My cousin’s girlfriend (they’re both trades workers) recently brought up that she’d like if I (a woodworker) could make her some handles for her work files, as they’re currently bare metal. At the time, I mentioned I’d probably use maple to make them, since maple tends to be more figured and visually appealing.

However, I picked up three pieces of hickory today for a figurative steal (I got them for $1 each). I know hickory is the gold standard for axe and hammer handles, but would they be a good choice for file handles? I imagine they would hold up better than maple since hickory is harder, and could potentially help with vibrations while using the tools, but if it’s basically a moot point with such a small handle, I’ll just got with what she’d find more aesthetically pleasing.