Files

Files are available in a wide range of shapes, section and cut. The term cut refers to the size and shape of the files teeth. Rough cut Bastard cut Second cut Smooth cut

Files In AHS each work station is equipped 4 files 1 Rough cut Rectangular File 1 Smooth cut Rectangular file 1 Half Round File 1 Round File Files are made from High Carbon Steel One edge of the file has no teeth. This is called the Safe Edge The part of the file inside the handle is called the Tang Remember never use a file with a broken or missing handle.

Hand Files Section Safe Edge Hand files are rectangular in section and have one edge with no teeth. This is called the safe edge.

Flat Files Section Flat files have a slightly tapered blade and no safe edge.

Half Round Files Section Half Round files are curved on one side and flat on the other

Round Files Section Smaller round files are sometimes called Rat Tail Files

Square Files Section

Triangular Files Section Triangular files are sometimes called Three Square Files

Needle Files Sections Needle files are very small, they are available in a wide variety of sections and are normally used for piercing work and other fine metalwork

Dreadnought Files Section Dreadnought files have coarse single cut teeth and are used to cut soft metals like aluminium

Cross Filing Cross filing involves holding the file at almost 90˚ to the work piece and filing across. This is the most basic filing technique and great care must be taken to keep the file as level as possible.

Draw Filing Draw Filing produces a finer finish. Hold the file at right angles to the work and carefully move the file back and forth along the edge of the material

File Card When filing any metal a file has a tendency to clog up. This is called Pinning. To avoid this you can rub chalk on the file before you use it. This fills up the pores and reduces pinning Occasionally you have to use a file card to clean the file. This is accomplished by rubbing the brush along the line of the teeth as shown above.

File Storage Never store files in a tray. Rubbing the blades together like this will only cause the teeth to break.

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