Rasp / File Handles

[Frank Martin]

I recently purchased a few Iwasaki wood files and really like them. They came with Nicholson handles, but clearly the quality is not what it used to be, so I am looking for some alternatives. Are there any favorites that you like and know that would fit the 8" size Iwasaki wood files?

[Bill Houghton]

It's really hard to beat the scroo-zon file handles. Pricey, but they'll never fall off. This was the first of the retail places that showed up when I searched, but there are multiple sources: http://www.bettymills.com/shop/product/view/Lutz%20File/LZF445-T4.html

[Frank Martin]

It's really hard to beat the scroo-zon file handles. Pricey, but they'll never fall off. This was the first of the retail places that showed up when I searched, but there are multiple sources: http://www.bettymills.com/shop/product/view/Lutz%20File/LZF445-T4.html

That was one that I came across too. Didn't know if there are other good ones. If not this does indeed look good from the pictures.

[Tom M King]

I like Pferd file handles, the wooden ones, and the rubberish plastic ones.

[Frederick Skelly]

Frank, I made my own handles for my set of Iwasakis. I used a small, tapered billet of oak for each and shaped it to fit my hand. I ended up with sort of a flat octagon that feels good in my hand. I wonder if something like that might work for you.
Fred

[Jim Koepke]

Frank, I made my own handles for my set of Iwasakis.

+1 on this.

It is easier with a lathe, but without a lathe it is still easy to come up with a file handle.

One of my small files has a wooden drawer pull for a handle, another has an old champaign cork. I think one still has a stick I picked up out of the yard when in a hurry one day.

There really isn't a good reason for not having a handle on a file.

Looking at the Scroo-zon has me wondering if some old wire nuts could be used to make my own version of those.

jtk

[lowell holmes]

+2 for making your own handles. They don't have to be round, you can make them hexagonal in cross section and round the ends for comfort.

If your in a hurry, cut up a dowel rod and round the end for your palm.

[Frederick Skelly]

If your in a hurry, cut up a dowel rod and round the end for your palm.

+1 Ive done this for small files and a very small "craft saw".

[Bill White]

Drill a small hole in a golf ball (solid core), stick the tang in the hole, file away.
Bill

[Dave Beauchesne]

Another vote for SKROO-ZON - they are re-useable and will last a lifetime, and the ones I have seen are made in USA and are hard maple.

Dave B

[Darrell LaRue]

I have a bunch of scroo-zon I inherited from my machinist FIL, and they are on my most-used files. Also have a bunch of Nicholson screw on handles (yard sale $1 each) for some other files and rasps. The rest use use prime first growth winter hardened range fed north american hardwood handles. That's right folks, you cut a hunk off a tree branch, drill a pilot hole in it and jam it on the file tang. You can trim the ends a bit with your jack knife for comfort, but all the style in the world is built right in.

Darrell

[Mike Henderson]

I didn't know you could buy file and rasp handles. I always made them myself. Pretty easy to do.

Mike

[David Weaver]

skrooz on, love them.

(coming from someone who is making their own planes the hard way).

For small files or anything where you have a skrooz on that doesn't fit, drilling a hole in scrap and tapping the file into it works fine, though, and a drop of CA glue fixes anything that doesn't hold well.

[Frank Martin]

I appreciate the suggestions to make my own, but I prefer to buy these instead. Sounds like Skrooz-on is a good option. Now I need to figure out which size fits the rasps I have...

[Tom M King]

http://www.pferdusa.com/products/201g/201g01/201g0101P.html

I like their wooden handles, come in different sizes, for chainsaw and handsaw files: http://www.toolfetch.com/pferd-17045-wooden-chain-saw-file-handle.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cse&utm_term=419-17045&gclid=CjwKEAiAtNujBRDMmoCN46aB8noSJAC7SYv7SgI7rm8f qrlr9GRtrZTuRhyQ8Dh9nS-lI8InQ9EJBRoCv5Pw_wcB

[Derek Cohen]

Don't forget the other side of a rasp. I learned that this is unpleasant ...

[imwg]http://www.inthewoodshop.com/Furniture/TheChairShapingArmsBackPart1_html_15a68fcc.jpg[/img]

300997

... and this is better ..

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/Furniture/TheChairShapingArmsBackPart2_html_4a270e0c.jpg

300998

Regards from Perth

Derek

[lowell holmes]

Sometimes, I have discovered I needed a file handle when the stores are closed. That's why making a temporary handle out of a piece of wood, broom handle, or whatever is better than sticking the pointed end of a file in your palm. We probably all prefer store bought handles.