Hammer1963
Well-known member
Quality and comfortable File handles are hard to come by. I have used/owned many types, materials and styles. What do you guys like and where are you getting them from/making them with.
Good File handles / What do you use
- Thread starter Hammer1963
- Start date
canuckian
Well-known member
I use both the nickelson and the SO hard handle ones. Both are very comfortable and durable though I do like the snap on's better.The nickelson came from Princess Auto and the snappys I got from EBay. Just picked up another like new set of 4 off eBay last week.
Hank McMauser
Well-known member
I have a few commercially made handles but corn-cob seems to work pretty good for the smaller files like those used for chainsaw sharpening they're cheap(free) too.
trboxman
Well-known member
I make my own out of maple and a piece of copper pipe as a ferrule.
harvero
Well-known member
I'd like to a photos of these. Most of my files are naked.
Soon2AdjustYou
Well-known member
trboxman
Well-known member
Here is a pic of a screw driver handle.
And in this pic you can see a file handle in the background.
And in this pic you can see a file handle in the background.
Honda guy
Well-known member
A word of warning. Some golf balls used to be made with an acid core in the center. I don't know if they're still made that way.
When i was a kid, a friend and I were drilling holes in golf balls and some had a liquid in the center that would come squirting out. Turns out it was acid, so the next time my mom washed clothes, my shirt & pants were full of holes. I guess we were lucky the stuff didn't get in our eyes.
I have no idea WHY we were drilling holes in golf balls.
woody 73
Well-known member
You can buy a box of file handles or buy them one at a time from most of your hardware stores. I have seen the golf ball handles but not for my sore & tired hands, next time you are at lowes they carry a nice selection of handles.
PS. if you have a metal/wood lathe you can make your own.
PS. if you have a metal/wood lathe you can make your own.
Soon2AdjustYou
Well-known member
A word of warning. Some golf balls used to be made with an acid core in the center. I don't know if they're still made that way.
When i was a kid, a friend and I were drilling holes in golf balls and some had a liquid in the center that would come squirting out. Turns out it was acid, so the next time my mom washed clothes, my shirt & pants were full of holes. I guess we were lucky the stuff didn't get in our eyes.
I have no idea WHY we were drilling holes in golf balls.
they are all solid core now...lol
I use a lot of files. I have made my own and I have tried about every handle I had access to over the years. (I still make my own handles for wood chisels)
For files I like the Lutz Skroo-Zon ones. My reasoning:
1. They really "screw" on by twisting the handle around a get a great grip.
2. The softer stuff inside that does the screwing provides some vibration isolation. This really makes a difference for long term filing on steel stock.
3. They are not expensive.
4. They are wood (on the outside).
Wholesale Tool: http://tool.wttool.com/search?w=file+handle&asug=file+han
I buy from above but if you must have everything via amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...kroo+file+handle&rh=i:aps,k:Skroo+file+handle
If you want to make your own, I recommend an article that was (re-?)published in Lautard's 3rd Bedside reader (I am unsure who wrote the article) about measuring your hand and producing a custom handle. http://www.lautard.com/t3.htm
PS - I recommend reading Guy Lautard in general
For files I like the Lutz Skroo-Zon ones. My reasoning:
1. They really "screw" on by twisting the handle around a get a great grip.
2. The softer stuff inside that does the screwing provides some vibration isolation. This really makes a difference for long term filing on steel stock.
3. They are not expensive.
4. They are wood (on the outside).
Wholesale Tool: http://tool.wttool.com/search?w=file+handle&asug=file+han
I buy from above but if you must have everything via amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...kroo+file+handle&rh=i:aps,k:Skroo+file+handle
If you want to make your own, I recommend an article that was (re-?)published in Lautard's 3rd Bedside reader (I am unsure who wrote the article) about measuring your hand and producing a custom handle. http://www.lautard.com/t3.htm
PS - I recommend reading Guy Lautard in general
toolmaker1
Well-known member
I just buy Stihl or Husky file handles from the local saw shop. Cheap and they do the job just fine.
G_P
Well-known member
same here.
Some are even made from wooden pegs used to hang coats up. They are perfect for small precision files.
Scout Driver
Well-known member
I have been picking up beat-up, wood handled screw drivers for cheap or free. Pull out the shaft, clean up the handle and fit it to the file. Otherwise, I have a Nicholson handle that works with multiple files. Not fancy, but does the job well.
Scott
Scott
I personally like the Nicholson ergonomic rubber handles:
http://www.amazon.com/Nicholson-Ergonomic-Rubber-Handle-Inserts/dp/B001T4FGS2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325526963&sr=8-2
http://www.amazon.com/Nicholson-Ergonomic-Rubber-Handle-Inserts/dp/B001T4FGS2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325526963&sr=8-2
sporkedtospec
Well-known member
A word of warning. Some golf balls used to be made with an acid core in the center. I don't know if they're still made that way.
When i was a kid, a friend and I were drilling holes in golf balls and some had a liquid in the center that would come squirting out. Turns out it was acid, so the next time my mom washed clothes, my shirt & pants were full of holes. I guess we were lucky the stuff didn't get in our eyes.
I have no idea WHY we were drilling holes in golf balls.
Golf balls here. A nice brad point bit will get a clean undersized hole, place some epoxy in the hole and press the file in. Some say the epoxy is not needed and will stay tight without it.
Cork stoppers from wine bottles make decent handles. I have those on my smaller files.
As a funny aside, in middle school I wanted to use golf balls as planets for a solar system project. I clamped one in a vice and started to cut into it as the plan was to show a 1/4 cross section removed. As I got around 1/3rd of the way in it started to make a funny noise. As dumb 13yr olds will do, I positioned my face vertically over the ball to get a clearer look when the rubber core shot out of the outer casing at the speed of light and hit me directly over the eye.
If life truly flashes before your eyes, I'm looking forward to seeing the look on my face at that moment.
When I was 13, my brother (a year older) bet me that I couldn't knock a crow out of a tree on the other side of our yard (about 250 feet away). He upped the ante by betting me $100 that I couldn't hit it, but saying that since he was "so sure I would miss" that I "wouldn't have to pay him if I lost".
One shot, one dead crow.
To this day I'm not sure how I did it, but I had nothing to lose and $100 to gain, so I went for it. That was truly a one-in-a-million shot. I took his hundred and never looked back.
archirelic
Well-known member
These are what I use. I have several on my most used files and then a couple loose ones to swap out amongst the lesser-used files.
AZ_Catskinner
Well-known member
I just use a piece of rubber hose on most of mine. The only ones that get "special" handles are the ones I keep in the roll for precision jobs - they've got the basic, non-ergonomic Pferd plastic handles.
Basskiller
Well-known member
i like the handels from bahco http://www.powertoolsdirect.com/bahco-9-485-09-1p-handle-for-flat-half-round-files
jvo
Well-known member
Originally Posted by reptilezs
i use golf balls
pics??
Being an avid golfer, I'd really like to see this!
First time I ever saw golf ball file handles was in a book called "Shop Savvy" and I don't recall the author's name. Been around for a long time.
And I have to say that I prefer the way the golf ball handles fit in the palm of my hand compared to a regular file handle. Just drill a hole partway through the golf ball and drive it over the tang of the file. Simple as that.
What I can't figure out is why file handles are so expensive compared to so many other "little pieces of plastic".
i use golf balls
pics??
Being an avid golfer, I'd really like to see this!
First time I ever saw golf ball file handles was in a book called "Shop Savvy" and I don't recall the author's name. Been around for a long time.
And I have to say that I prefer the way the golf ball handles fit in the palm of my hand compared to a regular file handle. Just drill a hole partway through the golf ball and drive it over the tang of the file. Simple as that.
What I can't figure out is why file handles are so expensive compared to so many other "little pieces of plastic".
HandyManny
Well-known member
I prefere the Ash or Birch wood handles for files. A company names Lutz still makes them in New England somewhere. They are a bit difficut to find, used to get mine at my local Ace Hardware.
demographic
Well-known member
My local secondhand tool sales barn has so many old files that I can get enough handles to last me a lifetime for less than a fiver.
rwhite692
Well-known member
I have a question... tried to do a Google search for this, unfortunately the word "file" is way too common....
what are the "number" designations and the corresponding sizes, for the file "tails"?
For example, this one is a "#6"....
http://www.amazon.com/Skroo-Zon-File-Handle-6/dp/B0017PPXMW/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1326138287&sr=8-8
I have a drawer full of files for which I would like to buy and install handles...But I'd like to be able to know for sure what "number" sizes I need for them.
what are the "number" designations and the corresponding sizes, for the file "tails"?
For example, this one is a "#6"....
http://www.amazon.com/Skroo-Zon-File-Handle-6/dp/B0017PPXMW/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1326138287&sr=8-8
I have a drawer full of files for which I would like to buy and install handles...But I'd like to be able to know for sure what "number" sizes I need for them.
Last edited:
KershawMan
Active member
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2011
- Messages
- 38
For large files I use handles from old umbrellas that I find in the trash. The curved handles on small umbrellas are uless, but the larger golf style umbrellas usually have straight handles that work very well. Best of all - they are free!
This link (drilled down from my link above) should show the approx length to the numbers for that brand: http://www.wttool.com/index/page/category/category_id/13146/
By the way, I count two other votes posted here seconding my recommendation for Lutz Skroo-Zon. They are worth a try.
By the way, I count two other votes posted here seconding my recommendation for Lutz Skroo-Zon. They are worth a try.
rwhite692
Well-known member
StephenW, and Yojinbo, thank you for the links!
sberry
Banned
Its a rare day I use a file, its why they invent the grinder and the air comp. Same for a hand held hacksaw.
well hot damn and hubba-hubba! I've had ONE of those "skroo-zon" file handles in my tool box for a very long time... picked it up at a swap meet or somewhere, and I've used it a TON on different files. Always loved it. The one I have is pretty old, so I figured they weren't available any more.
You made my day!
I've got a bunch of other cheap wood file handles that you just drive down onto the tang, and I made one of my own out of a vintage wood-handled screwdriver with a dead blade. It's functional, but that's the best thing I can say about it.
That scrooz-on handle kicks *** though. I'll be buying some of those.
I'm really looking forward to the day I get my vintage Snappy box restored--I'll finally have a couple of full-size drawers for my files. I've got a bunch of them, and use them a lot. The most recent was to enlarge the whole on the striker plate for our back door. The house settled juuuust a bit, and the door wouldn't catch anymore. I used a wood chisel to open up the recess in the door frame, and a course triangle file to elongate the slot in the striker by 1/8-inch. Worked like a charm!
What was really funny is that just a couple weeks before, I was at the feed store and that file was in a bucket on the counter, without a price tag on it. Knowing I didn't have one just like it, I asked and got it for $3.
Of all the files I have, that was the only course triangular file in my box, and the only course file that fit inside the striker. Took just a few passes to open up the strike, and do it with a nice, clean finish and square lines.
Love hand files.
-Brad