366]

i am using ski pole handles for my file handles i will try to get some pics tomorow

 

[OccupantRJ]

I was raised up in the shop using Skroo-Zon file handles and still do. They screw onto the tang of the file. See link

http://www.simondsinternational.com/files/acc-skroozon.php?menu=mnuPFiles

 

[UncleJoe]

Enco has MADE IN USA file handles like this

Price is $1.89 each

Page 335 in their online catalog shows a lot of file handles at various prices.

 

[HandyManny]

Used golf balls, if you like a round file handle. Drill a pilot hole the appropriate size for a tight fit, about half way into the ball. Pound on the rest of the way. May not be the prettiest handle ever, but is functional, will keep the file tang from becoming part of your anatomy and is very low cost.
Just a thought.
Cheers,
JimDon

That's a pretty good idea.

 

[Major Ramifications]

Grooveking, that was disgusting, but hilarious and educational.

I'll be watching this thread because I only have one file handle to my name and it always slips off. It's a Craftsman that has a tapered dealie that grips the tang as you tighten it. Now, with a bunch of Nicholson files that I don't need coming to me thanks to you guys, I've just got to get some more handles.

 

[Monte]

Stihl

Pferd

Elora

Bahco

 

[Monte]

 

[danc333]

Thanks Monte They are some nice handles. I'm gonna have to look into some of those. I like the pferd.

 

[american lockpicker]

I've always used Lutz wooden handles available from my local Ace. They seem priced right and are comfortable in the hand. Just my input.

If thats the ones that are made in Ohio its what I use.

 

[lwlobo]

This was talked about a while back as well if you want more ideas, including corn cobs!

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84188

My reccomendation is still these pferd's: affordable and good quality.

http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT2?PMPXNO=17750290&PMT4NO=99348936

 

[american lockpicker]

Stihl has a nice swiss made one for needle files.

 

[littletoes]

Snap-On also makes some great looking handles, and they weren't that much either.

 

[LincolnCont.]

Stay away from the RED PLASTIC NICHOLSON HANDLES...they don't hold for **** and they crack easily. I have Snap-On handles and am happy with them, although at 12 bucks a handle it does get rediculous. LoL! I did some modification to mine cuz the handles are too large for 6 and 8 inch mill ******* files so I removed the file inserts and placed them into two #1 SO screwdriver hard handles that I drilled out .

 

[wreckercologist]

danc333: The Snap-on file handles screw on and are reusable.

TheGrooveking: That is exactly why I was taught to never use a file without a handle on a lathe. Scary stuff.

The Lutz wooden handles are fine, and comfortable, but I prefer the Snap-on for these reasons: Four sides. They won't roll off a table/work area when used with a triangle file or round file, and it is easier for me to control the file with the four sided handle.........not ragging on the other handles posted here, just pointing out why say that.

The old man used golf balls. Works fine, cheap, not too comforable IMO.

 

[rsanter]

I have one of the snap on handles and really like it
with that said I gerw up using the old style wood handles and like those alot as well

bob

 

[fflintstone]

I went to a nearby Amish general store and bought these cheap forester chainsaw file handles for $0.50 each. $3.50 and my 7 pc set was covered.

http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=15215&catID=

You can get 36 of them for $20 at baileys

 

[otis66]

I use the same wooden handles I was taught to use in metal shop back in 7th grade 33 years ago.