Over the years, and as a result of inheriting several from my Dad, I have quite a bunch of files (mill and bastard) and verious rasps that are currently in a pile on my wall bench. I’ve been trying to come up with a good storage method that will keep them both separated so’s not to have them rattling around against each other in a drawer and handy for use.
Anyone have any good file/rasp storage solutions to share?
Thanks ….
Replies
If you're going to store them in a drawer, a strip of wood about 1 inch or so wide, length sized to fit the width of the drawer, and about 1/2 or 3/4 inch thick, with shallow slots or cut outs made to fit individual files/rasps would work. Same basic idea as a wooden wine rack's bottle contoured cut outs for the bottles, only flat bottomed and file/rasp sized. Depending on how you make them, the files could lay flat or on their sides in the cut outs.
Another idea is a knife block type of arrangement with spaced holes for the handle end of the file, so that they stand upright in the block. Same general idea as shop-made blocks for storing drill bits.
Good luck.
Edited 12/15/2005 3:18 pm ET by pzgren
pzgren -Yoiks! I really like the knife block idea!
Let me know how it works for you.
The only place I have to store my 30' aluminum ladder is hanging horizontally over my workbench/RAS/Woodrack. At first, I was bummed because I thought it would be in the way, but as it turns out, it's a perfect file and rasp storage unit. I just slide the buggers into the hollow rungs, along with peg stock, molding, etc. Of course, it takes me about 30 minutes to unload the "storage unit" every time I need the ladder, but hey, we all have to make sacrifices here and there!
Mike Hennessy
I have ALOT of files.. I work metal a 'BIT'.. My good ones in a canvas roll for tools.. I have metal ones I use oil on.. My woodworking ones I have a roll that is 'as is' and wrapped 'oil paper',, No rust
I'm a great believer in the canvas roll idea too. Good for chisesl, good for carving tools, good for rasps and files. Easy to tote to the job site, or pile up under the workbench. Opps- forgot auger bits too. .
Colour coded canvas might be an idea though,
Eric
I had the same issue... lots of files and no good storage solution. As you're probably aware, files can dull if bounced against each other over the years, and I didn't have another roll. Plus, I like to keep them handy. I find that rolls get filled with wood shavings in my shop, so I wanted something else.
My simple solution was to take a scrap piece of 8/4 poplar, about 6" sauare and drilled holes into it just about the size of the tip of the file tang. Because the wood is not too hard, I could gently tap the files into the holes to make a custom fit. Now they all stand like solders standing single file (sorry about the pun) waiting for me to put them into battle. I keep my file brush and a couple handles on the platform, so I just move it from the shelf to my bench and everything I need isl right there...
Hope this helps.
Dennis:
As a patternmaker,I have about any shape of file and rasp that you could imagine.
Due to space limitations,my bench is backed up to an outside wall.On the wall,over the bench,I have built an arrangment of four shelves running the length of the bench.The tools are laid in line on these shelves.They are in plain view and instantly available.
This may not work for some people,but it is a good solution for me
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I ripped a series of saw kerfs or appropriate width in a hunk of dry 5/4 wood,,, works great,,, very simple, looks nice.
I'm in the same boat -- but I pile mine into a cardboard box that held juide drinks for my kids. Not so elegant, and it sits near the showbox of drum sandpaper. I just grab the box when I need a file.
Someday I'll make more bench drawers...
Earlier you mentioned "a chunk of 5/4 wood". What the heck does 5/4 wood mean? I've seen that mentioned before but have no idea what you talkin' about.
Thanks.Life may be short but it can be very wide!
lumber can be graded by 1/4 (quarters(
Thus 5/4= 1-1/4"[email protected]
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But you didn't tell him the good part -- 5/4 refers to the rough size, even if you buy it S4S. ;-)My goal is for my work to outlast me. Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.
Ok -den,,,, what i meant was it's gotta be thicker than 3/4" which we call 1 x, but does not need to be as thick as 2 x (which is 1 1/2") I could have said 1 1/4 inch , but theres a chance that you would read it as 11/4 which would trigger about 50 responses chastising me for wasting wood or proposing equally absurd solutions.
as if that clears anything up......... sorry.
Side note: when you learn to speak in quarters,,,,, lumbermen will treat you with the respect given only to the innermost circle of professionals.....
By the way,,, the saw kerf thing works really well.... i use nice rasps,,, and I no longer wince when i open the drawer.
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