Our recommendation: Still a beginner? Stick with a half round file to begin with to create rings and simple curves and work your way up to investing in a crossing file as your designs progress and become more complex. What is a barrette file? This type of metal working file only has cutting teeth on one flat side. Our recommendation: Excellent for precision work on small and large areas, pick up a barette file when you need accuracy and want to avoid damaging your design and creating more filing and finishing work for yourself!
One way of ensuring more precision is by getting to work with a set of needle files. At 16cm long, with a cutting surface of 8cm long as well as a much smaller cutting width, needle files will help you get into all of the nooks and crannies that you need to for more delicate designs. Save this for later. Privacy Policy. Building out your jewellery making tool kit? Cooksongold 16cm Half Round Needle File — If you cannot tell by looking at the File which it is, then just rub your finger gently along it and you should figure it out.
There are many different types of Files, some of which you will be famliar with. Below you can see a table containing the more common Files, their shape and their main uses. The Hand File is parallel in width for its length. Used for general purposes.
It tapers slightly towards the point. It tapers slightly towards the point in bothe width and thickness. Used for filing concave surfaces and internal corners. The Round File is Double cut. Used for enlarging holes and internal corners. The Square File is Double Cut on all sides.
Used for rectangular slots, square holes and internal corners. It is triangular in section. Used for filing into internal angles. Needle Files are slender files which are about 18cm in length. They come in a wide variety of shapes, whihc you can see below. They do not have a Tang but their handle is knurled for grip. Needle Files are used on very small work, very accurate angle finishing and in model work. There are several precautions that any good craftsman will take in caring for his files :.
Particles of metal collect between the teeth of a file and besides the possibility that they may make deep scratches in the material being filed, they also reduce the efficiency of the file. When these particles of metal are lodged too firmly between the teeth and cannot be removed by tapping the edge of the file, remove them with a File Card or Wire Brush. Draw the brush across the file so that the bristles pass between the teeth.
If you don't have a File Card or a Wire Brush handy, you could also get a scrap piece of sheet copper or brass and rub it across the file as you would a File Card. Before attempting to use a file, make sure their is an undamaged handle on the tang of the file.
This is essential for proper guiding and safe use. Bastard files are more abrasive than the previously mentioned cut grades. They are the best metal files for aggressive filing on rougher surfaces to remove more material than the smoother options. The difference in size between a small handheld metal file and a long metal file also determines how abrasive it will be.
The amount of teeth per inch gets lower as you move to a longer file size. With less teeth per inch on a longer hand file, the increased gaps will make it more abrasive for heavy duty material removal. Getting a smoother finish with hand files is similar to using coarse grits of sandpaper on wood and moving to finer grits to smooth it out even more.
The different types of metal files are usually broken down by their cut types. These are specific patterns of parallel teeth that affect how you use your file. Single-Cut Files : Diagonal teeth that all line up parallel to one another. Meant to be used in one direction only. Double-Cut Files : Diagonal teeth that line up parallel, but also intersect with a second set of teeth that run parallel to each. These can be used for aggressive filing in both directions.
Also known as a second cut file. Curved-Cut Files : The teeth of the file are curved and parallel to each other. Popular among auto body workers because the mill curved teeth cut fast, but can help smooth large, flat surfaces. Filer tools are available in countless shapes, but the most practical and most used shapes are:.
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