A couple of years ago, I bought a General Tools 3-in-1 Multi-File (no. 473). I don’t remember if I bought it at retail, or from a tool liquidator at a Woodworking Show.
I gave the 3-in-1 file to my brother-in-law, as part of a larger tool box when he and my sister bought a house. For a DIYer or homeowner who might suddenly need a file, this tool seems compact and versatile.
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The concept is simple, and it seemed interesting. There’s a rectangular plastic handle with 3 fold-out files and an end cap that holds them in position. This Simonds 3-in-1 file (available from Wholesale Tool) appears to be the same tool. Given that Simonds makes hand files, I’m guessing that it was rebranded for General Tools.
These days, I’ll often give a one-piece 4-in-1 combination wood rasp and file (examples via Amazon) as part of housewarming or DIY tool kits, but I wonder if the Multi-File would be better. It’s a moot point because General Tools seems to have discontinued it.
I find myself conflicted. I thought it was a good idea to buy for a housewarming tool box gift, but is this something I might have used myself? Probably not, but I can still appreciate the cleverness of the design.
Hilton says
May 20, 2019 at 10:18 amYeah I don’t like it. I prefer a single file as sometimes you even need to take the handle off to get into certain tight spots.
Maybe for the annual DIYer.
Altan says
May 20, 2019 at 10:46 amYou should go for something like this then:
http://www.pellindustrial.com/speedhex-file-sets
The only problem here is the files are welded to the hex shank, they are not made of one piece of metal. Currently I have not found any company that does hex shank files made of one piece. If you know please introduce
Hilton says
May 20, 2019 at 11:18 amThanks, those are a great idea.
fred says
May 20, 2019 at 11:39 amLowes (Kobalt brand) used to sell speedfit files – I never gave them more than a momentary glance – so don’t know if they were one piece.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-4-Piece-SpeedFit-File-Set/1269593
Altan says
May 20, 2019 at 12:22 pmThey might be, they look better quality, but normally the best they do is Friction welding, I have found a Chinese company which makes special orders and asked them to do these files with one piece of metal and they refused because of some machining issues, but they offered Friction welded option instead.
I can see Fred is the most experienced one here, I wish here in the UK I could work for one like him for years, there are a lot to learn from him, I like that he knows about different tools, I also like to work with different tools, I have used a lot of different tools in construction, I enjoy it a lot when I do different things everyday otherwise it would be boring for me.
Altan says
May 20, 2019 at 12:27 pmThis is what I would like Craftsman Made in USA come up with, a quality Hex shank File and Rasp set, also together with Diamond coated Files.
Nathan says
May 20, 2019 at 10:29 amfor a homeowner – especially a first timer – it does make alot of sense.
it would also make some sense for maybe some landscapers or the like. if the file head itself was good and solid.
Otherwise – how much does 2 plain files really cost.
fred says
May 20, 2019 at 10:36 amThe 4-in-hand rasp – aka “shoe rasp” was a tool we bought multiples of in the Scouts – for woodcarving and some other tasks. They are certainly not as refined as a patternmaker’s rasp or something like an Auriou hand stitched rasp – but they fit well in the scouts hands and were very safe and good for rough shaping. We’d buy them by the box of 12 for summer camp.
Koko The Talking Ape says
May 20, 2019 at 11:26 amFor the life of me, I could not find a use for the 4-in-1 rasp. And you absolutely had to wear a heavy glove to use one.
This fold-out file might be handy, if the files lock in place. If they don’t, then forget it.
Wayne R. says
May 20, 2019 at 1:40 pmI agree, they’re less than ideal, but a regular file sucks at least the same if it’s got no handle – and that’s the way too many files are.
I rarely need a file in the field, and so carry a nice flat one with its built-in full-tang handle. I can’t see a folding handle being better.
fred says
May 20, 2019 at 4:02 pmFor decades files and handles seemed t come as separate entities. Wood handles came with a ferrule to protect against splitting – but sometime the place into which the tang was to be inserted was only the barest suggestion of a hole. You were expected to heat the tang up – to cherry red and push it into the handle. The Lutz (Millers-Falls) “Skrooz-On handles were one innovation – then came plastic handles (like ones from Nicholson and Pferd) with inserts and some other handles that offer tang gripping mechanisms – like the General Tools #890.
https://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-890-Adjustable-Handle/dp/B00004T7TG/
While this one claims to be adjustable – its probably best suited for mill, flat, warding or other files having flat tangs in file sizes from about 6 to 12 inches.
Axe, blade and machete sharpening files often come with integral handles:
https://www.amazon.com/Nicholson-06706N-Axe-File-8-Inch/dp/B006DWT7HG/
Koko The Talking Ape says
May 21, 2019 at 1:28 pmI was always puzzled by the handle/file thing. Why are they separate? Why does the tang simply taper, and have no way to lock into a handle? What advantage is there to having a handle that can fall off, and often does?
I bought some plastic handles with the inserts that you mention. They work fine with single-cut files that cut only on a push stroke. They didn’t work with double-cut files that cut in both directions (because the pull stroke pulled the file out of the handle.)
It seems like designers didn’t actually find a way to give files secure handles. They just threw some half-assed measures at it and called it a day.
Bobby says
May 20, 2019 at 2:55 pmPretty neat, seems like a good choice for someone who only needs a file every once in a while. Simonds makes very good files (made in USA versions). I have an older Simonds mill file that’s stamped Nucut U.S.A.
fred says
May 20, 2019 at 4:26 pmNucut was a trademark of the Heller Brothers Co. that produced files starting in 1836 in Newark NJ – shifting production to Newcomestown OH- until they were acquired by Simonds in 1955. Simonds closed the Ohio plant in 1960
The What? says
May 20, 2019 at 7:05 pmThere’s a few companies that make one piece hex shank coarse, bastard, and mill files. They make hex shank wire brushes, grout removal tool, nylon brush, and some other tools to be used with a recip saw and they’re fairly cheap. Look up recip saw hex adapter and you’ll see what I’m talking about. They’re shorter than a normal hand file and they’ve been around for a minute. You can make the adapter into a handle with a piece of wood or metal or get a set of hex shank o-ring picks and use the handle which is what I did years ago.
fred says
May 20, 2019 at 10:28 pmI had seen this line at Lowes.
Never saw any of them in action – but they looked like they were designed for homeowner rather than professional use
https://www.amazon.com/stores/node/9459875011
Altan says
May 21, 2019 at 1:46 amI have seen them before and the adapter for Recip Saw, but again you can clearly see in the second photo that it is welded.
https://www.amazon.com/Reciprotools-RCT-FRW-10-Rasp-Accessory-Attachment/dp/B001CNHDTK
Altan says
May 21, 2019 at 2:14 amI have read somewhere that the ones with hex shank which are made for Recip. Saw and the special adapter are not with 1/4″ hex shank, the hex shank is a bit bigger than 1/4″, what is the size in the handle you use?
And if you want to use one of these to remove grout why not these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spyder-100234-Grout-Out-Multi-Blade/dp/B00697YD9M
In the other version you need to use an adapter, but in this one you don’t need an adapter which makes it more safer I think. These are made in China but Spyder has a lot of good Jigsaw blades which are made in Germany specially their double sided Jigsaw blades which I think Spyder was the first brand to introduce them.
I can not say anything about the wire brushes to be used with Recip. Saw, I have to try it first, but for nylon brushes I can say I would use this instead:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00JLVUQ1W?linkCode=g12&tag=altme-21
with a drill with a Snappy quick change adapter or an impact driver.
Altan says
May 21, 2019 at 2:19 amI would always try to reduce the adapters from the tools, I would use this wire brush with Recip. saw instead of the one with hex shank and an adapter :
https://www.amazon.com/PRODUCTS-LLC-400004-Attachment-Reciprocating/dp/B00FAMS0Q4
This is another good accessory you can use with Recip. saw, made in US also :
https://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardware/power-tool-accessories/reciprocating-saw-blades/spyder-trade-reciprocating-saw-scraper/000320/p-1464215498608.htm
MichaelHammer says
May 20, 2019 at 7:25 pmI’ve always been partial to the professional approach to tools. They are more comfortable and pleasurable to use. This item’s first response from me was, “ugh.” It looks unwieldy. I know not from whence it came, but I have a handle that clamps on securely to any file and feels good in the hand.
https://img1.etsystatic.com/105/0/8973846/il_570xN.863123129_ih7h.jpg