Files

File tools are among the most basic and essential items to have in the tool kit of mechanics, carpenters, and DIYer. They are quite useful for making fine adjustments on metal pieces and to produce a smooth and even surface.

People have been using files since humans started using metals. The first metal to be used by men was bronze, and there is evidence that proves that people at those times used the tools for shaping metals. There is no better way to make fine adjustments on a piece of metal than to rub it down. Depending on the amount of material you want to remove from a surface, you can use different teeth structures. While a coarse tooth can remove a lot of material in little time, a smooth tool removes a very little material and provides a much smoother finish. Read this article to know more about these DIY tools and how to pick the right type of them.

Different types of file tools

Having a good selection of products is a prerequisite if you want to unleash your creative potential as a DIYer. If you know what file to use for which situations and how to use them, the job can be less tiresome and more effective. You will need them not only for removing unwanted layers of material from a metal surface but also for shaping and polishing them. When done right, the end result is a decent level of smoothness on metal surfaces. Tools with coarse teeth are useful for woodworking as well. This article will tell you everything you need to know about buying the right product.

Flat and Hand files

Flat and hand files are very similar. Both of them are flat and have a rectangular cross-section. The edges remain parallel to each other for a considerable length. In the case of a flat one, it tapers near the final one-third of its length. The actual filing faces of both of these products are double-cut while the edges are single cut. But hand filing tool have one edge without any cuts and are therefore called a safe edge. The safe edge helps you file surfaces that are at a right angle to another surface that does not need filing.

Round and half-round file tool

The shapes of both of these tools are pretty much the same as the name. Round files have a circular cross-section while half-round ones have semicircular cross-sections. A round tool is useful for filing circular holes inside a piece of metal. In both round and half-round filing tool, the cut surface is only a third of the length of the product. The rest of their lengths consist of smooth surfaces. You can use a half-round tool for shaping semicircular cut-outs in metals. But in some cases, you can use half-round tools and round tools interchangeably, like in the case of a semicircular cut out on the edge of metal.

Cant saw file tools

Cant saw tools have angled filing surfaces. In fact, it is easier to think of the cant product as a tool with three surfaces, similar to a long prism. Out of these three surfaces, only two have cut-outs for filing. The cut-outs on both sides are single cut-outs and are parallel throughout the length. But not all of these cut-outs are of equal depths. The cut-outs can look irregular at first. But if you look at them closely, you will see a repeating pattern of M-shaped teeth. If you want to file an angled surface, this is the type of product you need.

Needle file tools

Needle tools consist of a set of twelve different filing products that are narrow. But the cross-section and the shape of the shaft of these tools differ slightly from each other. A few of these are actually miniature forms or regular ones like flat, triangular, and round files. Some of them even use the same names as that of the regular-sized tools. Round and half-round tools among needle files are almost the same as their larger counterparts. But these smaller tools are great for working on materials that are delicate and require more precision.