File handles

[Scota4570]

I normally don't mess with them, but I will now.  I got bit pretty good while touching up a part on the lathe.   Drove the tang into my palm.  "Thwack....Ouch......how come I can not drop the file?"   

Where is a good source of file handles in a variety of sizes?

[Lucky R A]

   Grizzly,  MSC and most any hardware ---or if you are old enough to remember---- - the corn cob pile.

Ron

[Heavies]

When filing on the lathe I turn it in reverse away from me and hold the file backwards with a light grip.  That way if the file bites it will throw it away from my person.

I've had near misses from what you have experienced.  That made me change my procedure.

[ron w]

if you are someone who never bothered using file handles, you will kick yourself and wonder why you never used them, the first time you do !.

[Bob Roller]

I normally don't mess with them, but I will now.  I got bit pretty good while touching up a part on the lathe.   Drove the tang into my palm.  "Thwack....Ouch......how come I can not drop the file?"   

Where is a good source of file handles in a variety of sizes?

I have some file handles that are factory made and others I made from wooden dowel rods of
different diameter including some miniatures made from furniture repair dowels.
Most hardware stores have regular handles and if not they are easily made.

Bob Roller

[Tim Crosby]

 Files on a Lathe? Sharp tools, Sandpaper and maybe Steelwool but Files... Since you have a Lathe why not make your own handles? Also, there was a post here awhile back that showed a Golf Ball stuck on a file tang, looked pretty useful.

  Tim C.

 

[WadePatton]

Files on a Lathe? Sharp tools, Sandpaper and maybe Steelwool but Files... Since you have a Lathe why not make your own handles? Also, there was a post here awhile back that showed a Golf Ball stuck on a file tang, looked pretty useful.

I'm a golf ball on tang guy.  Especially like the colored ones, adds a festive touch to the work area (and helps me locate the file in a pile.)

Holding the golf ball for drilling could challenge some.   

[Elnathan]

Old broom handles and the like. One thing I did not know until fairly recently is that the handle is supposed to come all the way up the tang to the shoulders of the file, so that the tang is completely covered. Stronger that way, as I recall.

[Scota4570]

I have a bunch of golf balls.....Used to be, they were full of rubber band material.  Are they now solid and safe to drill? 

[Eric Krewson]

If you have a lathe, scrap wood cut-offs and a 1/2" copper coupler cut in half to make two ferrules, total cost per handle; about 18 cents. I have a lot of scrap osage I turn into file handles.

[WadePatton]

I have a bunch of golf balls.....Used to be, they were full of rubber band material.  Are they now solid and safe to drill?

Yes only the premium balls were rubberband over core, with balata or surlyn covers (when I was a hot young golfer  ).  Now they're all 2, 3, 4, or more layers plastic stuff.  Anything old enough to have bands in it methinks will also show some deterioration/discoloring in the cover and all but Surlyn will be easy to cut with any sharp tool-right into the bands.

Amazing compliance and spin one can get from the newer premium plastics jobbies. 

If you know a surveyor who does boundary work, ask him/her if they have a bucket of balls at work or in the truck.  We find them everywhere and I've probably brought in 120 in the last year.  Freebies are not hard to come by.
 

[Kermit]

Champagne corks. The cork ones. I live a mile from wineries with tasting rooms. I just ask. I have a shopping bag full, so a lifetime supply. Maybe 2 or 3. 

[David R. Pennington]

I turn them up out of scrap every now and then.

[WKevinD]

Dave,
Looks like you have too many and that they will clutter up your bench. I'll send you my mailing address and even pay the postage just to help you avoid the clutter.
Kevin

[Eric Smith]

I turn them up out of scrap every now and then.

Very nice.

[JCKelly]

Good thing you could not drop that file
Your hand will heal
File won't, if it breaks

[Scota4570]

Yeah, it is doing better.  I'm going to get back in the shop tonight. 


I was a bit concerned at first.  If a disk of skin got pushed back in the wound it would have gotten infected.  I squirted real deal prescription antibiotic into the hole within a few minuets.  Glad I had it in the first aid supplies.