Files

Files are basic hand tools used to shape and smooth metal (also plastic). All files should have a handle and must never be used without it securely in place. On the metal face are thousands of tiny teeth which remove material when they are pulled across a surface.

Files also come in a range of different cross sections for different jobs. Files can be Flat, Round, Half Round and Three Square. Very small files are called needle files.

Files come in a wide range from very rough to very smooth:

The roughest files will remove a lot of material quickly but leave a rough finish. They have larger, courser teeth and are called 'first-cut' files

The smoother files will remove small amounts of material but leave a very smooth finish. These have finer teeth and are called 'second-cut' or 'smooth files'.

Small pieces of aluminium or plastic can become trapped between the teeth of the file, this is called 'pinning'. A file card can be used to clear the file of excess material. A file card looks like a wire brush with very short teeth.