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Files are available in different shapes, sizes and types of cut. They consist of a blade of hardened tool steel and a wooden handle.
2.1. File shapes
Flat file:
For use on straight and curved external faces and on side edges to provide them with chamfers and to deburr edges.
Figure 2 Flat file
Square file:
For use on square openings and narrow steps.
Figure 3 Square file
Triangular file:
For use on sharp-edged openings and steps as well as on small and short external faces.
Figure 4 Triangular file
Round file:
For use on round openings and small inside radii.
Figure 5 Round file
Halfround file:
For use on arched recesses and big inside radii.
Figure 6 Halfround file
Crossing file:
For use on recesses and openings with very big radii.
Figure 7 Crossing file
Barrette file:
For special use on dovetail guides.
Figure 8 Barrette file
Knife file:
For use on narrow openings and for sharpening of saws.
Figure 9 Knife file
2.2. File sizes
Big and heavy files (square rubber files and hand files) are used for large, straight, rough faces; medium-size files (ranging between 160 and 375 mm in length) may be used for any application.
Figure 10 Filing of faces by a square
rubber file
Small and smallest files (warding files and needle files of 100 am length) are used for special purposes, mostly for very small cuts and openings.
Figure 11 Filing of cuts by a warding
file
Offset files (rifflers) are used for recesses and openings not easily accessible.
Figure 12 Riffler
2.3. Types of cut
Single-cut files (milled):
File blade with long cutting edges which may be interrupted by chip breakers.
For use on soft metals, such as aluminium, lead, zinc.
Figure 13 Single-cut file
Double-cut files (chiseled):
Files with crossed cutting edges forming the teeth of the file.
For use on general steel and cast iron.
Figure 14 Double-cut file
Rasp-cut files:
Files with special cutting edges with ripping effect.
For use on soft metal with big working allowance and on non-metallic soft materials (wood).
Figure 15 Rasp-cut file
Single-cut files and double-cut files are classified by the degree of coarseness of their teeth and can be marked by numbers of cut (grade of cut).
|
Designation Cut |
no. |
File surface |
Use of file |
Fineness of file |
|
rough-cut file |
0 |
rough (stroke of file tangible and visible) |
for oversize of 0.5 mm and more |
very coarse |
|
bastard file |
1 | | | |
|
second-cut file |
2 |
fine (file stroke no longer tangible but still visible) |
for oversize of less than 0.1 mm |
|
|
smooth-cut |
3 | | | |
|
dead-smooth file |
4 |
very fine (file stroke neither tangible nor visible) |
for fits and best surface finish | |
|
super-smooth file |
5 | | |
very fine |
Files are selected depending on:
- the shape of the face or edge to be filed,
- the hardness of the material to be filed,
- the size of the face to be filed,
- the amount of filing and the surface finish.
In which cases will filing be
useful?
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Which shape of file is mainly
used?
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Which type of cut is used for filing of general steels and cast
iron?
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