Usiing needle files

Ol' Flinter

Ol' Flinter

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The skinny handles on needle files don't allow for as much control as is sometimes desirable, at least for me. I've often wished for a small drill chuck or other device I could conveniently fasten onto the various needle files when working where I want better control and fewer finger cramps. About the simplest solution I have come up with is to drill a hole into the end of a 3" piece of 3/8" or 1/2 wooden dowel for a handle and epoxy the files into the wooden handles. I can't be the only one with this issue - what do all you other ingenious D-I-Y'rs do for this aggravation?

Thanks!:)
 
Most people do what your doing.

Either they come with handles or they should cause they're a pain to use with out them.

Old paint brush handles with a bit of epoxy work well to.
 
kayceel said:
Golf balls really are good for something - they make reasonable, hand filling, file handles - and not bad targets except for the cleanup. Kayceel
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Perhaps, but way too large for use on a needle file. I've seen many used on regular sized files however. As far as making the handle bigger, a wooden or aluminum dowel would work great. The ultra cheap, DIY way would bee to wrap some tape around the handles.
 
That drill chuck idea is brilliant. But it's a bit short and stubby. However it got me playing around with some other options in my tools. First up was an Xacto handle with collet which fits if I put a couple of turns of tape around the tang. Next was a mid size "T" style tap handle. If one of these was used and the butt end where the cross piece is normally sitting was drilled out lengthways it would be just about perfect for use with the small and delicate jeweler's files.

Mind you then as we switch from file to file it will get more than a little annoying to switch files all the time.

Do you have a drill press? If so then another option is to drill 1/2 inch into a block of wood clamped to the table. Then without moving anything remove the drill and replace it with a 5/32 or 3/16 or whatever size is needed for a snug fit on the files. Then simply stick cut off lengths of 1/2 inch dowel into the block and end drill the dowel. Should be able to make a lifetime's worth of handles in almost no time. Glueing the files in place would be easy. And if you use a dab of hot melt glue then the handles would be easily re-useable just by heating up the file and pulling. Or make a short saw cut lengthwise and wrap the end with some cord with a securing loop that pulls under the windings. When you need to replace the file cut the cord, switch files and re-wrap. I normally keep a spool of bright builder's line around for stuff like this and many other uses.
 
I have had them for years, don't know where I got them... a few small black plastic handles that have a small collet tightened by a ring that needle files fit in quite well. Easily switched from file to file.
 
Ol' Flinter said:
The skinny handles on needle files don't allow for as much control as is sometimes desirable, at least for me. I've often wished for a small drill chuck or other device I could conveniently fasten onto the various needle files when working where I want better control and fewer finger cramps. About the simplest solution I have come up with is to drill a hole into the end of a 3" piece of 3/8" or 1/2 wooden dowel for a handle and epoxy the files into the wooden handles. I can't be the only one with this issue - what do all you other ingenious D-I-Y'rs do for this aggravation?

Thanks!:)
Click to expand...

I just wrap a bunch of electricians tape cheap easy effective
 
What you're needing/wanting/looking for are "pin vises" - come in sets - designed for holding screws/pins for polishing - I use them for holding metal checkering files (the single bent style) as well as the whole range of needle files. As Guntec mentioned there are handles designed specifically for needle files (Brownells) - they also have the "pin vises". I got mine as a set in various sizes years ago probably from Busy Bee. PM me for more details (I see we are both in Calgary ... seeing for yourself here could be arranged ..)
 
I use 4" foam paint roller for handles on my full size files. The tang fits into the plastic insert perfectly. Somewhere I'd found some 2" mini ones, years ago that fit the needle files, but I didnt buy enough and havent seen them since.

They work great, as the foam soaks up any oil from your hands, which is perfect for working with stocks and allows for a good grip on the handle.
 
Princess Auto has a needle file set with a nice aluminum handle. The files aren't much but the handle fits my other files great. It holds the file in with a little screw.
 
Thanks for all the ideas. Funny how things happen but since I started this thread I was using my pin vice that I have had for about 20 years and disassembled it to lube the collet threads, only to find it has 4 different collets hidden away inside the handle - including one that just fits needle file handles! BINGO! Regardless, I think I will drill a couple pieces of scrap 3/8" dowel and fit wooden handles onto the 2 or 3 files I use most often and use the pin vice for the others. Thanks again for the advice - gotta love CGN!
 
I find a really like a larger diameter but shorter handle - I lean more towards the golf ball end of the spectrum. I feel it gives me way more control over the file. I make mine on the lathe from ca. 1 1/4 dowel, turn a neck down and then use a piece of trimmed off brass from one case building experiment or another, as a farrel. Just my preference.
 
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