Installing a file handle- I never knew

[vavet]

I was just crusing YouTube, not looking for anything particular and came across this video.

the contributor heats up the file tang to dark red before hammering a wooden file handle on it so that it it stays on better,

I never knew this was the way to do it. I suspect most people do like I do…they hold on to the tang even though you should have a handle.
thoughts? Right? Wrong?

 

[ArcReactorKC]

I have burned on many a file and knife handle. As far as I know it's one of the oldest handle fitting techniques.

 

[dutchgray]

I just hammer the wooden handle on cold, not had any issues myself.

 

[four.cycle]

Yah sure yew betcha! Vee be sure do it right da next time round yah!

 

[four.cycle]

those Scandinavian types are so smart some times!

 

[driftpin]

I just buy those screw to tighten handles.

 

[BD1]

A golf ball works too. Farrier rasp handles are really nice, check these out. https://www.centaurforge.com/Rasp-Handles/products/556/

 

[bwringer]

I'm trying to figure out why this makes a difference. No idea why the heat or burning or whatever would make the handle "stick" more. I would have guessed it would be the opposite, actually.

I'd also love to know why it's so stupidly difficult to find these simple wooden file handles. Seriously, go try to find a hardware or home store that stocks wooden file handles.

Yes, I know you can order them from Amazon...

I have a couple of those handles with a clamp mechanism you screw down to tighten.

 

[Jeepster04]

I'm trying to figure out why this makes a difference. No idea why the heat or burning or whatever would make the handle "stick" more. I would have guessed it would be the opposite, actually.

I'd also love to know why it's so stupidly difficult to find these simple wooden file handles. Seriously, go try to find a hardware or home store that stocks wooden file handles.

Yes, I know you can order them from Amazon...

I have a couple of those handles with a clamp mechanism you screw down to tighten.

Kinda like why a water hose pushes backwards rather than making itself straight...

 

[whateg01]

Kinda like why a water hose pushes backwards rather than making itself straight...

No, that actually makes sense, since pressure builds at the end with the stoppage first. The handle thing doesn't make sense. Maybe the heat softens some resins in the wood?

 

[four.cycle]

It is a bit counterintuitive.
I found a mess of NOS wood handles on ebay one night. bought 'em all for about two bucks a pop.
I have a several new files and new handles, I might try that when I'm feeling adventurous and feel the need to play with fire.

 

[jimkinney]

A golf ball works too.

Be careful with this one, some liquid filled balls will explode when punctured.

 

[APEowner]

I believe the theory is that the hot tang burns the hole out so that it exactly conforms to the shape of the tang so that there's more surface area contact on the taper.

Personally, I buy my handles from McMaster-Carr and hammer them on the file cold. Every once in a while I notice that a handle is loosening up so I just give it another whack to re-seat it.

 

[jfleisher]

I like these a lot...

21474H 4-1/2" Ergonomic File Handle with Inserts - Crescent Tools

Count on Crescent Tools to get the job done. Get the 21474H 4-1/2" Ergonomic File Handle with Inserts here.

www.crescenttool.com

 

[GaryM909]

I bought a set of the wedges at a used tool store for a buck. First time I have ever seen them. Still haven’t used them yet. The top of package was cut off. Usually I can’t be bothered to put a handle on.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

I was just crusing YouTube, not looking for anything particular and came across this video.

the contributor heats up the file tang to dark red before hammering a wooden file handle on it so that it it stays on better,

I never knew this was the way to do it. I suspect most people do like I do…they hold on to the tang even though you should have a handle.
thoughts? Right? Wrong?

If this is correct, I hope someone will explain the science behind it. From a logical perspective it doesn't sound right as follows: Heating metal expands it, making it larger. Pushing that item into a wood handle creates a hole the size of the expanded tang. Tang cools off and becomes smaller. Why would this not result in a loose fit? I have always installed mine cold.

 

[kbeefy]

Huh, never knew.

Is there a video on making the plastic ones stay put?

 

[BD1]

''Be careful with this one, some liquid filled balls will explode when punctured''.
I never knew that. The ones I used were from the old days, I just drilled holes, no problem

 

[GoodManners]

Set handles in my jewelers files like this all the time.

 

[bubinga]

No, that actually makes sense, since pressure builds at the end with the stoppage first. The handle thing doesn't make sense. Maybe the heat softens some resins in the wood?

That was my thought.

 

[mogandave]

I like the Lutz handles and have used them for years. I've never burned them on, but I guess it makes sense that it would make the tang fit better in the hole.

I've never had any problem with them coming off. I don't hammer them on, I just drop the file a few times on the bench-plate with the handle end down.

 

[tester19]

I use JB Weld in the wood handle and then hammer it on. Never had one come loose after that?
The handle makes using the file so much easier too!
.
.
.

 

[tool_scrounge]

I wonder if heating the tang before putting it into the wood handle takes advantage of the differences in the coefficient of thermal expansion of wood and metal. Hardwood perpendicular to the grain has 3x larger thermal expansion coefficient than steel. So when wood is heated , the hole in the wood gets larger (counter intuitive I realize) Relative to the steel, allowing you to pound the file in further to the wood. When everything cools down, the wood tries to shrink back to its original dimensions, but cannot due to the presence of the metal tang. But the wood then grips the metal tang even tighter being is a stressed state.

 

[Copymutt]

Lots of viable options.

 

[rbgearz]

I'm trying to figure out why this makes a difference. No idea why the heat or burning or whatever would make the handle "stick" more. I would have guessed it would be the opposite, actually.

I'd also love to know why it's so stupidly difficult to find these simple wooden file handles. Seriously, go try to find a hardware or home store that stocks wooden file handles.

Yes, I know you can order them from Amazon...

I have a couple of those handles with a clamp mechanism you screw down to tighten.

When we had our machine shop, we had a customer who dealt with federal prisons, specialty bolts, etc. We made special wrenches for them that used file handles. Got them from McMaster Carr a 100 at a time.

 

[rharman]

Lots of viable options.

That's now a jet powered file...

 

[Pexto]

You guys talking about expansion coefficients are overthinking this. Sinking a red-hot tang into a wooden chisel or file handle is a time-honored way of fitting a cylindrical drilled hole to a tapered sqare tang. There are two principal mechanisms in play here: the charring of the wood helps the fit, and also, the high temperature slightly plasticizes the lignin in the wood handle, which also helps the fit.

 

[2oolhound]

The other thing is even though burning the hole instead of drilling it should make the hole bigger than the tang, the tang is wedge shaped so you just drive it on further.

Me, I think heating the tang to cherry red is more work than necessary to fit a handle on a file. Drill maybe but I've just hammered them on mostly.

 

[ecotec]

It is a bit counterintuitive.
I found a mess of NOS wood handles on ebay one night. bought 'em all for about two bucks a pop.
I have a several new files and new handles, I might try that when I'm feeling adventurous and feel the need to play with fire.

I did this. Most of the handles were from estate sales. Some were used, and some were unused. A few were from Wholesale Tool in Warren.

I also bought some needle file handles of different brands. On top of that, I made some needle file handles out of wooden dowels.

After I did that… as I continued to find file handles at estate sales… I have gotten rid of the vast vast majority of file handles that do not say USA on them. I continue to buy made in USA file handles… though I have zero need for any more… but only when they are cheap ($.50 or cheaper) and unused.

I have so few needs, at this point, that I am down to slowly eradicating emerging market tools from my main box, cart, second box, work tools, workbench tools… then they go in my give away/donate drawer.

I have whole drawers with only USA, european, and israel made tools in them now.

I will take a picture of my file drawer in a minute.

 

[kaymccampbell]

And here for all these years, I just stick the tang in the handle, and bang the handle on the bench. They stay nice n tight. If they do loosen, rarely, another bang and they're good to go. No hammers or torches or whatever.

 

[ecotec]

As far as heating up a file tang… I want to try this now.

I have so many handles, that I do not even get upset if the occasional handle breaks while being hammered on.

 

[ecotec]

And here for all these years, I just stick the tang in the handle, and bang the handle on the bench. They stay nice n tight. If they do loosen, rarely, another bang and they're good to go. No hammers or torches or whatever.

Banging them on with a hammer gets the handle closer to the body of the file.

Does that really matter? It probably doesn’t matter one bit.

 

[cpttuna]

I was just crusing YouTube, not looking for anything particular and came across this video.

the contributor heats up the file tang to dark red before hammering a wooden file handle on it so that it it stays on better,

I never knew this was the way to do it. I suspect most people do like I do…they hold on to the tang even though you should have a handle.
thoughts? Right? Wrong?

there is more than one way to do it. I have seen people even use super glue. Whatever works.

 

[Stuart in MN]

those Scandinavian types are so smart some times!

He's Swiss.

 

[dr_clyde]

I solved the loose handle problem with using Skroo-Zon file handles. They just thread themselves on and don't come loose.

I also use the plastic ones from Pfred and they don't loosen up...

I don't see any reason to go through the effort of heating up a file tang unless you just like using a torch and making wood smoke.

 

[bubinga]

I solved the loose handle problem with using Skroo-Zon file handles. They just thread themselves on and don't come loose.

I also use the plastic ones from Pfred and they don't loosen up...

I don't see any reason to go through the effort of heating up a file tang unless you just like using a torch and making wood smoke.

I LIKE TO BURN STUFF!!!!!!!!!!!! AND MELT ALUMINIUM!!!!

 

[Meursault74]

I've taken the plastic handles off of buggered up screwdrivers and used them for file handles.
Heat the screwdriver metal and tap off the handle when things get a little soft.
Heat tang on file and then drive the handle on.