I did a quick search earlier today looking for vixen files. I
blundered onto this firm that mostly focuses on sheet metal. They
started after WWII, recycling surplus materials at an old Beechcraft
factory. 

Anyway, they have a great selection of files. Has anyone done business
with them? 

https://www.yardstore.com/nsearch/?q=files

Regards, Gary Katsanis
Albion New York, USA

Lookoing at the prices of high quality files, these are probably not the best,
but they may do the job for you

Ed Minch

https://www.yardstore.com/nsearch/?q=files

You have found a tiny hole in the world of old school people
still making true magic.
Anything I ever knew from them was delight.
   The prices are a gift.
      yours scott

-- 
*******************************
    Scott Grandstaff
    Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca  96039
    scottg@s...
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/index.html

I have a few old Vixen body work files from when I used to do my own body
work a lifetime ago.  They used to be awesome, not sure if their bean
counters have “rationalized” in the meantime.
Claudio

Hugh

Very desirable file handle - I have found only 2 in my perusing

https://www.ebay.com/itm/363384647478?hash=item549b69af36:g:sM0AAOSw7cZgkj3g

Ed Minch

Tony showed one the other day in his Jackstown flea market acquisitions (at
least I think he did :0)

—Scott (the one in Missouri)

On May 23, 2021, at 12:36 PM, Ed Minch mailto:edminch3@g...>>
wrote:

Very desirable file handle - I have found only 2 in my perusing

Yep, a file handle.  I picked up three of these before the prices got so
steep.  All in service in my shop.  They work *very* well. 

Mike in Woodland

On 5/23/2021 8:16 PM, Michael Blair wrote:
>
> Yep, a file handle.  I picked up three of these before the prices got 
> so steep.  All in service in my shop.  They work *very* well.
>
> Mike in Woodland
>
So at a buck, I guess my grandson got a deal.

Any insight as to why these handles are in demand? Mike - you said they work
very well. What in particular makes them work so well? Just curious. Thanks.

-- 
I'm a simple man. I like pretty dark-haired women and breakfast food.

Yes, I have one of these - exactly like one of these. It is a portable file
handle. It works just fine. One just needs to have the thumbscrew opposite your
palm. Cast iron (malleable I think) so likely 19th century and "bomb proof."

> On May 24, 2021, at 1:56 PM, leeburk via groups.io 
wrote:
> 
> Yes, I have one of these - exactly like one of these. It is a portable file
handle. It works just fine. One just needs to have the thumbscrew opposite your
palm. Cast iron (malleable I think) so likely 19th century and "bomb proof.”
> 
My broken one wold argue against “bomb proof”.

Bill

> Any insight as to why these handles are in demand?
>
Tools, like anything else, experience fads.
You couldn't give these file handles away a few years ago.

I sold 2 spare Stanley router planes for 5 bucks apiece once,
and it took me a while to sell them.
   yours scott

-- 
*******************************
    Scott Grandstaff
    Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca  96039
    scottg@s...
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/index.html

Dan asked someone else:
>What in particular makes them work so well?


I have a bunch of these, all dirt cheap, most yard sale finds from sellers that
just wanted stuff gone and weren't concerned with what they are.

Many files get a lot of use and have their own handles. Maybe a couple dozen in
my shop.

Many other files are more specialized, and don't get their own handles- they
store a lot more compactly bare-tang, if you will. A well fit handle is, well,
well fit. It is in line, stays on in use, and fits the hand well. Depending on
the handle type, fitting can take a lot of time, removal can be difficult, and
each reuse reduces the life. (think burnt in handles, for example). There are
jobs where I might use a dozen or more files, all different, all specials.

These cast iron handle go on in seconds, are a good size, hold well, fit the
hand well, and come back off easily when desired. In my shop, these handles go
on the "all the rest" files. (I have a LOT of "and the rest" files. Last count
was several hundred a few years ago- many duplicates from NOS box lots- and I
have many more now.)


*** This message was sent from a convenience email service, and the reply
address(es) may not match the originating address

On Mon, May 24, 2021 at 10:47 AM Dan Beck  wrote:

> Any insight as to why these handles are in demand?
>
>
Because Matthew Groves likes them.  He is currently driving trends and fads
in tool demand.

Any I find I flag his way, just to make sure he doesn't miss any.  Been
buying low, now he is ready to sell high.



-- 
Kirk Eppler in Half Moon Bay, CA, not much intelligent to report from the
shop world over the weekend.

Ha!

Kirk is right that I sometimes do the buy low/sell high thing.

I did that with Stanley 42Xs for about 7 years. Must’ve had 50 or so pass
through my hands.

It’s not Tony Seo level, but more like a local street thug level.

I DO like those file handles, and DID buy up several (including all the leads
Kirk would throw my way), but I have decided that…..and it pains me to say it….I
have enough of them.

I have enough of a lot of things, actually.

And I owe it all to you fellers.

Matthew Groves
Springfield, MO

Who did VERY regretfully miss out on not only one, but TWO Eclipse No. 77 sets
on ebay last night. I was a fool.

Speaking of tool fads, I'm surprised our recent discussion of bow saws
didn't set off a new round of panic buying and WTBs for saw blade punches.
No one even mentioned them. Kinda sad, actually.

Brian

I do need to ask a question about these: I have only seen one size in the wild
(100mm/4inches long, or a tad more) and it is only suitable for files up to
about 10", or maybe 12", depending on the file pattern and make.

Are there other sizes? In particular large enough to take the tang on a 14" or
18" Nicholson?


*** This message was sent from a convenience email service, and the reply
address(es) may not match the originating address

That’s so funny.

Ever since I bought a whitney punch (ok, a few of them) I’ve literally sat
looking out my front window waiting for someone to need something punched in
metal.

It’s only happened once in the last year, but WHAT A FEELING!!



It did come to pass on Saturday that my neighbor needed a dowel to fit into a
pipe shaped object. I whipped out a sharp AA Woods hollow auger and a Fray brace
(108, methinks) and in seconds I had spokepointed and then was on my way to
dowel diameter reduction.

I bottomed out the tool, and needed a few more inches, so out came the
spokeshave and it was perfect in like 3 minutes start to finish.

Yes, these are the endorphins we crave.

Matthew Groves
Springfield, MO

On 5/24/2021 4:23 PM, Matthew Groves wrote:

> It’s not Tony Seo level, but more like a local street thug level.

HEY..I resemble that remark!!

Tony (working and working...never ends!)



--
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/tonyseomusic
Old River Hard Goods
http://oldetoolshop.com/

Mathew wrote of Kirk

> 
> Kirk is right that I sometimes do the buy low/sell high thing.

My first thought is that is what I do, too.  But then I noticed he said buy LOW
and sell HIGH and realized I had gotten it backwards

Ed Minch

I agree they work very well.

Eric

My experience is…no.

And of course there's the miracle handle, an old golf ball. As good as any
and cheap at twice the price, if free.

Phil E

On Mon, May 24, 2021 at 6:13 PM Matthew Groves 
wrote:

On Mon, May 24, 2021 at 4:16 PM Phil E.  wrote:

> And of course there's the miracle handle, an old golf ball. As good as any
> and cheap at twice the price, if free.
>

tacky


Wine corks are the miracle handle.  And if you are feeling particularly
upscale, a sparkling wine cork.  The extra mass of the mushroom shape
really helps cushion the palm of your hand.
-- 
Kirk Eppler in Half Moon BAy, hating my co-workers once again.

I have several bow saws and 3 blade punches. Might be we are all stocked up?
Need some new apprentices.

Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows 10

From: Brian Welch<mailto:brian.w.welch@g...>
Sent: Monday, May 24, 2021 4:34 PM
To: Matthew Groves<mailto:grovesthegrey@g...>
Cc: Kirk Eppler<mailto:eppler.kirk@g...>; Tools Old<mailto:oldtools@g...>
Subject: Re: [oldtools] Weird Handle

Speaking of tool fads, I'm surprised our recent discussion of bow saws
didn't set off a new round of panic buying and WTBs for saw blade punches.
No one even mentioned them. Kinda sad, actually.

Brian

On Wed, May 26, 2021 at 10:35 AM David Nighswander <
wishingstarfarm663@m...> wrote:

> I have several bow saws and 3 blade punches. Might be we are all stocked
> up?
> Need some new apprentices.
>
>
>
> Sent from Mail <https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
> Windows 10
>
>
>
> *From: *Brian Welch 
>
>
> Speaking of tool fads, I'm surprised our recent discussion of bow saws
> didn't set off a new round of panic buying and WTBs for saw blade punches.
> No one even mentioned them. Kinda sad, actually.
>
>
> I have two vintage blade punches (misplaced the first, and needed one, so
bought a second, which brought the second out of hiding), and a bike chain
breaker that the seller thought was a saw punch (said to keep it and
refunded me), a Blackburn Tools blade drill, and a newer Roper Whitney
punch with varying die sizes.  And a couple of rolls of SS butcher saw
blade, 2 frame saws (one in hiding), and a bow saw, as mentioned elsewhere.

-- 
Kirk Eppler, in Half Moon Bay, not looking for excuses to buy any more
blade hole making tools.  But if one came up for cheap...

Well, as I’ve been told, good judgment comes from experience.  Experience comes
from bad judgement.
Charlie Rodgers