1. Files

2. 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

3. 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.

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

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

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

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

8. Square Files
Section

9. Triangular Files Section
Triangular files are sometimes called Three Square Files

10. 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

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

12. 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.

13. 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

14. 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.

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

16. The End