Recreating a vintage design

[@robinson-foundry]

If you're curious about the tools and equipment I use and would like to support the channel, please check out the affiliate links in the video description. Your support is greatly appreciated!

[@rosaylafuente]

I NEED TO KNOW ONE THING...THE TYPE OF TIG RODS, PLEASE, SHARE THE LINK FOR THIS MATERIAL

[@theAwakenedOne007]

These are amazing! Any chance you are selling an extra set you made? I'm a wood worker, so I don't have any of those tools you have to make bronze casting. I love all your videos. Love seeing your progression of skill evolve over the course of your time on yt.

[@Thousand_yard_King]

I wish you would make these for sale, I could use at least two of them...

[@jackwittlich8409]

As a life-long patternmaker and foundry engineer who learned the trade in the 1960s, I must offer my compliments to you. So many KZbin videos are so aggravating with poor technique and a lack of understanding of how things should be done. You have surpassed those weak attempts at trying to entertain by showing how to do things right. Congratulations, I enjoyed your video. Yes, Si Bronze is very fluid and makes a beautiful casting. Your Petrobond Sand (my guess) is perfect for home foundries. You have a very nice shop setup, too. I am envious. Thank you for not hammering the patterns into the sand like some fools do. When I see that, I almost faint. We did not have the advantage of printed patterns back then so we would have made split patterns with a core box, but you are using the modern methods that really simplify pattern and foundry work. I made patterns for castings that weighed a few ounces and some that went 41,000 pounds, so I've seen a lot. THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT JOB.

[@HonestDoubter]

Jack, I am not of your age - but I have learned a few things as well. It is SO refreshing to see young folks pick up a craft and just knock it out of the park in an old school way - while updating things to modern tools. It gives me hope that old crafts will stay alive. Seeing your comment made me happy as well.

[@galewollenberg786]

My Dad had a cast iron one, and i found one here in topeka at a garage sale. My start was tool and die school at milford, nebr. and was a machinery repairman in the Navy, 2 machine shops on my ship with a patternmakers shop and foundry so i appreciate this stuff too.

[@aserta]

I have a bunch of these as heirlooms from great grandpa through my uncle. Once you use one, you never go back to wood or plastic.

[@tyrannosaurusimperator]

I've used them and I would rather hold onto the rat tail than ever touch one again. I spent more time picking up the file from the floor and retightening the handle than actually filing.

[@Advanced_pack]

⁠@@tyrannosaurusimperatori assume that is why he resorted to using an Allen wrench instead

[@robinson-foundry]

That’s awesome! I’m hoping these will work out well for me. Time will tell.

[@noeaguinaga4018]

Also run two batches to avoid cooling like you did

[@alexbowser9801]

From which metal yours are made of?

[@joesmith1574]

These handles are slick! I didn’t realize that the design was that old, they look very modern. Designers had style back then, too!

[@coburnlowman]

Man you're 💯 correct about old time stying. When I was a young teen I saved money to get a band saw. I overlooked the old cast iron saws , and bought a new Craftsman aluminum base , with the plastic shields. It looked so modern at the time. It has held up through the years, but later bought an antique Delta with the fancy cast iron. It has a timeless look , n feel. Now the Craftsman looks so old , n dated. It's like the designers were building heirlooms to last forever. Like our 80+ year old Farmall tractors, they have beauty built in them , and still work like borrowed mules on a regular basis.

[@anzaca1]

We tend to think of these skeletonised designs as being very modern, so these antique ones are fascinating.

[@robinson-foundry]

I agree! There were a lot of skilled craftsmen back in the day.

[@highdesertdrew1844]

FWIW, Modernism kinda got kicked off around 1900 and went through the 1950's and 60's.

[@daveevans1236]

Beautiful work, tools that will be passed down through your family for generations 😊

[@Serbianguy432]

Another fascinating and informative video. Some may question why a person would go through the trouble to make one's own file handles, but a true craftsman understands the value and pride of making something that will last for generations to come. That, and the fact that you have created a work of art that from now on will be used to create further works of art, only solidifies in my mind that you are becoming a true master of your craft. Keep up the good work!

[@robinson-foundry]

Thank you!!

[@justinbanks2380]

I've stopped trying to explain to people when they ask why I make something instead of buy. I've found it's something you understand or you don't. Same with modifying bought tools to use they way you need.

[@RizzyPanda6]

I watch these before I sleep sometimes. Soothing voice and quality craftsmanship gets me every time haha

[@davidjones-vx9ju]

yea they put me to sleep too

[@gjack2008]

Love when I stumble upon a channel like this that I had no idea existed. Great all around design, craftsmanship and video production.

[@robinson-foundry]

I watch channels similar to mine as I’m drifting off to sleep. It’s a strange concept to me that there are people out there who do the same while watching my videos. Glad you like them!

[@mikealinan3038]

Heck yeah! A new video from my favorite gentle voiced metal molder!

[@bobdehuisbaas1]

The only thing I would've changed (if I had the skills at all to make something like this, which I don't) is to use a black grub screw instead of a bolt so it doesn't stick out of the handle.

[@robinson-foundry]

Grub screws are a better idea. I just thought the blue would make the thumbnail look a little more interesting. Thanks!

[@mushfiqurrahman2515]

"Time spent now is definitely time saved later", I'll remember this quote. Thanks.

[@RealJeffBoe]

They look great. Shrink the handles a little bit, add a knife blade and this would be a great pattern for an upscale steak knife set.

[@monster2269]

Great job. Your kids and grand kids will enjoy using these fine tools.

[@robinson-foundry]

Thanks! I certainly hope so!

[@Toqueville2023]

the retro designs are always desirable. During the decades of 30's through 60's are amazing for the industrial designs produced

[@killerkane1957]

Anytime I come across the old handles, I buy them. You are correct. The thumb screws are weak. The best handles EVER. You did a beautiful job on yours!

[@spidersinspace1099]

40 Year machinist here. Nice project, very well done.

[@phild8095]

As a retired engineer and an artist in stone I am very impressed. Thanks for a great eleven minutes and twenty two seconds.

[@ZoonCrypticon]

You are a true artist! This order and level of cleanness throughout your working process and in your workspace is amazing!

[@UncaDave]

My grandfather was a tool and die maker for Bridgeport Machine in Bridgeport, CT. I still have his micrometers and his caliper. Must be the family history as I really enjoy watching your work.

[@OhHeyTrevorFlowers]

Solid work. The workshop is nicely filling out, too. A mill and lathe in the garage will change your life.

[@Igorovich88]

Impressive. But I must say, even more impressive is the workshop!

[@KrakenCasting]

Neat! It’s always fun to see a functional cast.

[@robinson-foundry]

Thank you!

[@AndrewduToit]

Not just beautiful but also functional. Love it.

[@larrycampbell7442]

I just turned 60 and found my first one in an old garage … great design is timeless. Thanks 👍

[@tonyg5692]

AMAZING!!!! You are a true Artisan

[@chipperkeithmgb]

Really nice from a wood worker in Oxford England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@robinson-foundry]

Thank you! Hello from Las Vegas, NV!

[@60anthonyh]

That's gotta be one of the coolest things I've ever seen someone make.

[@theredyeti3787]

they look superb!!! Well done. Hello from Australia.

[@dwarvinicus]

Normally i don’t like watching “build” videos because i start with much hope and something just ticks me off. This was perfect from beginning to end and i now want your file handles 😮

[@roots4x]

Nothing feels better in hand than wood or leather. But these are indeed beautiful.

[@tuneophilegym]

Beautiful job on those bronze file handles! Ergonomical and very aesthetically pleasing visually!!! I'm certain that you are quite proud of the result.

[@TController]

You have an excellent array of equipment at your disposal. I’m really envious.

[@KnowArt]

looks awesome, although I´m a bit sceptical if metal is nicer to hold than wood, as you said you use them a lot

[@user-yx5yp5ik6b]

3D modeling, 3D printing, casting, milling, welding, polishing - in one small video we see almost all skills but working on a lathe! Nice job! Greetings from Russia 😊

[@robinson-foundry]

Thank you! Greeting from Las Vegas, NV

[@benjones325]

The file handles look fantastic. Not personally sure about the way you fixed the handle to the file. That mental square looks a little janky. But the amazing work that goes into all your projects is so evident in the beautiful pieces that you make.

[@owais146]

SPLENDID MAESTRO

[@MakeEverything]

These are excellent!

[@robinson-foundry]

Thank you!!

[@IR-nq4qv]

beautiful, I would have tried using hardened black Allan key socket head set screws for a machinist look.

[@robinson-foundry]

Thanks!

[@Wishbone1977]

Something I've seen others do with similar projects is to deliberately make more small air channels in the mold, not to help with the casting but to use for welding rods afterwards. This is just to ensure that if there are voids to fill or you have to weld separate pieces together, you won't have visible color differences.

[@pkwork]

Have an antique one, like me. Love it. Those are beautiful!!

[@mikchrungBLADES]

Man that looks really great. I can't live without hand files,I use them every day in my knife making. No power tools gives me the satisfaction that a file gives. Ya it's slow and very labor intensive but Only people who use lots of files understand the reward of using them. Looove that sick file handle.

[@lw8882]

Those look and function amazingly. Beautiful work.

[@robinson-foundry]

Thank you very much!

[@DMGTID]

I’m working on a bronze casting project with a good friend of mine. I have been FDM printing for years, but recently tried design printing wax patterns for casting. The detail in the patterns is insanely good! I highly recommend trying it.

[@RobertMendietta]

Your attention to detail is astounding great work

[@robinson-foundry]

Thank you very much!

[@Devarayau]

Super I definitely make it with my metal files

[@danielboles6837]

I just happened upon your channel and really enjoyed your work. Beautiful! I used to be a welder, and always wanted to get into machining, but never got around to it. I hope you will pass your knowledge of this craft to young people, we need more young people to be interested in this art. It is art in my book, and you are gifted . Thank you.

[@frank_lehne]

Those handles are gorgeous!

[@tomthompson7400]

great result , they are a lifetime job.

[@JohnnyRanks620]

These came out great!

[@robinson-foundry]

Thanks!

[@NightyNite94]

Best handles I ever seen

[@randyearles1634]

I hope your kids or grandkids value them as unique one-of-a kind. good video

[@schrodingerscat1863]

Those handles turned out really nice. Couple of tips for casting, you got voids from shrinkage because you didn't form a pouring basin around the top of your sprue and also your sprue was a little skinny and should extend just below your runner to form a sprue well. The thicker the sprue and gates the slower the metal solidifies and you want the metal in the sprue, gates and runners to solidify last to avoid the part getting voids. Start thinking about the order that parts of the casting will solidify based on the volume of metal in them and it all makes sense. I can see why you pay extra for that silicon bronze, it flows extremely well. For cores try sodium silicate mixed with dry sand and cured with CO2 gas, this is pretty cheap and makes cores that are reasonably robust but easy to break up and remove after casting.

[@uhavemooface]

This was so cool. I have never seen a design like this or even seen a handle quite like this one for filers. I think I have only used a file once in my life time and that was when I was in a wood shop and they had some metal that needed to be filed down and asked me to do it.

[@kitnoki2]

I recommend Polysmooth for projects that end in casting 3D prints. The post processing is super simple and it gets real smooth with no real work

[@H3xx1st]

At first glance I didn't like the design, but as they took shape I definitely changed my mind. It's really true that: "They don't make 'em like they used to" I'd like to see you bronze up those bolts to match. Thanks for sharing your process!

[@hanelyp1]

The trick to casting in one piece with a core is supporting the core in the mold. In this case the core has to rest on the sand forming the windows. The core would be the same shape as the filler used to help the parting line.

[@garysgarage101]

Wow, amazing workmanship. Love your clean shop setup.

[@johnnyho900]

Wow, these are beautiful! As a child my dad only had wood ones and they were awful! He only had a few handles for many many files. The wood ones always fell off and I remember just giving up on them and using the files without handles cause they were such a pain! Yours look great, well done!

[@Weazle099]

at 3:24 to work out how much material you need, you can use the "Volume Displacement Method" Simply get a jar, tube or container just big enough to fit you're "handles or casting models" in. Fill it with water till the water spills or overflows. Remove your "models", but leave the water in the container. Now refill it with your casting material till the container is full full, BUT NOTE: it's better to have the water spill or overflowed. this will mean there is more casting material (aka silicon bronze) in your container now as it's volume is more then that of you're handle (aka casting models)

[@owensparks5013]

Or right-click on the part in CAD and display volume...

[@tamurhaq]

@@owensparks5013 True, but I think they mean if you're doing it old school and has an actual part you're replacing with casting instead of a CAD file.

[@robertharris1748]

You need to add quite a bit for the sprue.

[@ExtraordinaryTK]

I absolutely LOVE this!

[@cottrilltoolwoodworks]

definitely better looking than the original ones i have in my shop. Just getting into casting a bit and these will be on my list for sure. Great job, they look great.

[@robinson-foundry]

Thank you! Hope the foundry work goes well!

[@kellycoe1787]

I just stumbled upon this video, and your work, and its awesome. Thanks so much for sharing this. I cant wait to try my own design for my file handles.. and probably aluminum will be used.

[@davepomerleau7250]

I have one of the cast iron ones you were looking at. I got it from my grandfathers tools after he passed and I was given his metal lathe. It very nice because you can remove the handle and easily when needed or swap it around. He also used old used c02 cartridges from bb guns. he just tapped them on to the ends of files expanding the the hole that was there from when they were punched. I still have a few of them on the ends of some of his files. I love what you did, that design is really nice! I also like the trick you do to add small tubes to get extra material to use as welding rods if needed!!!

[@mm00016]

Excellent job they look beautiful

[@VHavengrad]

I don't always watch your stuff, but I bump across them every now and then and I'm always engrossed in the process and results. Still have one of your raptor claws.

[@lowelllogerwell5146]

Wow~ They came out very nice!!!

[@iSam3000]

Unbelievable creativity, you inspired me to get started too!

[@Mopar46]

Definitely lots of work, but the end results prove the worth of that work.

[@robinson-foundry]

Thank you

[@EnricoHoover]

Beautiful work. You've obviously got waaaay too much time on your hands. It's always a pleasure and a privilege to learn from an expert.

[@aguycalledlucas]

These absolutely gorgeous

[@robinson-foundry]

Thanks!

[@olsu3477]

Дуже гарно!!! You are doing so amazing tool! Good job!

[@cameltanker1286]

That was great. I think I'll file it away for later.

[@ThisisBrickdup]

Gosh dang amazing job there dude!! Loved watching these come together.

[@robinson-foundry]

Thank you! I’m glad you did!

[@kentieber7309]

that was an awesome project. always love practical shop useable projects

[@NineWorldsWorkshop]

Brilliant job! Really nice result, especially for something that gets a lot of daily use

[@tgafire87]

As someone who frequently uses a variety of files, I LOVE THIS.

[@homemadetools]

Beautiful work; they came out great. We shared this video on our homemade tool forum last week 😎

[@robinson-foundry]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@alangliniak9514]

What a cool project. Good work

[@CraigHigbee]

You are crazy talented and you challenge yourself. Beautifully done!

[@robinson-foundry]

Thank you very much!

[@michaelcampbell1471]

Awesome job and excellent capture of the process...I've been machining many years myself. I definitely appreciate the craftsmanship and range of processes you mastered to create these!

[@robinson-foundry]

Thank you very much!

[@motormaker]

Beautiful work.

[@robinson-foundry]

Thank you!

[@MikeT]

They look very nice

[@avianfish8732]

Top job! I love making tools.

[@robinson-foundry]

Thanks 👍

[@AjHxze-lx4jn]

Very impressive and clean casting methods 👌 your work bench is awesome too.

[@Kazar2020]

Beautiful!

[@jackrichards1863]

Very nice work all the way! 👍

[@dominikrodler8010]

I'm very envious!

[@timziegler9358]

Absolutely beautiful! Well done!

[@dustinbrosmer6164]

I absolutely love your videos I wish you did them more often. Such talent

[@FourthMatrix]

Metal working is fascinating to me.

[@dangerousandy]

Those look exquisite! Nice job 👍🏻

[@jacksnow1703]

Nice work and one of the more interesting builds I've seen in some time. Thanks for sharing.

[@piccalillipit9211]

BEAUTIFUL

[@Za7a7aZ]

I envy people with a workshop filled with tools and machines that can create (almost) anything you you want.

[@seanseoltoir]

I'm more impressed with people who can actually FIND the tool they need in their workshops... :) "I know I have one of those around here SOMEWHERE..."

[@Badassest]

Those came out wonderful! How cool!

[@CreepyChappy]

Beautiful work

[@robinson-foundry]

Thank you!

[@maciejajewski]

they turned out pretty great! well done

[@joefitzy]

Nice work! These look amazing!

[@m.l.6704]

Nice job! I really enjoyed watching !!!

[@ashesman1]

A hint for milling the slots. Drill out the excess material first. Means you can mostly avoid plunging and nothing removes metal faster than a drill.