File Terminology

Tang: the pointed part of the file that is inserted into the file handle
Heel: the part of the file that comes next to the tang - also known as the shoulder
Point: the end of the file opposite the tang
Length: the distance between the point and the heel - also known as the body
Teeth: the cutting ridges on the file’s surface
Side: the wide file surface
Edge: the narrow file surface - may be round or square - if no teeth are cut, they are known as “safe edges”
Back: the rounded side of all half-round files
Blunt: the file is the same width and thickness from heel to point
Taper: the file tapers in width (and sometimes thickness) from heel to point

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File Cuts Explained:

American & Swiss Pattern: formed by a chisel penetrating the file blank and upsetting a tooth shape
Rasp: the teeth are punched using a single point impact tooth
Vixen or Mill-Curved Tooth: machine cut with a single point milling cutter

Single Cut Files: have one series of parallel teeth running diagonally across the width of the file

•used for sharpening saws and edge tools, and for finishing operations in machine shops

•leaves a smooth finish

Double Cut Files: have two series of parallel teeth running diagonally across the width of the file, with one series crossing the other

• the first cut is the “overcut”

• the second cut is the “upcut”

• hundreds of sharp cutting teeth for fast cutting - best suited for rapid stock removal where finish is not the prime importance