Best File Handle?

[JonesRestorationCo]

What file handle do you use? I personally like a plastic or wood handle. Not a big fan of golfballs or corncobs. Share yours!

 

[blazemaster83]

I have used just about everything and I like these http://www.mainewoodconcepts.com/index.php?id=511&sub_id=519

 

[wafrederick]

Wood,have made them out of junk wood hammer handles.Cut to length and drill a hole in them

 

[RTM]

If I’m in a hurry, small job, wine cork
Little bigger job, champagne work

serious work, or people watching, a wooden file handle, whatever fits the file and the hand.

Real serious metal hogging, a vintage Stearns.

E. C. Stearns & Co. Catalogue of Hardware : 1924 : E. C. Stearns & Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

92 p., illus., 22.6 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[AmericanMechanic]

The screw-zon linked above. Doesn't fall off like a taper-mount handle

 

[Lwel9226]

I have used just about everything and I like these http://www.mainewoodconcepts.com/index.php?id=511&sub_id=519

These are about the best ones around.... IMHO....

I have several that I cut the tang off of to get rid of the "spear point" .... works pretty good....

LynnW

 

[Dave455]

Best option seems to be to get files with handles pre fitted. They never seem to come loose. Unfortunately, the handles always seem to be “minimum acceptable” quality, even on the decent files.

I hate the screw on handles. They always seem to come loose.

Best ”aftermarket” option seems to be a decent wooden handle (the “Python” handles shown below seem to be better than most) or a good quality hard plastic handle. The PB Swiss are CAB, so very durable, and come in different colours so you can quickly find the grade of file you need!

 

[seber]

Old plastic screwdriver handles work as well as anything you can buy. They hold better than anything else I've tried including Skrooz-on.

 

[Fatboy148]

I don't know if they are the best but for me these wood handles were a good compromise between quality and price. I liked them a lot more than the Nicholson offerings that I tried and they were about half the price. You do have to drill the wood to fit the file you want it to go on and I found with most of them, I could use the next size larger handle than they list them to be used on. I have dozens of them. Having said all that, DO NOT try to purchase the Mercer plastic handle version they offer in the listing as it will not be the number they appear to advertise, you will get.... one handle and inserts!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MYBH12Y/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Bubba Fett]

I don't know if they are the best but for me these wood handles were a good compromise between quality and price. I liked them a lot more than the Nicholson offerings that I tried and they were about half the price. You do have to drill the wood to fit the file you want it to go on and I found with most of them, I could use the next size larger handle than they list them to be used on. I have dozens of them. Having said all that, DO NOT try to purchase the Mercer plastic handle version they offer in the listing as it will not be the number they appear to advertise, you will get.... one handle and inserts!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MYBH12Y/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I like those as well. Quite comfy, and you can stain/urethane/paint them if you want.

 

[FMB4]

I like the wood with steel ferule 'knock on' types. The plastic molded on to the file is good for me as well. Then there are the wood with spring wire wrapped ferule types that work very well. I don't see these much anymore tho.

 

[Davefr]

These are my favorite. Comfortable grip and can easily be transferred from file to file.

 

[nadogail]

Lately I have been drilling a hole in a length of closet pole and calling that a file handle.

 

[designer485]

This Nicholson soft grip has worked well for me. Cheap too.

 

[marak]

I chose to make my own file handles out of old broom handles and misc. dowels that I had lying around and out of old driver handles and paint brush handles, then epoxied them on. Proportioning the handle to the size of file has been beneficial. Have had most of these for over 15 years and have had no problems with function. Now that I have a wood lathe, a profile will be added to future homemade handles. Nothing worse than an old rusty and sweaty tang!

 

[JradM]

I've been making my own handles on my lathe. Nice AND cheap. However, if I weren't DIY'ing I would probably order these:

https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/tools/hand-tools/files-and-rasps/files/20136-self-threading-file-handles

Self-threading, pretty inexpensive, made in the USA.

 

[steaks&anvils]

Cut from chair legs/spindles or railing spindles. Some have a nice long taper and others have the "ball" style. Modify with a rasp/file as needed.

You can get chairs off the trash or at the thrift/garage sales.

 

[dutchgray]

I like the PB Swiss ones but I have found them hard to get lately.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

I check out files at the fleamarket, if they have a screw-on file handle and they are cheap, they are my preference. The files I throw away.

 

[FMB4]

I've been using leftover cheap foam paint brush wood handles on my needle file set for some years now.

 

[JonesRestorationCo]

Does anyone keep their old files? after mine get dull i put them all in a box but i never use a dull file, I always buy new ones.

 

[dnschmidt]

The wooden ones that McMaster-Carr sells. Looks like the file handle on the round file in the middle of the drawer in Marak's post.

 

[Forgottonia]

I've made them out of a short, knotty length of a sycamore stick. The knot fits well in the hand.

 

[marak]

Dull files can be rejuvenated by immersing them in a mild acid solution such as acetic acid (vinegar) followed by a dip in a solution of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). Stronger acids can be used and would require less immersion time...just remember to "do as you otter and always add acid to water". Before immersion in the acid, I clean the files with a file card or something not as hard as the file to dislodge gunk the file card is unable to remove. After immersion in the baking soda solution, which neutralizes the acid, make sure the file is completely dry. For this I often blow it off using an air gun attached to the air compressor. Completely rubbish files I set aside for converting into other useful tools.

 

[Legion Prime]

Whatever I can find, I see a cheap handle on Amazon? Add it on, I've got a file for it. Broken shovel handle? Hell yeah I've got files that need handles. I find a branch big enough you're damn right I'll use a chunk of it. I've got more files than I know where to put them let alone what to do with them all.

 

[Steve_P]

I have many of the the Nicholson shown above. Very nice and comfy.

 

[haveissues]

I really like the snapon hard file handles. The ones I have are like the hard handle screwdrivers or williams hard handle screwdrivers.

 

[RTM]

Does anyone keep their old files? after mine get dull i put them all in a box but i never use a dull file, I always buy new ones.

i send mine to Boggs Tools in Paramount CA to get resharpened. Learned about them from a guy who made tools, he'd send new files there for sharpening before he used them.

I buy old files made by good brands to send there. Some fans say they are much better than new, and I can get oddball shapes that almost no one sells anymore.

Boggs Tool & File Sharpening Company

14100 Orange Ave, Paramount, CA 90723 [email protected] (800) 547-5244

boggstool.com

 

[ray h]

I didn't see but one handle in a picture but I always liked the Lutz long ferrule handles.

 

[tool_scrounge]

I really like this type of Nicholson since it clamps in place with a screw drive and is easily removable.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014IWD3OA/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[lilredex]

Most of my file handles are DIY projects.

 

[TOTO]

I really like this type of Nicholson since it clamps in place with a screw drive and is easily removable.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014IWD3OA/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I like this style also. Just wish I could find them in green.

 

[steaks&anvils]

These are my favorite. Comfortable grip and can easily be transferred from file to file.

Question: does the thumb screw get in the way when used?

could the thumb screw be replaced with a set screw?

 

[ecotec]

I don’t think that it matters that much. Most of mine are Lutz, but there are other brands mixed in and some homemade. I do prefer to have handles on the vast majority of my files. I have a few small handles with collets for needle files.

 

[seber]

some years ago when I had a wood lathe I copied my fathers method of making file handles. Turn them on a lathe and use wire for the ferrule. The one in the middle is my dad's version. He used solder to close the ends of the wire. I bent the ends and stuck them into the wood about 3/16". I wish I had made a lot more of them, but at the time, I just didn't have many files and didn't think I needed more. I now have over 50.

 

[larry4406]

Damn you all! Another thing I need!

 

[JonesRestorationCo]

Im in need of a new file for a vise restoration. Is nicholson the best im gonna get at home depot?

 

[kjbenner]

Most of mine are from House Handle. They're kind of roughly made, but the hickory holds up well. I always mount mine by heating up the tang with a torch and hammering the handle on, and have never had problems with it coming loose.

 

[RTM]

Im in need of a new file for a vise restoration. Is nicholson the best im gonna get at home depot?

Yes, but that's a pretty low bar.

 

[RTM]

Question: does the thumb screw get in the way when used?

could the thumb screw be replaced with a set screw?

I turn mine so the screw is up, so not in the way. Mine is a 12-28 (maybe 12-24) screw, so I'm happy I found one, much less a set screw.