Need a good way to remove plastic file handles

[Frederick Skelly]

Hi guys,
I bought 2 hand stitched rasps from LV a while back. I'd like to replace the black plastic handles with wooden ones, purely for "looks". I was thinking of heating the handles with a hand held hair dryer, and then pulling them off. (Reluctant to get them too hot because of the temper in the steel, so putting them in the oven on 200* seemed like a bad idea.)

Do you have any ideas on better ways to do this?

Thank you!
Fred

[Jim Koepke]

Careful work with a hacksaw and then an old beater chisel.

jtk

[Chris Schoenthal]

Since you want to replace the plastic handles (and I'm assuming that you don't have any other use for them), just cut them off.
I've done it many times with motorcycle grips that I'm replacing.
Maybe a bad analogy, but close.

[Al Launier]

Using a hair dryer would not affect the temper in the file on low heat as the heat would be applied at the handle end not where the file is used.

[Jeff Heath]

Not familiar with the makeup, specifically, of the Lee Valley file handles, but personally, I hate plastic handles on tools. I always replace them with wood ones, and I am generally successful getting aggressive with several combined methods. Crushing in a strong vise will often crack them right off. So will whacking the bajeeeeezus out of them with a ball pein hammer, and only rarely have I had to result to a cold chisel.

Never bothered with heat. Above mentioned methods were always adequate, and I'm never looking to save the plastic...

Funny this thread popped up because just yesterday, I was turning new wooden handles for quite a few files I recently picked up at an estate sale. Somebody actually handled quite a few excellent, old school USA made Nicholson files with plastic handles. Yikes! I got 17 files, 2 axes, 2 chisels and a gouge (2 Barton, 1 greenlee), 2 Disston pre 1927 saws, and 2 sledge hammer heads (both USA stamped on head) for $10. Pretty good score in my book.

[Stew Denton]

Jeff,

Ya done good.......$10?........wow.....ya done VERY good.

Stew

[Lee Schierer]

Most plastics soften at around 180 degrees F.. As long as you don't heat it above 200 F. you should be completely safe. As a safety check place a drop of water just out of the direct hair dryer air stream on your tool. If the water doesn't boil you have not exceeded 200 F. degrees unless you are above 5,000 feet.

[Frederick Skelly]

Thank you guys!
Fred

[Frederick Skelly]

So, I ended up using very hot, but not boiling, water. Put the files in a glass and added hot water jto a depth just above the handle. Couple minutes later, a rap with a hammer took them both off.

Thanks again for your ideas and cautions guys!

Fred