Files are hand-operated cutting tools widely used in metalworking, woodworking, and other applications. These tools are widely used for effective smoothening or removing rough/sharp cut edges, filing metals, shaping, and resizing a great range of materials with their efficient paralleled teeth. Apart from parallel teeth, these portable cutting tools feature a handle, blade, tang, and handle, each with effective cutting applications. They are made from a durable and case-hardened bar with different cross sections and abrasive surfaces to remove other material-designed files, like ceramic. Furthermore, file tools come in varied shapes and varieties distinguished by their blade types and materials being removed. Additionally, files are available in different sizes, and teeth spacing is ideal for cutting rougher/finer materials with smoother-cut applications.
Shapes of Files Tools
Handheld file tools come in the following shapes.
- Hand files
- Flat files
- Square files
- Round files
- Triangular files
- Half Round
- Knife.
Types of Files Tools
A file is a versatile cutting tool that comes in varied types, such as:
- Needle Files – These are miniature tools designed to smooth, finish, and shape a wide range of objects, such as wood, metal, ceramic, plastic, stone, polymer clay, and glass. These tools come in a variety of shapes, including round, oval, triangle, slitting, crossing, knife, and square.
- File Sets – refer to a group/set of file tools in different shapes and sizes to remove fine materials from different workpieces. These devices function for shaping or smoothening various materials.
- File Handles – These handles are ergonomic and are made of plastic or wood for added comfort and splendid grip. They come as either push-fit or screw-fit for their practical applications.
- Engineers Files – Also called hand files, these are hand tools designed to smooth, shape, and deburr multiple metallic or wood materials while removing unwanted materials after sharpening or cutting. They also used to be fixed with a file handle for their ergonomic functions. These cutting tools cut with their fine teeth with mostly coarse, second-cut, smooth, or bastard grades.
- Thread Files – Also known as thread restoring files, are metallic tools that function like standard cutting file tools for effective cutting, shaping, and smoothening off numerous materials. These handheld tools come with screw-fitted teeth and fit into nuts and bolt threads for cutting or cleaning the damaged materials that offer blockage.
Typical Applications
Depending on the file types, these versatile devices offer various applications, such as:
- Sharpening/smoothening and shaping tools.
- Ideal for cleaning concave, painted, flat, and rusted surfaces.
- Enlarge cable entry into used materials, like cubicles.
- Finishing various surfaces.
- Opening different holes.
- Filing and slotting mounting holes for different coach bolts.
- Making holes of any shape, like square and rectangular.
- Filing keyways in pulleys.
