Handles for my files

[Robert Haas]

Can I ask a stupid question?

Well stop me if you must, but I have been using my files for years and never ever bothered to put a handle on any of them. Well lately I keep thinking that I could get more control if they had handles, so the question is where do I get handles, and is there a chance SO makes them?

I remember my old man had wood handles on all his rasps and files, I think he made them out of ash or oak, not really sure.

 

[mtwaterguy]

I have some SO file handles in green. They take a file that's got a threaded end. I can check for #'s if you like.

Looks like they only have the soft grip and wood handles now. Mine are the comfort grip style.

 

[sporkedtospec]

Golf balls make nice file handles. I drill them half way through with a brad point, and set the tang in with epoxy.

 

[Jononon]

Snap-on wooden file handles are Lutz Skroo-zon. Unfortunately they only sell two sizes, whereas they should ideally be the correct size for your files. The OEM reference sheet is here(pdf) and the handles are available from smallparts.com, MSC or on Amazon.

Snap-on also sell soft handles, although God knows why you'd want a soft handle on a metal file.

 

[Scout Driver]

Buy some beat-up wood-handled screwdrivers. Buy'em cheap. Pull off the wood handles and gently hammer them onto your files.

Scott

 

[tatra]

screw on handles are great...........don't need a handle for every single file then, although they are nice to have..............put them on the ones you use the most and swap out for specialty files used ocasionally...........course for the price of half a dozen screw ons you could probably buy the wood ones you need for all your files..............

 

[Falcon67]

They sell handles at HD and Lowes, usually in a package that fits multiple files.

 

[cheap bastard]

Nicholson sells a very nice file handle, but the small version is nearly impossible to fid in this area. It has two tang inserts, one for round, one for flat tangs. I pick up old files at sales just for the handles. Those old ones with the oils imbedded deep in the wood have a great feel. The idea of using old wood screwdriver handles is interesting. I have some old smooth surface ones on mangled drivers that were in a small box that came from a garage sale. Those are about right for some 5 - 8 inch files.

 

[MoonRise]

+1 on use handles with your files.

Those pointy tang ends can -hurt- if/when they jab into you. Not that I would know anything about that mind you.

Handles can range from a plain piece of wooden dowel of the desired diameter with a hole drilled in the end and then the file tang inserted into it, to bout wooden handles which are basically a piece of wooden dowel with a hole drilled in the end, to various other handles that the file tang fits into.

I have some 'universal' file handles that are plastic with a screw-end cap that tightens some tapered jaws that grab onto the file tang. Pretty nice, but a piece of dowel (shaped or plain) works pretty well too.

And the control you (usually) get by having a handle to hold onto instead of trying to grip a skinny pointy file tang is also a very good Plus. In addition to the safety factor.

Put handles on your files!

(or at least have some handles around and put the handle on the file you are using at the time.)

 

[R6 Racer]

I use wooden doweling & Gorilla glue. Cheep, effective & they last a long time.
You can buy whatever size that suits you almost anyware.

Steve

 

[flatheadguy]

Golf balls make nice file handles. I drill them half way through with a brad point, and set the tang in with epoxy.

Same thing here. Excellent feel, look and they're totally inexpensive.
I was preparing to post this exact same cure, but he beat me to it.

 

[DYNA BILL]

My Dad used to use corn cobs. But hey, it worked!

 

[Ign]

They sell handles at HD and Lowes, usually in a package that fits multiple files.

This.

********* old school machinists won't be caught dead w anything but a wooden handle, but I guess I'm a "new age" machinist because I much prefer the black rubber handles. Available at HD. Nicholson markets them as "maintenance" handles but if they don't work for machining than I must be doing something wrong 'cause they work for me.

Funny story..........when I was in school.............in the machine shop you couldn't have a file w/out a handle (for good reason) but students could dress the wheels on the grinders. In the weld shop not a single file had a handle but they would not allow students to dress wheels. Interesting how different areas define "safety."

If you even look at a lathe you damn well better have files on your handles, or your palm or chest will become the handle.

 

[Alcohol]

My Dad used to use corn cobs. But hey, it worked!

Can't find cobs in central Illinois anymore,but I remember them also.

 

[rsanter]

I have alot of files and few handles
you only need a few and you can switch them around. also there are files that I never use a handle with and there are some I always do
go to the local store annd buy a few then add a few more if you need
they are not very expensive

I have only 1 of the snap on handles and I really like it
I have some of the plastic nicholsen handles and they are nice
other than that I have the old wood handles and they work just great

bob

 

[Boyd]

Golf balls make nice file handles. I drill them half way through with a brad point, and set the tang in with epoxy.

I've done mine this way as well. Love them.

 

[g0ldfing3r]

I have several of those Nicholson rubber handles, very comfy. Its like $4 at HD.

 

[MoonRise]

pssst,

btw, glue is usually not needed for the wooden handles. Just make a hole in the end of the wooden dowel/handle, put the tang of the file into the hole, push it into the hole a little bit and then maybe hold the tool vertically with the file pointed UP and give a whack down of the handle onto your benchtop (or the ground). Inertia drives the file into the hole. Don't hammer onto a (hard and brittle) file to drive it into the handle hole, you can chip or crack the (hard and brittle) file.

Done with that file and need a different size/shape one? Just pull the handle off and insert it onto the next file.

ps, beware of making holes into golf balls. Some have(or had) a pressurized liquid center. Pretty high pressure.

http://archopht.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/summary/75/1/68

Although most info I see indicates that the golf ball makers have moved away from liquid centers to solid centers.

Also, drilling through a relatively hard plastic sphere and into its contents of various rubber, plastic, elastomer, cord, string, or liquid parts is not necessarily easy or safe. YMMV.

 

[Kevin54]

The main reason for a handle is #1 for control of the file and #2 for safety. You ever seen anyone drive a tang through their hand while filing a part in a lathe with a chuck holding the part? All you need to do is have one of the jaws hit the file and it will power it right through your hand. That being said, I don't use handles but I also don't file like most people. I use a file like a drawknife. Sideways. You'd be surprised how much longer a file last and how much metal you can remove by using it that way

 

[R6 Racer]

My Dad used to use corn cobs. But hey, it worked!

So did my FIL!

Steve

 

[jeffk14]

Got any old mop or broom handles layin' around? Cut to length, drill hole, hammer on. Glue if you like.

 

[1969]

About 25 years ago I worked with a machinist in a maintenance dept. Not long after he arrived he showed me the palm of his hand.......... he had a horrible scar and his hand was partly disabled for life. The reason..... using a file without a handle on a project in the metal lathe. I'm not a machinist, but I have handles on all my files... and for good reason.

 

[Stephenw]

Home Depot has assorted sizes of file handles. They are in boxes on the shelf below where the files are hanging. They screw onto the file tang. The larger the number on the end of the handle, the larger the file the handle will fit.

 

[greatkids]

We make them out of discarded (by the deer) antlers, they work great. We live in the woods and have a ready supply.

 

[lwlobo]

These PFERD handles are great:

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

Feel great, good grip, very durable, use them over and over, and cheap.

 

[Thedroid]

I guess I'm in the minority. I don't use handles on my files, and never have. Problem is I have a huge collection of files, and have never got around to buying any handles. I'm definitely not opposed to them, just don't have any. I've used a file on the lathe many a time, and knew the results if the piece grabbed the file and pushed it into my hand. I always hold the tang off the palm just in case, but YMMV!

 

[Hank McMauser]

Can't find cobs in central Illinois anymore,but I remember them also.

I find this hard to believe unless you are in a really highly populated area where the farms have all been turned into housing tracts

 

[Elroy]

Handles on files aren't difficult and make the job just that much easier

Elroy produced these file handles. Fell free to duplicate.

 

[ThatsWhatSheSaid]

If you are looking for another cheap way you could use paper towel and hockey tape. I had a few that I did as I already had the hockey tape. I fold up a sheet of paper towel around the end and then used the hockey tape until I got it to the size I liked. The hockey tape works well because it still gives a bit of grip. The paper towel just makes it so you dont use as much tape.

 

[Vinko]

@Elroy: who was the first co. to do that wooden handle design out of redwood with the lines cut in? I remember my grandfather had drivers with those handles.

@Jononon: I've got a bag of those lutz file handles. Good stuff.

I noticed that PB Swiss makes a file handle our of urethane. I'd like to try one.

 

[Brad54]

I've found cheap file handles at swap meets for a quarter. I hit several swap meets a year, and usually get a few. I've got one or two larger screw-on handles I found somewhere, and switch those on and off my big files. The smaller swap meet ones get tapped onto the tang and don't come off.
My biggest problem is that I don't have good file storage right now.

-Brad

 

[LawnDart79]

My Dad used to use corn cobs. But hey, it worked!

I've seen a couple of corn cob handles before.

 

[rwhite692]

Amazon has these file handles at >80% off right now, 93 cents and free shipping w/Prime


http://www.amazon.com/Nicholson-21516-Screw-Plastic-Handle/dp/B000QESOIA/ref=sr_1_58?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1292528955&sr=1-58

***UPDATE*** These are for very large flies, with like a 7/16" handle stub.

 

[mcdtommy23]

Snap-on hard handle screwdriver handles work great for files.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I got my file handles when I worked at GE.

 

[onewaydave]

My Dad used to use corn cobs. But hey, it worked!

Wow! Flashback. My granddad did also, I had just fogotten till you mentioned it.

I usually just pick up a piece of scrap wood and drill and jam it on. Old broom handles cut to 6-8" work fine too.

Dave.

 

[woody 73]

I hang up a 24" magnetic bar and hang all my files,I must have a lot because I have lost count.
All my files have handles,yes after having a sharp tang in ones hand it does hurt!
If you need any handles most hardware stores carry them.

 

[Elroy]

I hang up a 24" magnetic bar and hang all my files,I must have a lot because I have lost count.

Why the hell would you hang files off a magnet??

That has got to be the stupidest thing anyone could do to a file.

Maybe you have so many files because each time you go to use one you realize it's magnatized and need to go buy a new one. Magnatized files **** as does your recommendation.

Elroy says : NO THANK YOU