The Guide to Files and Filing ATG-4154 ©2018 Apex Tool Group, LLC www.crescenttool.com Apex Tool Group, LLC 1000 Lufkin Road, Apex, NC 27539 Crescent® and Nicholson® are registered trademarks of Apex Brands, Inc., A Division of Apex Tool Group, LLC. Specifications subject to change without notice.
Introduction Choosing the right file can be confusing; with so many sizes, shapes and cuts available it is difficult to decide the right one for the job. The range of Crescent Nicholson® files covers every job task requirement. This booklet has been specially produced to simplify file selection and application for any file user. Notes: History The file has been with man now for many years and one of the first recordings is in the Bible during the reign of King Saul.
Notes: Rectangle Square Triangle Round Rough Shaping: The blank is punched to shape or is heated and forged with drop hammers and rollers to shape the tang and point. Annealing: The forged blank is heated to an elevated temperature and then cooled slowly under controlled conditions to soften the steel for tooth cutting and to make internal steel structure uniform. Final Shaping: The annealed blanks are ground or milled to produce a surface necessary for the uniform formation of the teeth.
File Terminology This section of the booklet will help you understand the file and the terms used. Each part of the file has a name and there are Cross Name: Shape: many different shapes and sizes of files. Furthermore, there are Section: varying types of file cuts. Point Hand Belly Rectangular Heel Tang Character of Teeth: Taper: General Uses: Double-cut on two flat faces and one edge.
Profile Selector for Swiss Pattern Files Cross Section: Name: Shape: Hand Rectangular Pillar Width narrower than hand file Warding Thin Rectangular Square Square Three Square Triangular (Equilateral) Round Circular Half Round Third-Circular Knife Knife-Shaped Rasp-Cut: A series of individual teeth that are formed by a single-pointed tool. This produces rough-cut and Taper: is used Character ofaTeeth: primarily on wood, hooves, aluminum, and lead.
Choosing the Right File To achieve the desired results it is essential that the right file be usedSection: for the job. In selecting should Cross Name:the right file the user Shape: consider the shape, size and coarseness of the file. Flat Rectangular The size and the coarseness of the file are directly related, so the Handlarger the file the more Rectangular stock it will remove and the smaller the file the finer the finish it will achieve.
Profile Selector for Machinist’s Files Cross Section: Name: Shape: Flat Rectangular Hand Rectangular in width Draw Filing: and Thissmooth consists Uniform of grasping the filesurfaces at each end, second-cut pushing and drawing it across the workpiece. Warding Thin thickLathe Filing:and This consiststapered of stroking the filekeys. against work second-cut smooth Narrow work ness uniform revolving in a lathe.
Carrying the File For normal flat filing, the operator should aim to carry the file forward on an almost straight line in the same plane, changing its course enough to prevent grooving. Too much pressure often results in a rocking motion causing a rounded surface. Keep the File Cutting Job by Job File Selector Don’t apply too much pressure, or too little, on the forward stroke.
Job by Job File Selector Type: Description: Lawn Mower Mill Bastard File or Handy File Lock, Mending Warding Bastard File Machinists’ Work Machinists’ File such as Flat, Half Round, Square or Round. Also Mill or Tapers, in cuts according to work Millwrights’ Work Flat, Half-Round, Round, Square Mill Files Model, Metal Swiss Pattern Files Molded Part Flat Bastard File or Mill Bastard File Notch Taper or Knife File Ornaments, Wood Making Half Round File, Cabinet Rasp.
Filing Different Metals Different metals vary greatly in character and properties. Some are softer than others, some are more ductile, and so on. The nature of the metal has to be taken carefully into account when choosing the right file and applying it to the job. For instance, a soft ductile metal requires a keen file and only light pressure must be applied during filing if the work is not to be deformed.
Job by Job File Selector Type: Description: Aluminum Alloy Flat Bastard File, Aluminum File, Magicut® Auto Body Bodifiles Babbit Flat Babbitt, Curved Tooth, Flat Files Bearing, Brass Magicut® Bearing, Bronze Flat Bastard File, Magicut® Beveling Flat Bastard, Mill File Blacksmith Rasp and Flat Bastard, Half-Round Bastard, Flat Bastard File Bolt threads Taper, Mill or Knife File, Mill Bastard Brass Flat Bastard File, Magicut®, Curved Tooth Bronze Flat Bastard File, Magicut® Cabinet, Wood
Filing Bronze (Copper, Tin, or Other Alloying Elements) Bronze is similar in nature to brass in some aspects, but varies according to the percentages of alloying elements. Average sharpness of the file is satisfactory for some bronzes, while for others, a file that can maintain its sharpness for longer periods is required. Thus, for the harder bronzes, a file with a more acute angle at the top of the tooth is desirable. This is known as a thin topped tooth.
Sharpening Crosscut Saws The crosscut saw has two types of teeth, cutters and rakers. The cutters do the cutting, the rakers clear the cut. This is filed at an angle of 45° from the filer. This permits access to cutters and enables the teeth to be filed at the correct angle. Teeth should be checked for levelness, the raker teeth being between 1/100"/0.25mm and 1/64"/0.40mm below level of cutting teeth. The filer should file all cutter teeth to a point.
Taper (Triangular) Saw Files Number of Saw Points Files Recommended 4 7" Heavy or 8" Regular Taper 5 7" Regular Taper or 10" Slim 5 1/2 7" Regular Taper or 10" Slim 6 5" or 6" Regular Taper 7" or 8" Slim 7 6" or 7" Slim 8 4" Regular Taper, 6" Slim, 7" X Slim, 8" XX Slim 9 5" Slim, 6" X Slim, 7" XX Slim 10 3 1/2" Regular Taper or 5" Slim, 5" or 6" X Slim 11 3" Regular Taper or 4" Slim, 5" X Slim, 6" XX Slim 12 3" Regular Taper or 5" X Slim 13, 14 4" X Slim or 5" XX Slim 15, 16 4" XX
