Swiss pattern file

The teeth are created one row at a time by striking with a chisel. TPI: Teeth per inch. A method of determining the coarseness or smoothness of a file. The tooth spacing or number of teeth per inch. Tooth spacing varies with the shape and length of the file. It increases as the length of file is increased.

Bastard Cut. Second Cut. Smooth Cut. This can be useful when truing a workpiece or for removing material. As with any application involving your hands and face, and revolving tools, lathe filing requires with much care and attention.

Soft, ductile metals require a keen edge and light pressure. Harder materials require duller teeth and more pressure. Tough, dense and abrasive, stainless steel requires a file with good wearing qualities.

Apply light pressure and a slow, steady stroke. Soft and difficult to file, aluminum easily clogs. Use an aluminum file, with a special cutting edge that breaks up the filings, prevents over filing, and helps reduce chattering. Apply a shearing stroke to the left for the best finish. Filing brass requires a sharp file with sturdy teeth and a cut that prevents grooving and running. Use a specifically designed brass file, and apply moderate pressure.

Wear a Respirator! Soft materials such as lead, babbitt and copper present distinct filing conditions. Use a short, single cut file with stubby teeth. Apply normal pressure. Similar to brass but dependent on the content of alloying elements. Cross the direction of the cutting stroke to avoid grooving. Wrought iron is soft and ductile and does not require a very sharp file for good results. Hard plastic requires a file with high, sharp teeth. Soft plastics are filed in shreds, so a shear tooth file should be used in this application, as well as in other soft materials like aluminum, copper, hard rubber and wood.

There are a number of simple steps you can take to ensure your files last a long time. Keep the pressure off. Apply only enough pressure to allow the file to do the work.

Feel the teeth biting into the workpiece. Your movement should be fluid and smooth. Applying the correct pressure will also result in the fastest removal of material, even if it takes a few more strokes to get the job done. Soft material such as aluminum can clog cutting teeth, even when you use a file designed for aluminum and soft metals.

Protect the teeth. Tossing your files in with all your metal tools is not a good idea! Ideally, hang them up or keep them in a drawer with non-metallic dividers and enough room to fit without a lot of contact.

Store them away from water, dirt, grease and filings. Keep it clean and clear. Remember that filing creates heat and filings are sharp.

Cleaning your file by hand is one way to pick up a metal sliver. Instead, use a file card, which clears away filings before they get stuck in the file—or in your finger. It shows the various types of hand files, organized by pattern and profile. Hello, after reading this amazing paragraph i am also happy to share my familiarity here with mates.

Very useful article! Hello, I have seen this fantastic file identification chart of yours. Are you able to do a tremendous favor and email me your great file chart? My email is gearhobberman gmail. You can download the new pdf here. I have a small hand file that is really old. Long handle handle to tip. Can you tell me what it is used for. I have a sizable collection of Swiss pattern files including Grobet, Simonds and Nicholson. How can I ID all of them and find market values for them?

Also, where are the best markets to sell them, EBay, Amazon, etc.? Precision File Sets. Precision Round Files. Precision Half-Round Files. Precision Triangular Files. Precision Rectangular Files for Stainless Steel. Precision Round Files for Stainless Steel. Precision Triangular Files for Stainless Steel. Economy Needle File Sets.

These files are for infrequent use. Needle File Sets. These files are for frequent use. Bend-and-Stay Needle File Sets. Needle Files. Bend-and-Stay Needle Files. Detail Files. Detail File Sets. Swiss Files. The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. Pedestal 35" Ht.