A wide variety of shapes and sizes of file notches led to the fact that it became very difficult for a non-specialist to understand for what purposes it is necessary to use one or another tool. To improve the situation, a file classification has been developed. This classification, gradually changing and replenished with new types of tools, is still valid today.

File Appearance

Even in the age of space technology, most metal or wood work cannot do without a file. Despite the very venerable age of the tool, its purpose remains the same - to form the desired size and shape by layer-by-layer grinding of the surface of the part.

Domestic files are produced from two groups of high-quality tool steels - alloyed chromium steel of grades ШХ15 and 13Х or unalloyed improved steel of grades У10А - У13А.

The file is referred to as cutting tools. In appearance, the file is a bar made of a special steel grade, the surface of which is excised according to a special pattern. Most files have a rectangular, triangular or circular cross-section of the bar, although other options are possible.

A wooden or plastic handle is attached to the tapered tapered shank of the file. It serves solely for the convenience of working with the tool, and has no effect on the quality of the tool itself. Therefore, throwing away a tool with a flying handle is stupid, it can easily be replaced with another.

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Notch Numbering

The use of files is largely determined by the type of notch applied and the configuration of its teeth. For applying teeth, the method of notching, milling, cutting, pulling and turning can be used. The most common files today are teeth incised on special machines.

The vast majority of file cuts are single or double. A single notch allows you to remove sawdust equal to the size of the teeth. It is very difficult to work with such a tool, therefore, it is mainly used for processing soft metals, plastics and wood.

A double (cross) notch is obtained by combining the main, deeper, and auxiliary, shallow, made at an angle to the main. Intersecting notches grind the chips formed during operation. Use such a notch for processing hard metals and alloys.

The size of the teeth of the file depends on the size of the notches per 1 cm of the length of the bar - the smaller the notches, the larger the tooth. Files can be from 0 to 5 numbers in terms of tooth size (there are 6 in total), and according to the shape of the notches applied, a single, cross (double) and rasp notches can be distinguished.

The largest teeth of the notch are designated No. 0 and No. 1. Such files are used when it is necessary to quickly remove a sufficiently large layer of material (0.05 - 0.10 mm). The main disadvantage of tools with such a notch is the low accuracy of machining parts - it does not exceed 0.1 - 0.2 mm.

The tool with teeth No. 2 and No. 3 is used when it is necessary to remove the layer of material in the range of 0.02 - 0.06 mm. The accuracy of their work is 0.02 - 0.05 mm.

For the finishing of parts use a tool with a machining accuracy of 0.01 - 0.005 mm, with the teeth of the notches No. 4 and No. 5 (they are popularly called velvet).

They can remove a layer of material not more than 0.01 - 0.03 mm.

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File Types

Files are divided into several large groups according to their purpose:

• general purpose;
• special purpose;
• machine;
• rasps;
• needle files.

General purpose files are used for general metalwork. The notch for tools of this group is performed by the notching method, equipping them with a double (cross) notch. They can be of various lengths (from 100 to 450 mm), have a different shape of the bar and almost all the numbers of the notch.

Locksmiths for special work are mainly used in industrial conditions, as their purpose is to eliminate large allowances when fitting grooves and different curvatures of surfaces, they can be used for processing non-ferrous metals. Depending on the work performed, they can be flat, squared, grooved, double-end and other shapes.

The most numerous group of files - there are as many as 11 types: flat, round, semicircular, square, trihedral, oval, hacksaw, etc. You can distinguish files by the short length of the bar (40, 60 or 80 mm) and a notch of the highest class 5.

Most files are equipped with a double notch, although the edges of flat files can have a single one. It is used mainly for processing small parts or bottlenecks where conventional metalwork tools cannot be reached.

Rasps are divided into three types: boot, ungulate and general purpose. Their distinguishing feature is a large length (from 250 to 350 mm) and large teeth of the notch - it is not less than No. 1 for raspings. Usually, rasps are round or semicircular, as well as flat with blunt or sharp noses.

Despite the abundance of an electric tool that replaced the manual one, there are types that have not undergone any major changes over the many hundreds of years of operation and still carry out many technological operations with their help. One of these tools is a file.

The number of their species is difficult to count, and it is even more difficult to calculate the number of operations that can be performed with its help.

What is a file and what is it for

A tool that is designed to remove a layer of metal from a workpiece is called a file. It is a metal strip on which a so-called notch is applied. It represents cutting teeth made according to certain rules described in GOST 1465-80.

To control it, use a handle that is mounted on a specially shaped shank. For the manufacture of used several grades of steel. As a rule, this is steel containing 1.1 - 1.25% carbon. The steel grade can be ShH15 or U10A, the latter steel refers to unalloyed improved.

One of the main requirements for it is high hardness. That is why after heat treatment it is not subjected to tempering. In working condition, the surface has a hardness of 54-58 HRC.

The handle with which the control is carried out can be wooden, plastic, metal.

They are produced in different shapes, lengths and with different parameters of cutting teeth.

It should be noted that the abundance of this product allows you to perform many types of work, in particular with it you can remove various types of contaminants, grind the workpiece planes, remove the burr, sprues. Using these products of special shapes, it is possible to sharpen saw chains, gear machining.

It should be noted that it can be found in almost any house, garage and of course in production.

Sectional classification of files

Parts that are processed with it can have a different shape. This can be sheets, profiles, etc. That is why for productive work, manufacturers produce products of various shapes and geometrical sizes. One of the classification options is by sectional shape. Manufacturers market products with the following types:

• flat;
• square;
• round;
• trihedral;
• special;
• oval and some others.

In addition to the fact that the products are distinguished by sectional shape, they have different lengths and shapes. The minimum length is 50, the maximum is 500 mm. By the way, only the part on which the working teeth are applied is measured.

There is some relationship between the length of the working part and the size of the teeth. The longer the tool, the larger the size of the cutting tooth. Large is used when it becomes necessary to remove a large amount of metal. But, after processing the material with a tool with large teeth, the surface is rough, scratched, and there is no need to talk about the accuracy of processing. In the case when it is necessary to obtain a better surface, then products with a small tooth, for example velvet, are used.

That is, the processing is carried out in at least two stages using different types of files. At the first, rough processing is performed, and the surface finish of the part is carried out by bringing the workpiece to the required parameters.

File Features

Handicrafts of this type can be divided into the following categories:

1. Locksmiths - we can say that this is a tool of a wide profile. It can be found in almost any enterprise, workshop, household.
2. Needle files are small-sized products designed to process small parts. They are widely used by engravers, jewelers, healers. In addition, there are needle files, indispensable when processing in hard to reach places.
3. Sharpening - they are used for sharpening saw chains, hacksaws, etc.
4. Rasps are products with the largest tooth and are used to work with non-metallic materials, that is, in cases where the usual is not suitable for solving production or household tasks.

As already noted, working teeth are applied to the working surface. It can be single or double. For processing soft materials, an arc notched tool is used.

Pin teeth are made on the surface of the rasp.

Types of notches

There is a classification option for the type of notch applied. About single and double performance has already been said a little.

Meanwhile, there are two types of double notch. The first is called cross. This, in fact, is a combination of single and second, small (auxiliary), it is performed at an angle to the base. At the points of intersection of the grooves, the resulting chips are broken. This type is most often used in the manufacture of metalwork files.

The second version of the double notch is called Oberg. Auxiliary grooves are less common. In fact, this option can be called intermediate between single and double notches in the quality of the workpiece.

Notch Numbering

Application is determined taking into account the type, size and configuration of the applied teeth. To obtain a working surface, various technologies are used:

• coasting;
• milling;
• slicing and many others.

Many manufacturers, in order to increase labor productivity, use specialized equipment that allows not only to accelerate the production of these products and expand the number of its types, but also to maintain their quality at the proper level.

The size of the tooth depends on the size and type of incision per unit length, usually 1 cm. That is, the smaller the number of grooves applied to one centimeter of length, the larger the size of the cutting tooth. In practice, files with notches from 0 to 5 are used.

The largest species include teeth with No. 0 and No. 1. They are used when it is necessary to remove the metal layer from 0.05 to 0.1 mm in one pass. Such a tool has the following drawback - low accuracy, it ranges from 0.1 to 0.2 mm.

Files with tooth sizes No. 2 and No. 3 are used in cases where it is required to remove a metal layer from 0.02 to 0.06 mm. The accuracy of such a tool is from 0.02 to 0.05 mm.

For surface finishing, a product is used that allows you to remove a metal layer from 0.01 to 0.005 mm. An instrument of this kind is sometimes called velvet.

Geometric parameters of the notch

In accordance with the requirements of GOST 1465-80, set out in paragraph 2.1. on the surface of the tool, a notch is applied at an angle of 65 degrees relative to the axis.

In addition, it was also agreed on what technology should be implemented. For example, round files can be made either by notching or cutting. All other types must be done with a notch.

File Types

There are many ways to classify file types. They can be divided according to the shape of the section, geometric dimensions, dimensions of the cutting tooth.

Often this tool is often divided into the following types:

• files with large and small notches;
• bastards, etc.

File Shape

The centuries-old experience in applying this has led manufacturers to master the production of this product of various kinds. For example, a flat profile, can have two types of endings - straight and sharp.

File Appearance

Today, a large amount of this tool is used in various forms. It can be classified not only by the shape of the section, but also by the shape of the bar itself.

The use of files of various shapes

Indeed, the shape of the bar largely determines the scope. That is, flat, used to treat flat surfaces located inside or outside the part. Square is used to develop holes of various shapes. The trihedral has found its application in the processing of grooves and other parts. In addition, it is used for sharpening saws and other tools.

Semicircular, which may have a rectangular or pointed shape, designed to work with convex or concave surfaces.

Round, used to work with round or oval holes. For processing gears, files with a rhombic shape are used.

Such an abundance of this tool (shape, size, etc.) can lead to confusion. And many sincerely believe that you need to keep as many files as possible in your home workshop. But, this is nothing more than a delusion. In fact, most of the surface treatment work can be done using a tool of the following shapes - straight, round and triangular.

By the way, the service life depends on the material, the parameters of the heat treatment and the size of the notch.

Tooth size

In addition to tooth size, products of this class differ from each other by the density of cuts.

For rough surface treatment, products with a large notch are used. It is called No. 1, from 5 to 15 teeth per one centimeter. Its use allows you to remove a fairly thick layer of material in one pass, especially from soft materials, I call the files of this kind drachey.

Files No. 2 have from 14 to 25 grooves per centimeter of surface. Perhaps this is the most popular form of this tool. In fact - this file is most often used in practice.

Indeed, it can be used to process almost any material. But, there is one subtlety, when working with soft metals or with wood, after a fairly short time, the notch will be clogged with processing waste. That is why it is necessary to clean the work surface with a metal brush.

Products with a notch of 26 to 80 grooves per 1 centimeter are used for surface finishing. After proper treatment, almost no residue remains on the surface.

File hardness good or bad

Many people think that the higher the hardness of steel, the better the tool. In part, this statement has a right to exist, but it does not in any way apply to files on metal.

High hardness leads to increased fragility of the tool. Those who often use them in their work can confirm that this tool can be destroyed if it falls onto a concrete floor.

Sharpening the cutting tool with a file

The group of cutting tools include cutters, milling cutters, axes, saws and many others. The operating mode, the material from which the cutting tool is made, determines the frequency of its sharpening. This operation is performed in two runs. The first is the sharpening itself, the second is to bring the cutting edge to the necessary requirements. That is, it must be brought into working condition. A certain angle must be sharpened on the cutting edge, it must have a certain shape. These parameters are determined by the material of the part.

In the process of fine-tuning, from the cutting edge, the deburring formed during the primary sharpening takes place.

To finish the cutting tool used products with a fine notch. It can be files, bars and other abrasive materials. Finishing operations can be performed both on special equipment and manually.

Which notch to choose

When choosing any tool, it is first necessary to understand what goals should be achieved when machining a part. Files are most often used to remove a layer of material. Undoubtedly, when it comes to removing material within 0.1 mm, it makes sense to use files with notch No. 0 or No. 1.

To perform finer work, for example, preparing the surface for coating, you can use a tool with a notch No. 2 - No. 4.

To carry out work related to dressing the cutting edge, grinding the surface and other, especially precise work, the so-called velvet tools are used.

How to make a file handle

Those who often use the file in work, sooner or later encounter the fact that his handle becomes unusable and therefore the question arises of replacing it. Undoubtedly, you can go to a hardware store and buy a finished part. But this is not always the best solution. As a rule, they sell handles made of plastic or obscure varieties of wood. That is why many people prefer to make pens with their own hands.

Material selection

Practice shows that for a handle, such materials as walnut, maple can be considered the optimal material. These are quite durable materials; in addition, they have an attractive texture.

But in addition to the material for the pen itself, you will need to pick up glue. To connect the components of the tool, it is advisable to use adhesives based on epoxy resin.

How to make it

You can use a lathe to make pens. If this is not possible, then you can recall childhood and carve it with a knife.

In the manufacture of pens, it makes sense to withstand the following dimensions:

• diameter of the working part 25 - 30 mm;
• the length of the working part 120 - 150 mm;

The depth of the hole for securing the tool shank should be slightly longer than the shank itself.

The final operation in the manufacture of the file handle is the processing of its surface using an abrasive skin. This is necessary so that no burrs remain on its surface of the handle that could dig into the worker’s hand.

Regulatory framework - some features

In our country, GOST 1465-80 is adopted. This document defines the regulatory requirements for this product. In particular, it defines the forms of manufactured products. In addition, in a separate section, the requirements for surface hardness are normalized.

GOST also regulates the packaging of the finished product. So, each finished tool must be separately packed. An important role is played by the type of marking. Consumer packaging should include information on the hardness of the finished product.

Download GOST 1465-80

Grinding metal products is not always done using. Often for such work, craftsmen use different types of files. Compared to electrical equipment, they are much safer. From the wide variety of tools, the employee has to choose the appropriate material to be processed. It is not difficult to cope with this if you know the intricacies of the work, all types of files and their purpose.

Special files are used for processing corners, inclined and serrated surfaces. This type of tool selects narrow grooves and grooves. Bastard instruments are equipped with the largest teeth and are intended for initial surface treatment, since they allow you to quickly remove a large layer from it (0.05-0.1 mm). At the same time, these files have low accuracy. As a result, the work surface is roughly processed. Personal files are used for finishing filing. In this case, a layer is removed with a thickness of 0.02-0.06 mm. Velvet is used in the final grinding phase. The thinnest layer (0.01-0.03 mm) is removed from the surface of the sawn product. These files have a high accuracy of processing, which is 0.01-0.005 mm.

Rasp

In addition to metalwork files, rasps that differ in their notches are used to process metal and other surfaces. Their teeth are large and have the shape of pyramids, behind which there are special grooves. The section on this tool is arranged in rows perpendicular to the axis. Rasps are used in the processing of soft materials: aluminum and duralumin. They are made of steel grades U7A, U10A. Their hardness is 35-40 HRC. Standard tool length: from 25 to 35 cm. Rasps come in four types: blunt flat, pointed flat, round, semicircular. The scope of the tool is medicine and the production of tin products.

Needle files

Files are the smallest files. Designed to perform very precise work. For the production of these tools, steel of the grades U12 and U12A with a hardness of 54-60 HRC is used. Depending on the shape of the cross section, the files are:

• flat (blunt and pointed-nosed);
• square;
• trihedral;
• round and semicircular;
• oval;
• in the shape of a rhombus;
• groove and hacksaw.

The home foreman does not have to have all kinds of files. It is enough to have three main ones - flat, triangular and round. It is also advisable to have a set of files and several rasps. With these tools, you can easily cope with any task associated with grinding metal.

Among domestic plumbing masters, there is an opinion that for the manufacture of any metal part it is enough to give it an approximate outline - the rest can be finalized with a file. Together with a hammer and pliers, this hand tool is one of the three most popular helpers of any “homemade product”.

With their help, you can perform a variety of work on metal and other materials:

• Removing contaminants, corrosion and various coatings;
• Grinding surfaces from rough to finish
• Giving the necessary shape to the product;
• Deburring, flashing;
• Cleaning contacts, preparation for painting;
• Sharpening cutting and sawing tools.

The principle of operation is very simple. With the help of notches on the surface (teeth), a small layer of the processed material is removed. Depth of processing is regulated by pressing force, the number of movements and speed.

The industry produces countless files and files designed for a wide variety of works and materials, we will help you understand the types of tools.

Types of files and their purpose

As with any other instrument, there are differences in performance, material and application.

Tooth size

The most common classification of files is by the density of the cutting of the teeth.

No. 1 - a large notch from 5 to 13 teeth per 1 cm.

The tool is designed for rough, rough machining. With sufficient softness of the material - you can confidently squeeze a thick layer in several passes. Hard workpieces are difficult to work with. The series is called "bastard files."

No. 2 - an average notch from 14 to 25 teeth per 1 cm.

The most common and most versatile type of tool. In classical processing - this file is used after dracheva, to smooth the surface. In reality - most often work is performed only by this number.

You can grind any material. Soft metal or wood quickly clogs the pores between the notch; cleaning with a wire brush is required. The series is called "personal files."

File - a cutting tool for processing materials by the method of layer-by-layer cutting (filing). It is a strip (web) of hardened high-carbon (carbon 1.1-1.25%) steel of various cross sections, on the working surfaces of which a “notch” is created - cutting elements (sharp teeth). A handle is attached to the tapered shank of the file.

Files require greater hardness, so after quenching they are not subject to tempering.

Files come in various shapes and sizes, and besides, they differ in the nature of the notch.

Files can vary greatly in size, starting with the smallest, 50 mm long, and ending with the largest, 450-500 mm long. When determining the file length, only the notched part of it is measured.

File length - its working part excluding the shank. Size range in (mm): 100, 125, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350,400.

File Categories

Hand files fall into four main categories:

• Metalwork files;
• Needle files;
• Sharpening Files;
• Rough files (rasps).

Needle files  - these are small files, used for patterns, engraving, jewelry, as well as for stripping in hard to reach places (holes, corners, short sections of the profile, etc.).

Rasps  Designed for the processing of soft metals (lead, tin, copper, etc.) and non-metallic materials (leather, rubber, wood, plastics), when ordinary files are unsuitable.

File Forms

• Flat files  (pointed and obtuse; with oval ribs) - filing easily accessible flat and convex surfaces, as well as for sawing slots and grooves; filing fillets and various other roundings and flat slots with oval transitions;
• Square Files  - sawing square and rectangular holes, narrow flat surfaces, not available for use with a wide flat file;
• Round files  - a round file is used for sawing round or oval holes and concave surfaces not available for a semicircular file;
• Triangular (trihedral) files  - filing of internal corners and trihedral openings, planes in places inaccessible to a flat file;
• Semicircular files  (pointed and blunt) - flat side filing a plane, semicircular side - filing concave surfaces (semicircular grooves);
• Diamond files;
• Files of a special form;

The figure below illustrates how to use files of various shapes.

File cut

Types of notches:

• Single notch  - applied at an angle of 70 ° to the longitudinal axis of the file, sometimes at 45 °. It removes wide chips from the processed material and is intended to obtain a surface with a slight roughness;
• Double (cross) notch  - is a combination of a single notch and a less deep auxiliary, made at an angle to the single. The intersection points of these notches break the resulting chips during filing. Such a notch is basic for locksmith files;
• Double ("oberg")  - with a rarer (2-3 times) auxiliary notch. It occupies an intermediate position between single and double notches in terms of efficiency and cleanliness of surface treatment;
• Rasp (dot) notch  - used for processing very soft metals and non-metallic materials - leather, rubber, etc. Rasp (dot) notch is obtained by pressing metal with special chisels;
• Arc notch  - files with an arc notch are used in the processing of soft metals. Arc notch is obtained by milling; it has large cavities between the teeth and an arched shape that provides high productivity and high quality machined surfaces.

Depending on the material being processed, one or another form of file cut is used. When processing soft metals, which have a relatively small resistance to cutting, files with a large single-row notch are used. For processing aluminum or copper, special-purpose files are used for processing non-ferrous alloys, which, in contrast to general-purpose metalwork files, have other, more rational for this particular alloy, notch tilt angles and a deeper and sharper notch, which ensures high performance and durability of files. For processing more or less hard metals (steel and cast iron), with high resistance to cutting, files with a double, cross notch are used. Sawing them with wide teeth would be very difficult.

The size of the notch is the number of teeth per 1 cm of the length of the file of the file.

According to the number of notches (teeth) per 1 cm of length, files are divided into six classes, and notches are numbered 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

• Bastard files (notch 0 and 1)  - the coarsest notch, has a small number of teeth per 1 cm;
• Personal files (notches 2 and 3)  - average notch, the number of teeth is 1 cm more than the previous one;
• Velvet files (notches 4 and 5) - a small notch, the largest number of teeth per 1 cm.

Basically, the coarser the notch, the higher the material removal rate.

Long files have a larger notch than short ones. In all cases when you need to remove a large layer of material, use files with a large notch. In this case, the surface is rough, scratched and inaccurate. If you want to get a smooth and more accurate surface, then use files with a finer notch. Therefore, when you need to remove a large layer of metal and get a smooth surface, then first filed with a file with a large notch, and then trimmed with a file with a small notch.

The same number of teeth per 1 cm, but on files of different lengths will refer to different sizes of the notch. For example: 20 teeth per 1 cm with a file length of 200 mm - a personal notch, the same number of teeth per 1 cm on a file of 300 mm - velvet.

How to choose a file?

• The file should have the correct shape, a good notch, be well hardened and not have cracks.
• Files are inspected from the outside and checked for sound. When you hit an anvil or another metal object, a good file should make a clear sound. A rattling sound indicates cracks in the file.
• The file should not be bent, which can happen during hardening. Its teeth should be sharp, with a bias towards the nose of the file, and the notch is even, without gaps. The surface of the file should be clean, without rust spots.
• The file should have a uniform gray color of the entire surface, without streaks (indicating violation of the heat treatment modes), traces of rust, oil and other contaminants.
• The file must have a handle tightly attached to the shank (without visible defects), if the file is equipped with it.