re: File, and Rasp handles

I have a few of the older wooden Nicholson's and a few of these newer plastic ones, and as far as the clamping action it's about the same. Both are enough so if you aren't really vigorous, they will hold on OK. The new ones bring plastic to the equation, sometimes it's ok, sometimes it's too weak, kind of a crapshoot. There is also a less expensive Cresent, and it works via friction, on a plastic sleeve. Again, depending on how vigorous you get, it can do the job. I have one of these, and it comes with 2 "chucks" the one is for a standard tang, the other is a crisscross, and I evidently don't own a file that fits into that shape, at least none of mine will insert more than an inch. I like the standard one for my 4 sided files, they aren't as heavy, and work well enough in it.