How to : Make a File Handle

[woodstockva]

Hey everybody -

I just made a quick video on how to make a cheap & easy handle for your files.

Let me know what you think!

Thanks!

 

[racingtadpole]

Good idea, but you need to put some soft jaws on the vice before you put the file in it.

 

[dmftoy1]

Video is nicely done, never thought about using junk screwdrivers that way. A gunsmith years ago taught me to use old golf balls for file handles so I've always done that.

 

[e-tek]

Video is nicely done, never thought about using junk screwdrivers that way. A gunsmith years ago taught me to use old golf balls for file handles so I've always done that.

I would think a golf ball would not give you any leverage or control ???

WTF do files come w/o handles anyways? You never see a screwdriver w/o one...

 

[dmftoy1]

I would think a golf ball would not give you any leverage or control ???



WTF do files come w/o handles anyways? You never see a screwdriver w/o one...

Never had a problem with it for my usage, just spent a day straightening the lower lines of an indian made tank for my 68 norton. Maybe it's technique?

 

[Outlander]

All good things come from the internet

To the OP: nice reuse of old screwdriver handles. An old set from a garage sale could come in handy!

 

[Ben Buck]

Thanks Woodstock for that video. I have some old screwdrivers that are candidates for this.

The flats and phillips left over could be used as punches and small chisels or scrapers!

 

[lilredex]

More handle ideas:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=201159


img

 

[In The Doghouse]

What happens when you drill into a golf ball with a liquid center?

 

[IanB]

I first read of the golf ball idea long ago in this excellent book:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0806958006/?tag=atomicindus08-20


He did mention wearing eye protection in case you hit a liquid center. I've never tried it - they'd take up more width in a drawer than I like.

 

[whyNick?]

When I was a kid the fool next door was always out in his yard living out his PGA fantasies. There were always golf balls bouncing off of our house and several times he dented my dad's car. My dad got tired of this so whenever he got ahold of one of the neighbor's golf balls he'd drill a 1/2" hole straight through it and toss it back in the guy's yard. I was usually enlisted to hold the thing with a pair of Channellocks while dad ran the drill and we got pretty good at it. Aah suburban drama.

I usually use foam brushes to apply stain and whenever I throw one away I pull the dowel handle off first. It comes with a hole already drilled in the end and makes a passable (and cheap) file handle.

 

[BD1]

All good things come from the internet

To the OP: nice reuse of old screwdriver handles. An old set from a garage sale could come in handy!

you guys beat me to it. Golf balls work well . Nice video, maybe I'll get those HF screwdriver set just for the handles .

 

[LEVE]

I never used files that much to ever notice that they could have handles. But then, last year I bought two HF files that had handles. Then, I noticed. I like handles, now I know how to make a them when needed.

Thanks!

 

[theknurl]

the largest wood file handles are $1.48 ea. at McMaster Carr

http://www.mcmaster.com/#file-handles/=qfavo2


I don't have time to make file handles

and you DON'T put files in a vise to put a handle on......hold the handle with the file vertical and smack the handle on a hard surface

 

[R.Anderson]

I'm going to have to try the golf ball idea. I think I would get better control of the file than one with a 4" round wood handle (I use two hands for most filing work)

 

[Beta.Gamma]

Cringed when the file was tightened in the vise. Please put something soft between the jaws of the vise and the file. Nothing worse than a dull file. Best case would be to delete this video and do it again, only this time pad the jaws with something/anything soft?

 

[Wayfastwhitie440]

good idea, but you need to put some soft jaws on the vice before you put the file in it.

agree

 

[sasquatch12]

Agree also!! Perfect way to dull a file!!

For those that prefer a wood handle on their files and have a lathe the best i found to use for this is old pool cues. Garage sale items you can pick up cheap, don't matter if the tips are ruined. You can get quite a few handles out of a pool cue, and being tapered, different sizes can be turned. Step the nose, then tap a copper furule on cut from scrap copper pipe.

 

[pop pop]

My Dad was a machinist. Used corn cobs for handles. Once they dry out and then get oiled from use, they're great.

 

[JimDon]

Free set of screwdrivers from Horrible Fright, pull the handle off the screwdriver, throw the metal part into the recycle bin, put handle on the end of file. Now you know what to do with all those free screwdrivers you get with that free coupon.
Have at er.
Jim

 

[Alchymist]

No need to put the file in the vise - just stand it on end on the anvil part of the vise and tap the handle on.

 

[Alex in Canada]

Looks like a great idea! I like it a lot better than golf balls. I wonder if it can be done with acetate handles? Maybe with some epoxy to hold the file in.

On a side note, I cringed when I saw that file in the vise. At least get some paint stir sticks in between the jaws and file!

 

[Kevin54]

Good Lord people, the whole idea was to show how to make a cheap file handle. He didn't post it to get his chops busted for putting a file in a vise. Besides that, he didn't tighten the vise down that tight, and files are hard.

If doing that is going to ruin a file, and you know for a fact that it will ruin a file, post up a video showing how that file is ruined.

It always gets me that some people like the ideas, then her comes all the the other ones later telling the person they are wrong for showing that, yada, yada, yada.

 

[Kracin]

the largest wood file handles are $1.48 ea. at McMaster Carr

http://www.mcmaster.com/#file-handles/=qfavo2


I don't have time to make file handles

and you DON'T put files in a vise to put a handle on......hold the handle with the file vertical and smack the handle on a hard surface

or just put the handle on by hand, hold the handle in your hand and smack the back of it with a hammer a few times and it seats easier than smacking it on a table...

 

[raddksn]

Good Lord people, the whole idea was to show how to make a cheap file handle. He didn't post it to get his chops busted for putting a file in a vise. Besides that, he didn't tighten the vise down that tight, and files are hard.

If doing that is going to ruin a file, and you know for a fact that it will ruin a file, post up a video showing how that file is ruined.

It always gets me that some people like the ideas, then her comes all the the other ones later telling the person they are wrong for showing that, yada, yada, yada.

Common sense is IN THE HOUSE thanks for speaking up Kevin

All my files in my work bag I just screw a red wirenut on it it doesn't do much for control but it will keep that tang from digging into your palm

 

[woodstockva]

Good Lord people, the whole idea was to show how to make a cheap file handle. He didn't post it to get his chops busted for putting a file in a vise. Besides that, he didn't tighten the vise down that tight, and files are hard.

If doing that is going to ruin a file, and you know for a fact that it will ruin a file, post up a video showing how that file is ruined.

It always gets me that some people like the ideas, then her comes all the the other ones later telling the person they are wrong for showing that, yada, yada, yada.

Thanks for the support!

From my (OP) point of view, here is my feeling on the vise controversy.

While a couple good points have been made in this thread about the manner in which I attached the handle, almost all of the others have been misinformed. Saying a vise is going to "dull" or "ruin" a file is completely wrong.

1. The problem with that argument is the simple fact that the Brinell hardness rating of the file is much higher than the hardness rating of the mild-steel jaws in the vise. (Dont believe me? Try filing the jaws.) Because the file will score the surface of the jaws, the hardness is greater.

2. As a previous poster mentioned, files are very brittle. This is precisely why I placed it into a vise. By placing it horizontally into the jaws, I was able to spread the force applied by closing it securely over a very large surface. (Think about walking across snow VS using snowshoes). Had I put it in the vise vertically, all the force would have been focused on a tiny section on the front and rear. I stopped tightening immediately upon the file becoming secure.

3. If you stand the file up and put one end on the bench, and tap the handle on the other end, the force WILL cause the file to snap in half. (Found this out the hard way). Without something to absorb the force....in my case the vise....the brittle file is very prone to failure.

4. I do agree that files stored together loosely against each other will dull prematurely. This is because they are all the same hardness rating!

5. Most expert opinions I encounter online are exactly that....opinions. From reading some of the more negative responses, I come to 2 conclusions. Either a LOT of really smart people here have wasted/damaged/dulled countless files by putting them in a vise before watching my video....or more likely, the read a post that sounded good, so they repeated it.

So, to some this all up.....

I like making videos to help people. I am sorry if I did something that you wouldn't, but just because you may have done it a different way, doesn't mean I am wrong.

*** Oh, and just for arguments sake, I examined my files with a magnifying glass to inspect for damage.....by some miracle, there was NONE! I compared them side-by-side with brand new ones I still had unopened & could not see any differences at all. ***

Thanks for watching!

Please subscribe!

Woodstockva

 

[Antique Engine]

I've always just slide a couple inch long piece of 3/8 fuel hose onto the pointy end.

 

[Alex in Canada]

I might try the golfball thing since they'll hang nicely and uniformly from a rack.
My favorite file is a six inch nicholson with an incredibly sharp 30degree chisel end.
The golf ball will let me palm the end....

I'll do the screwdriver thing on others.
Thanks for the video.
You'll get used to it here.

How do you sharpen the end? Bench grinder/belt sander?

 

[Alchymist]

Thanks for the support!

From my (OP) point of view, here is my feeling on the vise controversy.

3. If you stand the file up and put one end on the bench, and tap the handle on the other end, the force WILL cause the file to snap in half. (Found this out the hard way). Without something to absorb the force....in my case the vise....the brittle file is very prone to failure.



Woodstockva

Perhaps, my experience says otherwise, however my comment was TAP, not HAMMER! Haven't broken one yet!

 

[m.b.0331]

OP- good video and good thinking. I need to find some old screwdrivers laying around now and put handles on all the files cluttering up my tool box.

I also saw this video the other day, another golf ball file handle video.

 

[R.Anderson]

I like the re-purposing of screwdriver handles and its a great way to give those worn out surplus junk screwdrivers a second half life. I maybe old-school but I tend to go for wood handles. My father and grandfather have always and still used homemade wood handles or use too use corncobs when the farm was still in operation. For wood handles I was taught to drill a hole the diameter of the tip of the tang in the wood handle. Then heat just the tang red hot and burn/fit the file to the handle.

I think this process would make a neat instructional video if your taking suggestions on video topics. You could maybe even throw in the golf ball handle idea and make a "Home Made File Handle Series" or "Custom Made File Handle Series"

 

[dledinger]

Am I the only criminal here that uses files without handles? If it makes any difference, I do grind the mushrooms off my striking tools!

 

[Engine]

Thanks, OP for posting this. I have a few old driver handles just waiting for a new home on my files. Now I need to find a way to make some sort of rack to keep the files separate so they don't dull each other.

 

[cburnscrx]

I've been doing this for a couple of months now...I actually buy the $0.99 screwdrivers from Lowes (like the handles).

 

[cburnscrx]

Free set of screwdrivers from Horrible Fright, pull the handle off the screwdriver, throw the metal part into the recycle bin, put handle on the end of file. Now you know what to do with all those free screwdrivers you get with that free coupon.
Have at er.
Jim

Great plan! I had the same plan myself. However, the handles on the free screwdrivers are so brittle they crack when trying to remove the blade. Oh well...

 

[jvo]

I also bought the Shop Savvy book many years ago, and started to use golf balls for file handles. I have never found cheap file handles to buy, they have always been about 5 bucks or more.
Once you start using golf balls, you'll never go back to regular handles. I don't get blisters in the palm of my hands from using golf ball handles, like I do with a regular file handle.
Sorry to OP for the hijack.

 

[2mJps]

NEVER,NEVER EVER drill a golf ball. I have read all kinds of horror stories about doing this. Alot of guys have got hurt or lost thier eye sight doing it.

 

[theknurl]

While a couple good points have been made in this thread about the manner in which I attached the handle, almost all of the others have been misinformed. Saying a vise is going to "dull" or "ruin" a file is completely wrong.

1. The problem with that argument is the simple fact that the Brinell hardness rating of the file is much higher than the hardness rating of the mild-steel jaws in the vise. (Dont believe me? Try filing the jaws.) Because the file will score the surface of the jaws, the hardness is greater.

file hardness is measured on Rockwell Rc scale...
I have an Athol 614 1/2 a file barely touches the jaws (non replaceable jaws)

2. As a previous poster mentioned, files are very brittle. This is precisely why I placed it into a vise. By placing it horizontally into the jaws, I was able to spread the force applied by closing it securely over a very large surface. (Think about walking across snow VS using snowshoes). Had I put it in the vise vertically, all the force would have been focused on a tiny section on the front and rear. I stopped tightening immediately upon the file becoming secure.

foolish thing to do, YOU said they're brittle....easy to chip teeth in a vise, especially with serrated jaws


3. If you stand the file up and put one end on the bench, and tap the handle on the other end, the force WILL cause the file to snap in half. (Found this out the hard way). Without something to absorb the force....in my case the vise....the brittle file is very prone to failure.

never ever heard of that happening

4. I do agree that files stored together loosely against each other will dull prematurely. This is because they are all the same hardness rating!

...

Woodstockva

back in post #14 I explained how to put a handle on, with no risk to the file

been doing it that way for 60+ years

probably have 200+ files
some were my Grandfather's from the late 1890s

and if somebody put my 14" Simmonds Whizcut file in a vise, or laid it on a steel table, I'd beat them like I owned them

http://www.erindustrial.com/10-Standard-cut-Simonds-Whizcut-File-81138000/10021762/

especially since apparently they've stopped making even the 10" ones

oh, woodstockva you might want to build some structure to hold your vise in place

 

[Jeff Ivers]

Free set of screwdrivers from Horrible Fright, pull the handle off the screwdriver, throw the metal part into the recycle bin, put handle on the end of file. Now you know what to do with all those free screwdrivers you get with that free coupon.
Have at er.
Jim

My first thought when I saw this thread was just what Jim posted. What a great use for free screwdrivers from HF. Today, I picked up a free set and tried to remove the handle from the Phillips. Handle broke before the shaft came out. Turns out these are NOT cheap enough (in quality) to work. Drat!