Steel File

Introduction

A steel file is a hand tool that is used to wear down or scratch away material from the surface of workpiece by friction. It comes in the form of a steel bar having sharp parallel cutting ridges or teeth raised on its surface that can easily rub very hard surfaces. It is provided with a projection to which handle can be attached.

The steel files can be classified according to their size, shape and configuration of teeth or ridges. Rough, harsh, second-cut, smooth and dead smooth are some of the types of teeth raised on the surface of the steel files. If the file has a single set of teeth arranged in parallel manner to each other, it is called single cut files and if it has a second set of teeth also that is arranged at some angle to the first set than it is called a cross-cut or double-cut file.

Types of Files

• Diamond files:- As diamond is the hardest material on the earth, the diamond files are embedded with small particles of diamond that can cut very hard materials very easily.


• Needle files:- the needle files are usually used for small workpieces to provide them smooth surface finish. The needle files are well suited where metal removal rate is not so important as surface finishing.


• Riffler files:- The riffler files are mostly used to remove material from the “not easily accessible” and irregular areas. The riffler files are also used to improve the surface finish of cavity dies.


• Machine filrs:- As the name suggests, the machine files are used to remove the material from the surface of workpiece with the help of filing machine.

The teeth of steel files may get blocked when used for longer time which can result in substantial decrement in the cutting capacity of the steel file, so we should use file cards to clear the blocked teeth. The steel files should always be used with the help of handle to avoid any kind of injury caused by its sharp teeth.