File (tool) – Harry & Co Jewellery

History and Development of Files

Early filing or rasping has prehistoric roots
Lapping is also quite ancient
Bronze Age and Iron Age had various kinds of files and rasps
Files were already quite advanced during the Middle Ages
Modern iron or steel files took time to become common
Files made of case hardened steel bar
Teeth are generally parallel and sharp
Rasp is a form of file with individually cut teeth
Files with abrasive surfaces have been developed
Abrasive surfaces include natural or synthetic diamond grains or silicon carbide

Importance of Filing in Construction

Filing was important in the construction of mechanisms before the industrialization of machining
Component parts were hand-fitted for assembly by filing
Locks, clocks, and firearms were manufactured using filing for centuries
Filing was heavily dependent on machining in the mid-19th century
Milling and grinding have replaced filing in modern manufacturing

Types of Files

Files come in various materials, sizes, shapes, cuts, and tooth configurations
Steel files are made from high carbon steel
File nomenclature varies, but there are generally accepted names for certain kinds of files
Files can be blunt or tapered
The cut of the file refers to the fineness of its teeth

Specialized Files

Swiss-pattern files have teeth cut at a shallower angle and are graded by number
Some flat files have teeth on only one face or one edge
Needle files are small files with a narrow, pointed tang
Riffle files have a curved shape and are used for smoothing inside holes and circular grooves
Half round files have one flat and one convex surface
Barrette files: tapered in width and thickness, with a rounded point at the end, used for flat work
Checkering files: parallel in width and gently tapered in thickness, with teeth cut in a grid pattern, used for making serrations and checkering work
Crochet files: tapered in width and thickness, with two flats and radiused edges, used for filing junctions between flat and curved surfaces
Crossing files: half round on two sides with one side having a larger radius, tapered in width and thickness, used for filing interior curved surfaces
Dreadnought and millenicut files: heavily undercut with sharp coarse teeth, used for removing large quantities of material from aluminum alloy, copper, brass, or plastic fillers
Equalling files: parallel in width and thickness, used for filing slots and corners
Farrier Rasp files: tanged rasps used by farriers and blacksmiths, with a rasp on one side and double cut on the reverse
Fret files: square or rectangular with three flat sides and one side having a concave groove, used by luthiers to file frets on instruments
Half round ring files: taper in width and thickness, used for filing inside of rings
Joint round edge files: parallel in width and thickness, with rounded edges, used for making joints and hinges

Diamond Files, Needle Files, and Riffler Files

Diamond files have small particles of industrial diamond embedded in their surface
Used effectively against hard materials like stone, glass, hardened steel, or carbide
Can be used with a back-and-forth motion without damaging the file
Also known as diamond laps
Teeth are particles held in place by a softer material
Small files used when surface finish is a priority over metal removal rates
Often sold in sets with different shapes
Suitable for smaller work pieces
Used for precision work
Cross-sectional shapes include pillar, half round, barrette, square, round, and triangular
Small to medium-sized files with various cross-sectional shapes and profiles
Used in hard-to-reach or unusually shaped areas
Used as an intermediate step in die making to improve surface finish
Commonly used in plastic injection molding or die casting
Enable filing in cavities or complex shapes

File (tool) Data Sources

Reference	URL
Glossary	https://harryandcojewellery.com.au/blogs/glossary/file-tool
Wikipedia	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_(tool)
Wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q193142
Knowledge Graph	https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/02p01q