Fitting Python file handles - advice please?

Any advice on fitting Python file handles? I've decided I'm too old to enjoy using the few rubbery-plastic ones I have - too pyongy. Hence a regime shift in favour of Python.

Is there anything particular I need to know about the 'hidden spring'? Best to drill out a bit? Or just use the 'hot tang' burn-in method?

Cheers, Colin

Where I used to work they just “ shoved it in” never noticed any problems!

Hot tang always works for me

Push the file in as far as you can under your own steam then bang the file handle down firmly on a smooth surface with plenty of mass, I use my anvil, a few sharp strikes and I've never had one fall out.

Some discussion here :- **LINK**

Multistep process seems bit long winded but does, theoretically, avoid over-burning the hole.

Theory of the spring is that it forces the softwood handle around the final part of the tang under the ferrule giving a good grip without needing to burn the big end of the hole to shape.

Sort of thing you need to do to make a cheap, relatively crappy, handle work. Back in ye good old days with proper turned brass ferrules the handle cost around half as much as the file so you looked after it and expected it to do several files. Of course a file was a days wage or so too. Was years before I could justify new files as opposed to reconditioned ones via Mr Whistons (in)famous Cat on its log.

Clive

You should push the tang into the handle and then, holding the wooden handle with the file facing down, strike the end of handle with a mallet. Somewhat counter-intuitively, this will force the tang into the handle rather than knock it out. You can look up the physics if you don't believe me.

Hywel

You should push the tang into the handle and then, holding the wooden handle with the file facing down, strike the end of handle with a mallet. Somewhat counter-intuitively, this will force the tang into the handle rather than knock it out. You can look up the physics if you don't believe me.

Hywel

*Newton's third law*