Ya know Marianne, maybe you are on to something here. My bench is a
normal small wedged- in thing surrounded by a buffing lathe, pickle
pot, water container, ultrasonic on one side and on the other a fan
(for when it gets toooo hot here in SOFL, small soldering stand (made
of an old flower pot holder - I hate those heat eating stands), and
other ‘stuff’. My bench drawers are full of ‘jobs yet to be done’,
spare this and that, and other essentials ‘just in case’. Files? Well
some are in a drilled block, others that don’t fit the block are on
the bench, more are hanging on the bench legs, or in a kitchen
divider in the main drawer. There just is no room for any kind of
"file holder" let alone several holders that would be necessary to
hold the various sizes and types. Some of these files have been in
constant use for 8-10 years, others are fairly new.
Files are relatively cheap to acquire today. Even good one are
pretty reasonable. I constantly file in both directions (forward and
draw) with little concern (the days of making files are gone). When a
file wears, I throw it into the ‘to be made into stamps’ box. (Never
waste good carbon steel, even if it is made in China!!!)
So, Marianne makes a very good point. I wish I could have the space
on my little ‘corner of the world’ to keep all my burs, files,
hammers, and other dross neat and tidy…but I can’t. Good luck to
those who have such luxary.
Your bench sounds like mine. Piles of tools all sorted by date, a
tool last used 6 months ago should be near the bottom. Something just
put down for a moment will be on top, unless the trolls got it.
I use an upright ice cube maker - one that has cylinders to make
ice 'tubes' to fit in water bottles.
I just ordered two of these through Amazon, one for me and one for my
classroom-- really looks to be exactly what I want. Each one costs
about $5 and holds 27 items. FWIW, I have a feeling they may not be
around long-- the sites that have reviews all have angry purchasers
complaining that there’s no way to get the ice out of the tubes short
of half-melting it. Off-topic, I’m happy that people are conscious of
the waste of energy and water, quite a change in our national psyche.
I’ve been filling the bottle about 1/2 full of water & putting it in
the freezer. Then, when I leave, I fill the bottle with water & am
ready to go.
This works on all bottle sizes. I used to use a 1/2 gallon bottle
when working with Habitat. Even when starting at 7AM the water would
still be cold at 2 PM in the Arizona heat.
So, Marianne makes a very good point. I wish I could have the
space on my little 'corner of the world' to keep all my burs,
files, hammers, and other dross neat and tidy....
Well, Don, my little corner is pretty neat and tidy - couldn’t work
otherwise. But I don’t have file holders, plier holders, flex shaft
holders, brush holders, wheel holders or holder holders, either.
Files go in the tray, pliers go in the tray, occasionally used tools
go in drawers. Never saw any of them wrassle with each other…
Whatever floats yer boat, but I have work to do… I do have bur
holders - I also have 200 burs in them…
General wear and tear and working often with diamonds means they’ll
wear out through use long before any of the other dire things can
happen. Touch a file to a diamond and you just took off some teeth -
eventually the whole file is just gone…
I could see it in a classroom where you have all sorts of
who-knows-who abusing tools of all kinds (could tell some stories,
but I won’t…) that you’d need some higher level of toolroom
controls, but it’s my bench, and I take care of it to begin with…
Oh, and no handles - got no use for them, and they’d just hang out
the back of my palm anyway… Since I don’t hold the tang at all, I’m
not sure what a handle would accomplish, unless it’s a big ol’
machine file. Get on top of it, commune with the work…
Your bench sounds like mine. Piles of tools all sorted by date, a
tool last used 6 months ago should be near the bottom. Something
just put down for a moment will be on top, unless the trolls got
it.
On New Year’s (a year ago), I asked this group for suggestions on my
resolution to keep my bench neater. The general response was “just do
it.” Since then, I found a solution that improves the look of my
bench by 90%. Every time I drop something into the pickle, I spend
about 15+ seconds putting tools, etc. away. Sometimes I use the
entire pickling period; usually not. It’s almost become a game (this
is really sick to see how much I can get cleaned up in a short
time. 90% of a New Year’s Resolution is better than I usually do.
Yeah, my bench is organized like that too, except mine isn’t a mess,
it’s very carefully organized according to a systematic principle!
It’s called the “Holistic Sedimentary Principle” of filing.
I know what pile the thing I’m looking for is in, and about how long
ago I put it there, so I have a pretty good sense of about how deep
it should be.
Actually, on a serious note, have any of you ever noticed that there
seem to be two kinds of jewelers: the absolute neatniks who keep everything spotless, and the folks who use our benches as a way to
keep our minds agile? (remembering where everything is.)
We’ve all known people who do that, of course, but have any of you
noticed? The latter type always know where everything is. It’s
like a 3D crossword puzzle with sharp objects. (Neat, huh?)
Your bench sounds like mine. Piles of tools all sorted by date, a
tool last used 6 months ago should be near the bottom. Something
just put down for a moment will be on top, unless the trolls got
it.
Just last week I went to Harbor Freight and bought some magnetic tool
bars. They’re 18" long and attach to walls, benches, etc. with two
screws. I put one up over each area where I normally scatter tools.
I’m shocked at how much one of those things can hold! Of course right
after I bought them, I got an email from HF. The magnetic bars will
be going on sale at the HF stores soon–check their website for the
flier and dates.
Why use ice cubes in plastic water bottles? I've been filling the
bottle about 1/2 full of water & putting it in the freezer. Then,
when I leave, I fill the bottle with water & am ready to go.
Very sensible. But remember, no one here is suggesting we buy these
trays for ice, but to store files in. Or saw blades, or…
Just last week I went to Harbor Freight and bought some magnetic
tool bars.
Those things initially seemed useful to me too. Until I discovered
that many of the tools one might store on them become themselves
magnetized a bit by the bars. And that means when you set a tool
down on your bench during use, any stray drill bits or burs laying
around end up sticking to the file, or plier, or other burs. annoying
to say the least… Last thing I need on my already somewhat
cluttered bench is all the tools clinging to each other…
Since I have made no effort what-so-ever to keep my files from
touching my other files for the past 35 years, this thread motivated
me to give my tools a close inspection to see if this alleged
mishandling has resulted in any actual damage. Under a 20x
microscope I did not discover any nicks or dings that you might
suppose were caused by contact with hard corners. Even my very fine #8 Dick file shows no damage. I don’t toss and bang my tools around,
but neither do I baby them. Files are kept in a drawer where they
touch each other. That is not to say they grind against each other. I
suppose there must be some wear accelerated letting them touch, but
not enough to motivate me to change how I work. I think this thread
sends the message of an exaggerated risk, one that resonates with an
obsessive attention to quality and detail that is common to good
jewelers. Nothing wrong with being disciplined and organized, but I
don’t think anyone needs to feel guilty for not keeping their files
from touching.
Magnetic strips from Harbor Freight, or anywhere else. I use to
think those would be a great help with organization until I worked
with someone who used one religiously, and we had to share tools. Try
picking up a pair of pliers, and having every bur or needle file
that is in your drawer or bench top stick to it. Not a nice thing
when you are concentrating intently on a piece. It use to drive me
crazy. Once things get magnetized, there is almost no going back.
Bout the only thing I use a magnet for is safe keeping my saw blades
on my bench lamp. Have to thank Mr. Revere for that little tip. You
can find great magnets inside old speakers and use those to pick up
old or broken saw blades in your bench drawer during cleanup and
organization day. Magnet in speaker tip…thanks Charles
Lewton-Brain. Just giving credit where deserved.
Adding a personal aside to the magnetic strip to hold tools: my
concern is if a file, pliers, hammer, etc. is magnetized, even
slightly, it is going to attract any stay bit of metal filing around
it… steel wool “droppings” come to mind. IMHO, I would prefer to
keep them out of my shop and away from my bench.
Files shouldn’t touch files ?.. no, and peas shouldn’t touch mashed
potatos, nor colored socks touch white socks in the drawer, but
these things happen no matter how hard one tries (^;.
My files have bigger things to worry about than their friends,
namely me being rough on them, doing things I know I shouldn’t do to
them. But I’ve got more than I know what to do with, and lots of
little ones never see action since I became the pancake die maker
and stopped being the modelmaker, etc, 20 years ago. Most of the big
ones see regular action doing what big files do (they don’t make
jewelry anymore either).
One thing about having a bigger, spread-out shop now, is that tools
are more widely scattered. It’s a little harder to keep track of
everything than when quarters were cramped. Having two or three of
many tools helps a lot, but it gets dicey with the split-garage
arrangement plus porch, where the current array of outside/handyman
tools are. Minor inconvenience at worst, since having room for
everything, and a little extra breating room is to die for, or
almost kill yourself moving for, which I almost did. I almost almost
killed myself several times (^8.
I had this problem years ago with my needle files, which were all in
a box together. I solved it by cutting rectangles of thick cardboard
and pushing my needle files down the long voids caused by the
corrugation to keep them safe. Each rectangle holds about 8 files,
and they can then be left to float around your bench or tool box
without coming to harm.
I just roll my big files in a long piece of brown paper when I put
them away in my tool box as this keeps them from touching each other.
Not pretty, but it works.
Oh, and no handles - got no use for them, and they'd just hang out
the back of my palm anyway... Since I don't hold the tang at all,
I'm not sure what a handle would accomplish, unless it's a big ol'
machine file.
The most compelling reason to put handles on files is to stop a
sudden snag putting the tang of the file through the arteries of
your wrist!! This is obviously more important on larger files and
especially with those which some people insist on using to file
metal in a lathe while it is rotating but even with a fairly small
file, the risk is there if you are using it to clean up a hammer head
etc. The alternative would be to grind the tang down but handles
needn’t be expensive or complicated - ball point pen barrels make
good handles for needle files or garden canes (bamboo) in various
sizes is easy to fix on with sealing wax…
Files shouldn't touch files ?... no, and peas shouldn't touch
mahed potatos, nor colored socks touch white socks in the drawer
It’s true I am somewhat compulsive in some areas, but this isn’t one
of them. I just hate the way the tools are abused in the classroom.
If it isn’t hurting the files, I’m thrilled! It’s just what I was
taught, and it seemed right to me. Now, the disc punches tossed into
a plastic bowl-- no one is going to convince me THAT isn’t doing
damage!
And if anyone made me eat peas, I’d mix 'em right into the
potatoes…
ABy the way, my “ice tube trays” came, and are perfect for storing
the files upright. I put my saw blades in there too, since each one
has 27 tubes. Thanks for the great suggestion!
I have a small degaussing unit used by watchmakers for demagnetizing
tools and mechanical watches. I use it occasionally on my jewelry
tools. Bought it second-hand, so am not sure what they cost new.
Just hold the tool in center of coil, press button, and slowly draw
tool out full arms length without allowing to touch coil. Had to do
only once for most things, did have to repeat for a few things.
Worked nicely. Magnetic field does want to pull it against the coil,
so firm grip, center it in open space, and DON’T wear your watch
while doing it.
to see how much I can get cleaned up in a short