Files

Quick Answer: The Files listing covers hand files: hardened steel bars with rows of cutting teeth, used to remove small amounts of metal, wood or plastic for deburring, shaping and fitting. Hand files come in different profiles, lengths and cuts, each suited to a particular shape of surface.

Profiles, Cuts and What Each Is For

The listing describes a range of profiles: flat, half-round, round, square and triangular. A flat file works outside edges and flat faces; the half-round has one flat and one curved face for convex and concave work; a round file enlarges holes and tight inside curves; square files clean up square holes and slots; and a triangular (three-square) file reaches internal angles smaller than 90 degrees. The profiles, lengths and cuts supplied under this listing should be confirmed with the order.

The cut describes how coarse the teeth are. Bastard cut files remove metal fastest for roughing, second cut files are a middle grade, and smooth cut files give a fine finish. Single-cut files have one set of parallel teeth, while double-cut files have two crossing sets that remove material faster. Files cut on the forward stroke only, so lift the pressure on the return stroke.

Engineer’s files are often sold without handles and must have one fitted to the tang before use, because a bare tang can drive into the palm if the file catches. Work is held low in a bench vice so it does not chatter. Draw filing, pushing the file sideways along the work with both hands, leaves a flat, smooth finish on long edges, and filing is also the usual way to clean up burrs after drilling with a drill set.

Specifications

Applications

• Deburring sawn and drilled edges in fitting shop exercises
• Filing flat surfaces and square edges to marked lines in ITI fitter training
• Opening out and shaping holes and slots with round and square files
• Shaping acrylic, aluminium and wooden parts for STEM and model projects

Care & Handling

• Never use a file without a handle, and check that the handle is tight.
• Clean clogged teeth with a file card or brush; chalk rubbed on the face reduces clogging on soft metals.
• Store files apart in a rack or roll, not jumbled together, as teeth chip when files knock each other.
• Keep files dry and free of oil, which makes them skid, and never use one as a lever, since hardened steel snaps.

Why Choose LabEquip

Fitter, machinist and sheet-metal trades, engineering workshops and school technology rooms use files daily, so sets are usually bought per workstation. LabEquip lists these files in the General Lab Products range; specify the profiles, lengths and cuts you need on the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between bastard, second cut and smooth files?

They are grades of coarseness. Bastard cut has the coarsest teeth for fast removal, second cut is intermediate, and smooth cut leaves a fine finish. Work usually starts with a bastard file and finishes with a smoother one.

Why must a file have a handle?

The tang is pointed. If the file catches or the work slips, a bare tang can be driven into the palm or wrist. A tight-fitting handle protects the hand and gives better control.

What is draw filing?

It is a finishing method in which the file is held crosswise in both hands and pushed along the length of the work. It produces a flat, smooth surface with fine lengthwise marks on long edges.

How do I clean a clogged file?

Brush along the rows of teeth with a file card, which is a short wire brush, and pick out stubborn particles with a soft metal pick. Rubbing chalk on the file before filing aluminium or other soft metals reduces clogging.

Which file should be used for a hole?

Use a round file for round holes and inside curves, a square file for square holes and slots, and a triangular file for corners under 90 degrees. Choose a file small enough to move freely in the opening.

Why does a file slide without cutting?

The usual causes are oily or greasy work, a clogged or worn file, or pressure applied on the return stroke instead of the forward stroke. Degrease the work, clean the teeth and press only on the forward stroke.

Last Updated: September 2026