Refitting wooden handles to files etc.
Warm the tang to dull red. Pour powder sulpher into exsisting hole.
Push handle on to tang.
It will smoke.
Allow to cool.
Following a recent acquisition of posh Python file handles, we chatted about how to attach them, an I remembered @The_Yellow_Ardvark recommended using sulphur.
If you can find a chemistry set.It certainly works, and it takes me back to my youth, making stink bombs with the old chemistry set my uncle gave me. I doubt very much if modern kids chemistry sets have half the chemicals they used to have in them![]()
Tip.Following a recent acquisition of posh Python file handles, we chatted about how to attach them, an I remembered @The_Yellow_Ardvark recommended using sulphur.
So, I have posh python file handles in sizes 0, 1 and 2, so up to about 12" files, Size 3 has eluded me as the ebay seller sent me standard handles by mistake then declared the python handles out of stock. Never mind, the seller refunded the difference plus a bit so I'll use the standard ones for big files.
So, here's a file with a badly fitted handle, its one I probably picked up at a car boot or with some other tools
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I thought his would be a good place to start. I drilled the handle out a bit more and filled it with sulphur
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so heated the tang up with my propane torch, it didn't get to cherry red, just very hot
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Handle on but I made a mistake and didn't have a BFH or mallet nearby and the workshop was filling up with fumes. You may be able to see a slight blue flame underneath the ferrule where molten sulphur is dripping onto the floor. So not quite far enough on, but it definitely won't come off.
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It went much better with its sister file
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Two down, about 40 to go. This may take a while as I need to let the fumes dissipate between sessions. I'm working from home this week and normally on line meetings finish a few minutes early, so it only take a a couple of minutes to drill and fill the handle, heat it up, shove it on, introduce it to BFH then run out so I'm slowly working through them, about one an hour
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And by the time they have put on the safety helmet /glasses/blast jacket /apron/ wellies /gloves et al they couldn't move about enough to make one anyway. My 14 year old grandson when I asked him what was the school equipment in the metalwork shop like he replied " not as good as yours, they are all covered in safety gizmo's and are too awkward to use" That took a bit of reeducating .If you can find a chemistry set.
He does have his uses. (Apart from being the forum arsonistI remembered @The_Yellow_Ardvark recommended using sulphur.
Oi.He does have his uses. (Apart from being the forum arsonist).
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