Best File Handle?

[Downwindtracker 2]

My saw sharpening files have old Cluthe' handles. For that use, I find their shape works best. I have a wood lathe, so I will make various shaped for handles. But I've use an end of a broom handle and tie wire for ferrule

 

[Davefr]

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

could the thumb screw be replaced with a set screw?

Not that I've ever noticed. I'm sure a set screw could be used but the beauty of the thumb screw is that it's easy to attach and remove the file.

 

[Kenstone1]

um...

 

[nodoor]

PFERD ergonomic soft grip handles, come in six different sizes

 

[Moldyjim]

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

I just picked up 4-5 more of these at the estate sale, they are great.

 

[Moldyjim]

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 have a couple of those, they also work great as temporary handles when making stick tang knives.

Saw these when I checked your Amazon link, lol.

 

[JonesRestorationCo]

just got a new nicholson from home depot! cuts like a knife through butter

 

[JonesRestorationCo]

Does anyone know the history of files or filecutting?

 

[RTM]

This might get you started. Doubt it goes back to the beginning. Never read either myself.

File Filosophy : Fifteenth Edition : 1928 : Nicholson File Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

52 p., illus., 15.2 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

File Facts : Simonds Saw and Steel Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

14 p., illus., 15.2 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[nbpt100]

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

You may find this post from earlier this year interesting. It also goes a bit into file restoration for anyone interested.

Good quality files -What do you recomend

I need some good quality files for cleaning up cuts on steel and alum. Different geometries. Flats rounds, squares. I have some inexpensive files and they are disappointingly dull. They got dull fast. At the Orange Box store I see the Husky brand and the Nicholson brand. Is either considered...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Davefr]

I just picked up 4-5 more of these at the estate sale, they are great.

"You ****"!! Those are very hard to find these days.

 

[JonesRestorationCo]

You may find this post from earlier this year interesting. It also goes a bit into file restoration for anyone interested.

Good quality files -What do you recomend

I need some good quality files for cleaning up cuts on steel and alum. Different geometries. Flats rounds, squares. I have some inexpensive files and they are disappointingly dull. They got dull fast. At the Orange Box store I see the Husky brand and the Nicholson brand. Is either considered...

www.garagejournal.com

Thanks! Seems like there are some filosophers here!

 

[JonesRestorationCo]

Does anyone know if rubbing copper across the teeth will actually clean out the file? Ive seen it done on many videos and it seems to work by just taking any piece of copper and making the grooves on a flat end.

 

[Kenstone1]

Does anyone know if rubbing copper across the teeth will actually clean out the file? Ive seen it done on many videos and it seems to work by just taking any piece of copper and making the grooves on a flat end.

Yes, the corner of a piece of aluminum or hardwood will push the pins out of the teeth of any file, more so a mill ******* though.
A flattened piece of copper tubing is what I use.
just sayin',
.

 

[JonesRestorationCo]

heres a photo i found online of someone doing it

 

[Kenstone1]

heres a photo i found online of someone doing it

Yes, the wires of a file card are hard and can dull a file so anything soft is a better choice.
jmo,
Edit: that's a unique file as the teeth go straight across and I think would chatter, could be a special for something else besides metal.
Maybe a furriers file
.

 

[mr.lemons]

Bahco are nice and grippy if you like plastic/rubber handles.

 

[RTM]

Buddy of mine does it with aluminum sign scraps to clean. The file being cleaned looks like a wood usage file.

 

[RAS61]

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

There's a good YouTube video on making these. I like screwdrivers with comfort grips, I imagine they'd be great on a file

 

[javyLSU]

I had my Snap-on dealer order me one of the Instinct soft grip file handles to try out, runs about $20. Very happy with the purchase and leverage I get. I told him to order me 3 more for the rest of my files.

 

[d.mcfarland]

A brass bullet casing works the same as copper tubing. Whichever is available works great!

 

[Grant Gunderson]

Here is my file drawer

I had actually ordered the Pferd ones for my Aluminum specific Pferd files, but hated the handles to sent them back and ordered Snapon handles for all of them. If I was to do it over again, I would order different colored handles for the ALU files. I have owned the Nickelson handles in the past, and they just dont stay tight like the Snapon ones do.

 

[seber]

Grant, what do you use the chisel files for?

 

[Grant Gunderson]

Grant, what do you use the chisel files for?

Those are Rasps for wood or plastic.

 

[rlitman]

Does anyone know if rubbing copper across the teeth will actually clean out the file? Ive seen it done on many videos and it seems to work by just taking any piece of copper and making the grooves on a flat end.

Copper works. Brass works better if you have it. Aluminum is more likely to get stuck than to clean.

If you care about your files, you'll clean them using a soft metal, and not with steel file cards that destroy them.

 

[seber]

I don't know why people think a file card would damage a file. Used properly, it should go lightly across the teeth and since it is softer than the file, should be at worst no different than what the file is used for.

 

[Kenstone1]

I don't know why people think a file card would damage a file. Used properly, it should go lightly across the teeth and since it is softer than the file, should be at worst no different than what the file is used for.

Not sure about "people" but I know a file card will damage/dull a file.

The file card wires are as hard as or harder than the file, not softer.
If you don't believe that, try to "file" those wires, the file will skip right over them.
And the edges of the file teeth will get "shiny".
Never mind, don't do that, no use in ruining your file to prove a(my) point.

 

[metaldad]

I don't know why people think a file card would damage a file. Used properly, it should go lightly across the teeth and since it is softer than the file, should be at worst no different than what the file is used for.

with that in mind, how 'bout a steel or brass bristle brush gently applied?
and, i used screwdriver handles on mine

 

[JonesRestorationCo]

with that in mind, how 'bout a steel or brass bristle brush gently applied?
and, i used screwdriver handles on mine

didnt know that a file card would do that i just use the piece of copper now seems to work good enough

 

[seber]

Not sure about "people" but I know a file card will damage/dull a file.

The file card wires are as hard as or harder than the file, not softer.
If you don't believe that, try to "file" those wires, the file will skip right over them.
And the edges of the file teeth will get "shiny".
Never mind, don't do that, no use in ruining your file to prove a(my) point.

If the wires were harder than "file hard" they would break the first time you used it. Files are made as hard as high carbon steel can get. Usually around 64-66 rockwell C. Spring temper is used for file cards. That is around 50-54 rockwell C. The file won't cut the wire because the wire springs away. You can't get enough pressure to cut.

 

[Moldyjim]

While I suspect file cards are okay, especially since they are made by file companies for use on their files...
They wouldn't offer a product that wears their tool out faster so you have to replace them sooner, would they...?

But I haven't had a lot of luck using them myself. A piece of brass sheet metal, cartridge case or a piece of wood pushed across the teeth does the job better in my opinion.

I have tried the old chalk trick and it never seemed to do much. Oil makes things worse, but a light layer of kerosene with a little mineral oil worked best for me.

I have probably worn out hundreds if not a couple of thousand files over the last 45 years. Tons of aluminum parts, 6061 and 7075 mostly. Some of the lower alloy aluminum were really bad for loading up files.

For my jewelers and fine files I have a very fine brass bristle brush made for suede leather by Fuller brush company. It works well and doesn't harm the teeth.

 

[Tinner]

If the wires were harder than "file hard" they would break the first time you used it. Files are made as hard as high carbon steel can get. Usually around 64-66 rockwell C. Spring temper is used for file cards. That is around 50-54 rockwell C. The file won't cut the wire because the wire springs away. You can't get enough pressure to cut.

This.

 

[rlitman]

If the wires were harder than "file hard" they would break the first time you used it. Files are made as hard as high carbon steel can get. Usually around 64-66 rockwell C. Spring temper is used for file cards. That is around 50-54 rockwell C. The file won't cut the wire because the wire springs away. You can't get enough pressure to cut.

Un huh. Regardless, spring temper is more than hard enough to dull file edges. Would you use a file card to clean your kitchen knives?

 

[dr_clyde]

I've been using file cards to clean files for years, they are absolutely fine. They are designed to clean out a file, and they work as intended. If you are dulling your files from file card use, you probably are using the wrong file for what you're cutting or you're using a file card every other stroke. An appropriate file doesn't clog up nearly as fast when used on what they were intended to cut. Aluminum clogs up a mill ******* file, but that's not what they were meant for. Use an aluminum cut file and the chips just fall out of the teeth. Most of the time, I can just wipe the file across my jeans and the chips fall out, no file card needed.

I would also point out that files are a consumable, and they are intended to be thrown away and replaced when they do get dull from use. I keep boxes of Nicholson, PFRED, Grobet, and Simmonds and Bahco files around the shop, and when they are dull they hit the trash faster than an old kleenex. I'm not wasting time and money getting sentimental about disposable tools. "These rusty old files were my Grandpa's!" Yep, and I have inherited drawers full of old files from my relatives too. I sorted out the good ones and the rest hit the bin. Keep the handles and maybe some weird hard to find ones, then scrap the rest. New files are cheap compared to lost time and energy using old dull files or sending them out for "re-sharpening". Which is simply an acid soak to eat away the teeth a bit and liven them up.

As far as handles, I use Skrooz-On and PFERD and have never had an issue. The Lutz ones loosen up pretty quick, and the SO ones are really nice and comfortable, just triple the price of a PFERD. If that's your jam, keep on shining.

I re-sharpen expensive cutters like carbide end mills, chain saw chain, countersinks, router bits, large twist drills, saw blades, and stuff like that. But a new file is like, $10 and you get months of use out of it. Not worth the hassle to re-sharpen, pop a new one in and keep making money, bill a file to the tooling budget on the job.

If you've got nothing but time and re-sharpening an old file gives you the fizz, go for it. But I would put it up there with washing out fast food cups and re-using take out containers. Why??

 

[seber]

I always resharpen files one time and mark them as such. I can sharpen a dozen files in fifteen minutes. With that kind of payback it makes no sense to toss them. A second time does not happen unless it is an old Nicholson. Those can be resharpened until the teeth are gone altogether.

 

[Kenstone1]

I always re-sharpen files one time and mark them as such. I can sharpen a dozen files in fifteen minutes. With that kind of payback it makes no sense to toss them. A second time does not happen unless it is an old Nicholson. Those can be re-sharpened until the teeth are gone altogether.

yeh, that
And old files can be made into endless other tools.
I'd get all the files turned in to the tool crib as being worn out.
I would take them home as most were just dirty/pinned, clean them, not with a file card, and give them to friends and family.

An "old/worn out" file makes a great chipping hammer for weld flux/slag, a wood chisel, wood or metal lathe gouge, scraper, etc.
I can't remember ever throwing out a "worn" out file but rather save them for a future custom tool.
jmo,

 

[JonesRestorationCo]

hmm.. so file cards are okay to use?

 

[dr_clyde]

I always resharpen files one time and mark them as such. I can sharpen a dozen files in fifteen minutes. With that kind of payback it makes no sense to toss them. A second time does not happen unless it is an old Nicholson. Those can be resharpened until the teeth are gone altogether.

Just curious, how are you re-sharpening them? I assume chemically?

 

[Bubba Fett]

um...

It takes a lot of balls to do something like that.

 

[dr_clyde]

yeh, that
And old files can be made into endless other tools.
I'd get all the files turned in to the tool crib as being worn out.
I would take them home as most were just dirty/pinned, clean them, not with a file card, and give them to friends and family.

An "old/worn out" file makes a great chipping hammer for weld flux/slag, a wood chisel, scraper, etc.
I can't remember ever throwing out a "worn" out file but rather save them for a future custom tool.
jmo,

Or, hear me out, just buy a good chipping hammer and you're set for life on chipping hammers.

If I go into a shop and see they have home made tools out of old files, especially common/cheap tools like a chipping hammer, I automatically have learned something about that shop. It just looks flat out unprofessional and reeks of cheap charlie. They may be the best shop in the hemisphere, but if they can't spend $20 on a chipping hammer or whatever, I know they're going to cut corners in other places and I don't know where.

This is clearly one of the instances where the home shop with unlimited time for free wins, where if you are making money with your tools you cannot justify using worn out, broken tools.

You also are never going to convince me that a file card is somehow wearing out files? They've been used for DECADES and this is literally the first time I am hearing about it. Every machine shop I have ever been in has had a file card hanging somewhere on the tool bench.

You do you, but I'm going to continue throwing out broken/dull tools and making money with new, sharp tools.