Knife files are conical hand tools with rows of raised teeth used to file down V-shaped channels or sharp angles. They come in different tooth cuts, from rough to dead, and are great for hard-to-reach corners and sharpening tools. Pinning can occur when debris clogs the teeth, but a file card can remove it. Proper storage is important for longevity.
A knife file is a kind of conical knife-shaped file used to file down V-shaped channels or the joint between two sharply angled surfaces. Knife files are usually hardened steel hand tools with rows of raised “teeth”. The teeth on the knife file allow it to perform its function of filing wood and metal. They have an arched shape and are tapered from base to tip, but the knife edge has a uniform thickness for the length of the file.
Knife files range from those with a “rough” tooth cut, to those with a “dead” tooth cut. A rough knife file will have twenty teeth per inch, while a dead knife file will have one hundred or more teeth per inch. The full range of teeth, from lowest to highest number per inch, are: rough, medium, bastard, second cut, smooth, and dead. A coarse knife file shaves material quickly and roughly, while a higher number of teeth per inch makes the knife file smoother, so it files more slowly and produces a smoother final product.
Knife files work by making fine cuts in the wood or metal you are working with. This allows the worker to shave and finish portions of the material being molded to the required design specification and shape. Knife files are great for hard-to-reach sharp corners and are also effective for sharpening other tools such as chisels and knives.
Over time, the teeth of a knife file can become clogged with small pieces of material, metal or wood. The pieces of debris left between the teeth of the file are called pins, so the clogging of the file is called pinning. Blocking makes the file much less effective and can scratch the surface you are working on. A file card, with hard metal bristles, removes debris and makes the file effective again for further use. Rubbing chalk on the teeth of the knife file can also help prevent over-nailing.
The best way to store knife files is to hang them on a file rack. They can also be placed in a drawer, but it is important that each file is carefully separated from the other. Proper file storage helps ensure that files don’t lose their teeth and become less effective when used. The life span of a knife file will depend on how much it is used, proper storage and care, and how soft the wood and metal it is used on.
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