Best File Handles?

[Kalos]

So I bought a bunch of mill and lathe files. Mostly 8"/10", some longer.
These are Tome Feteira files, from Portugal, said to be among the best.
There is no reliable USA distributor, so I bought mine from ArcEuroTrade, in England: arceurotrade.co.uk. Prices are reasonable.

I didn't buy the Feteira file handles, because they are are "hammer in" handles – probably getting loose sooner or later.

So, what is the best handle?
Skroo-Zon? General Tools 890? Kobalt KLJH1? Something else?

 

[L.Cheapo]

I bought a handful of the 890s for the file set I bought for Epstein's Day last year. They're plastic, but grip well and are surprisingly nice for the price. I wasn't expecting much, but I am happy with them. The ones I received were USA made.

 

[rlitman]

I use Pferd and Snap On screw on handles.

 

[Boilerhouse]

Most of my handles are made in North America, more specifically, made in my shop. They are actually easy to make if you have a lathe. Files however, are kind of old and crappy and should be upgraded.

 

[BD1]

Golf balls work well and are cheap.
My favorite are farrier rasp handles. There nice and hand friendly and different types.
These are the ones I have . If you buy from Centaur Forge they have a first time buyer 10% off. See fullsite.

https://www.centaurforge.com/Equithotics-Rasp-Handle/productinfo/COMFORT/

Some others,
http://montanafarriersupply.com/rasp-handles/

https://www.centaurforge.com/Rasps-Rasp-Handles/products/375/

 

[lilredex]

Also easy to make if you have no lathe....they could be the "screw-on" type too, with some ingenuity.

https://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-File-Handles-Without-a-Lathe/

 

[davethorik]

Skrooz-on are pretty good

 

[johninct]

I prefer the wooden Snap-On screw on ones. I don't like as much the Snap-On plastic ones ,but still use them too.

 

[eschoendorff]

I mainly use the Nicholson soft grip handles. I also like some cheap Stihl branded handles for my smaller files.

Are they the best? Prolly not but the work fine for me and didn’t break the bank.

 

[dr_clyde]

I use Skrooz-on for most of my files, and have had no issues with them. They are cheap, effective, and stay put. I find the Lutz handles come loose too easily for my taste.

My files I use for stainless sanitary equipment are the PFERD blue plastic ones. They work ok, but I think the threaded on style has more bite.

I use the PFERD ones for 2 reasons. I try to keep some tools that have only been used on stainless separate, and the blue color helps with that. Helps keep carbon steel from contaminating the stainless.

The primary reason is some facilities won't allow any wood in the premises. This is mostly due to certain FDA production requirements. Some of my customers are in the dairy industry, and follow sanitary and 3A requirements very strictly. No wood handles on tools, no wood pallets, no wood construction that isn't sealed and covered, ect.

 

[WhataTool]

My files I use for stainless sanitary equipment are the PFERD blue plastic ones. .

Same here, no food or sanitary reasons to do so though. I used to use a file about 200 times a day and the gunk, grime, grease and everything else that builds up on a wooden handle from actual repeated daily use gets really not workable over time.

 

[Shootinok]

Golf balls work well and are cheap.

This ^ for me - I use golf balls.
They fit right in the palm of my hand and offer great flexibility in positioning.

 

[Dave455]

I’m never totally satisfied with the screw on handles, they always seem to work loose.

Most of the times I use the ‘Python’ handles. The ferrule is better designed than most, and I stain the handles different colours so I can find different grades of file quickly.

Otherwise, the best made are probably the PB Swiss. A choice of colours is available.

 

[Air21]

Any file handle is better than no file handle!

 

[Legion Prime]

I generally make my own, I'll still buy any I see if they're cheap enough. I've got some with handles that were probably made by my grandfather and with the stash I pulled out of my buddies house when he died I've made most myself. I started with a snow shovel handle that luckily had broken at one end. I'd shape them with a 4 in hand, drill the center in stages with 2-3 different sized drill bits and pound em on. I split one or two (both the ones I made and store bought) but I am making progress. This is maybe half my files, about half of the remainder have handles so far.

 

[jonshonda]

Most of my handles are made in North America, more specifically, made in my shop. They are actually easy to make if you have a lathe. Files however, are kind of old and crappy and should be upgraded.

Where do you source the ferrules for the handle?

 

[Boilerhouse]

Where do you source the ferrules for the handle?

I use 1/2 inch copper pipe cut about an inch long and press it on with an arbor press. Stainless tubing would probably look sharp but I didn't have a cheap source.

 

[californiaHank]

Nicholson wood handles with long metal ferrules.
Comfortable and come in many sizes. I think the 'one size fits all' plastic handles ****.
The Nicholson ones are traditional oil or wax finish - much better than shiny varnish.
Last ones I bought were Mexico rather than US made, but still good quality.

 

[Prospecter]

I've repurposed cheap screwdriver handles I had lying about. Pulled the soft steel shafts out of the handle and then pounded the handles on files. Split some. Most work. Would work better if I step drilled the holes, or oversized the hole and used epoxy, but that's more time then I had.

 

[greg13]

Piece of wood dowel with a hole drilled, just tap the file in till it's tight. Cheap & easy.

 

[MattT]

I didn't buy the Feteira file handles, because they are are "hammer in" handles – probably getting loose sooner or later.

If you're talking about the wooden ones heat the tang and push them into the handle. That burns a taper into the handle that isn't going to work loose.

For plastic I've got some Bahco and Pferd that work well. Also got a few with old screwdriver handles I heated the tang and pushed them in.

 

[Kalos]

Best File Rack ?

So I bought a bunch of mill and lathe files. Mostly 8"/10", some longer.
These are Tome Feteira files, from Portugal, said to be among the best.

Elsewhere, I've asked about file handles.

Now, how about commercially-available file racks? What is a good one?
(I think I prefer file racks with slots so that the files sit vertical).

 

[Corndoggeh]

The old cast iron ones are the best for me.

 

[CR888]

Piece of wood dowel with a hole drilled, just tap the file in till it's tight. Cheap & easy.

I like it! Probably much better than the cheap Chinese file handles most box stores sell.

 

[steaks&anvils]

I make my own using dowels or old broom/shovel handles or even wooden outdoor umbrella posts (these break a lot in the high winds we get). You can also use chair legs or stair spindles. These have lots of good shapes to fit your hand.

On trash day and on city sponsored spring/fall clean up trash days, I find lots of handles on the trash. Broken or old etc. People just toss them. Also broken chairs show up often.

And when people move. Renters leaving or sold homes, always yard tools or cleaning stuff.

A garage sale chair can supply a lot of handles. LOL

 

[bobislassis]

I always get them from europe

 

[davethorik]

The old cast iron ones are the best for me.

I have a couple of those. They're nice but the protruding screw gets in the way. I'll have to see if I can find a set screw that will fit them.

 

[Steve_P]

I have the Nicholson black rubber ones. Nice and comfy, stay on, but not cheap

 

[NC Rick]

I too like and have great luck with the Lutz “Skrooz-On” handles. They are made in the USA out of our trees, have long sturdy ferrules and smooth straight grain. They are not expensive, have old world quality and functionality. I will no longer look elsewhere.

 

[Tallpilot]

I like the Snap-on Instinct screw on handles. I know that will make Fedwrench lose his mind. I don't use files much though; mostly for cleaning rust and occasionally for deburring something I cut with a saw or cut-off wheel.

 

[kald]

This ^ for me - I use golf balls.
They fit right in the palm of my hand and offer great flexibility in positioning.

Drill a hole in the golf ball?

 

[Indexmill]

File handles?? *****.

 

[tarbellb]

I like the Snap-on Instinct screw on handles. I know that will make Fedwrench lose his mind. I don't use files much though; mostly for cleaning rust and occasionally for deburring something I cut with a saw or cut-off wheel.

Haha, what a difference. One guy who chimed in about using wood file to the point of sanitary and usage concern is using a <$5 handle vs a SO$$!

90% of users need a wood dowel with a hole in it to supplement a decent handle.

 

[neophyte]

The Lutz wood push on file handles have always been the ones recommended to me by people who use files a lot.

Alternately, if you want to go fancy, you could buy the Lie-Nielsen Rasp Handles.
https://www.lie-nielsen.com/product...e-nielsen-rasp-handles-?path=auriou&node=4064

 

[dnschmidt]

I get my wooden handle drive on handles from McMaster-Carr. I use to steal these from work when I worked at Westinghouse R&D Center in Pittsburgh but after Westinghouse closed I couldn't find them anymore and then one day there they were in the McMaster-
Carr catalog.