Subject: Re: files, no handles - why?

From: PPIERCE <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 07:56:02 -0700

Felice Luftschein wrote:
> 
> In article <[email-masked]> [email-masked] (WRitt) writes:
> >From: [email-masked] (WRitt)
> >Subject: Re: files, no handles - why?
> >Date: 21 Jun 1996 19:07:43 -0400
> 
> >In article <[email-masked]>, [email-masked] writes:
> 
> >>I haven't got an answer to this, even from files' manufacturers:
> >>
> >>Why is it that they always sell files without the handles?
> >>

Like file handles or not - Use them or not...  

Guess they are like motorcycle helmets.  Some love em, some hate em...

If you hate em - thanks for reading so far...

If you like em - read "Metalworking One", page 206, (Village Press)
by Bill Patrick.

Mr. Patrick goes into measuring your hand to make a customfit handle.
Sort of like Herrett pistol grips when I was seriously shooting.

If nothing else they are beautiful to look at!!!

Paul in AJ AZ

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From: [email-masked] (michael jensen)
Date: 25 Jun 1996 17:51:10 GMT

:  If you learn>to hold a  file properly a handle is a not needed. I have used 
: them on>spinning workpieces in a lathe countless times with no scars. The
: >"oldtimer" that I was fortunate enough to work with as an apprentice
: >taught me to use a file and said "file handles are for amateurs". I mean
: >no insult to anyone who uses a file handle. I don't use them and  I  don't
: >know any machinists in this area who do.>Bill Rittner

     I don't know any toolmakers who don't use file handles.  To me 
not using a file handle is like not using safty glasses.  You might 
not ever need them but if you do you are glad you had them on.  The 
only exception that I could think of would be doing bench work with 
jewelery files, you have better control with those small files without
handles.  
     For cleaning a file I always use a file card.  If that doesn't 
work I use a piece of brass to clean the chips out of the file.  It 
seems that aluminum chips are the ones that stick the most.

--
Mike Jensen ([email-masked]) 
Chemistry Instrument Shop              
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
(402) 472-3542

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From: [email-masked] (Kurt Schaefer)
Date: 25 Jun 1996 22:33:04 GMT

Just as a side note.  I had a number of files without handles
sitting around in my shop, so one afternoon I decided to make 
handles for them from segments cut from a scrap piece of 3/4" 
dowel.  It was cheap, easy, and you don't even need a lath.  
(they're not THE most lovely handles, but they work well.)

   -Kurt

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From: [email-masked] (Clhuprich)
Date: 25 Jun 1996 21:27:48 -0400

File handles come in a variety of sizes as do files and are sold
as a seperate item -- a file handle should outlast many files -- get the
size that best fit's your hand. Using a file handle can save a lot of
hand fatigue in many cases and the handle may be removed for file
storage if needed.

Cliff Huprich
CAE/CAD/CAM Systems & Applications Engineer/Programmer

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From: PPIERCE <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 16:58:03 -0700

michael jensen wrote:
> 
> :  If you learn>to hold a  file properly a handle is a not needed.

> seems that aluminum chips are the ones that stick the most.

I read somewhere  that copper pipe made a good file cleaner (the secret 
of originality is to forget where you read it).  Tried it recently
using  junk 3/4" Cu about 3" long, flattened on one end.  Of course one
could put a handle on it :).  Pushing with the cut of the file got out
some really stuck stuff.  I was real happy.

Paul in AJ AZ

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From: [email-masked] (ERich10983)
Date: 25 Jun 1996 22:08:56 -0400

For a quick and easy file "handle", I use electrical twist-on wire
connectors.  The sizes are color coded, with the largest easily available
being blue.  For small files, I use orange or yellow.  Red and blue being
the next larger sizes.  And yes, I have had the experience of seeing a
file protruding from my hand (once).
Earle

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From: Carl Hoffmeyer <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 1996 15:59:43 -0700

I had the privilege of growing up in my father's machine shop.

As a lad of ten or so I picked up a file one day and my father said:
"Son, where's the handle for that file?"  I ran off, got the handle,
and put it on.  Then I asked the ten-year-old's question:  "Can I use
the file without a handle?"

I'll never forget his response: "In my shop, son, just once."

Don't get me wrong - I'm not a purist (on this one :-).  I'll use a file
"barefoot" at the bench, for some light, quick hand filing, but I
like to put distance and something round between me and 
horsepower.

Thought you might enjoy the story too ;-)

Cheers,
Carl Hoffmeyer