Full Product Manual

File Terminology
Each part of the file has a name
and there are many different
shapes and sizes of files.
Furthermore, there are varying
types of file cuts
Type: The cross-sectional
shape or style of the file i. e.
quadrangular, circular, triangular
or irregular. These sections are
further classified according to their
contours i. e. blunt, taper etc.
Blunt: A file whose edges are
parallel from end to end and of
constant width.
Taper: The reduction in cross
section of the file from its heel to
the point. A file may taper with
width, in thickness or in both.
Coarseness: The number of
teeth per inch length of the file.
Cut: The character of the file teeth
with respect to the coarseness
(bastard, second-cut and smooth.)
A single-cut file has a single set
of parallel, diagonal rows of teeth.
Single-cut files are often used
with light pressure to produce a
smooth surface finish or to put
a keen edge on knives, shears
or saws.
A double-cut file has two sets
of diagonal rows of teeth. The
second set of teeth is cut in
the opposite diagonal direction,
and on top of the first set. The
first set of teeth is known as the
overcut while the second is called
the upcut. The upcut is finer
than the overcut. The double-
cut file is used with heavier
pressure than the single-cut and
removes material faster from the
workpiece.
4
5
available, all with their own names.
This section of the booklet will help
you understand the file and the terms
used:
Length
Point Belly Heel Tang
File Terminology
A rasp-cut has a series
of individual teeth that are
formed by a single-pointed
tool. This produces a rough-
cut and is used primarily on
wood, hooves, aluminum and
lead.
A curved-cut / mill tooth
file has its teeth arranged in
curved contours across the
file face and is normally used
in automotive body shops for
smoothing body panels.
Plater's Rasp: A rasp file
combination that is used
primarily by farriers in the trim-
ming of horses' hooves.
Woodchuck: A multi-purpose
Wood chisel / rasp combina-
tion tool used by cabinetmak-
ers, homebuilders, and con-
struction workers.
Bastard: File coarseness
between "Coarse and Second
Cut."
Back: The convex side of a
half-round or other similarly
shaped file.
Edge: The intersection of two
adjacent faces of the file.
Safe Edge: A smooth or uncut
edge of the file.
Pinning: Filings wedged
between the file teeth.
Shelling: The breaking of file
teeth, usually caused by using
too much pressure reverse
filing, filing sharp corners, or
edges.
Handle: A holder into which
the tang of the file fits. If the
file has an integral holder this
is known as a solid handle file.