Posted by
Easy WoodCraft on
Apr 28, 2017
How often you use files and rasps will depend heavily on the type of work you do and how long you've been woodworking. If your work involves a lot of curved shapes, your files and rasps are likely very prominent in your tool cabinet. Folks who build antique reproductions, especially Queen Anne furniture, with its classic S-shaped cabriole legs, use files and rasps regularly. On the other hand, if you build Craftsmanstyle furniture, with its rectilinear lines, you probably use them less.
How long you've been woodworking is also a factor. I used files and rasps much more often when I was a novice than I do now. This was partly because I didn't have as many tools then, and also that I've since learned better ways to do the jobs. Now, for example, instead of trying to fit a tenon into a mortise by filing it, I use a shoulder plane or a chisel. And instead of shaping a curve on a leg with a file, I tend to use a spokeshave. Any of these tools leaves a cleaner, smoother surface than a file or rasp and, just as important, is more of a pleasure for me to use. I still use my rasps and files—just not as often.
File cuts
Files are made by cutting parallel rows of teeth into the surface of the metal at an angle (usually between 60 and 80 degrees). There are three common "cuts available: single cut, double cut, and curved tooth (
right drawing). Single-cut files are the most common and work well for both general-purpose woodworking and the occasional metalworking I need to do around the shop. Double-cut files have a second set of teeth at an opposite angle to the first set; so they're more aggressive and work great when you need to remove a lot of material in a hurry. Curved-tooth files are becoming quite rare and are very aggressive. These have been replaced primarily by the rasp (
see Rasp).
Shapes
Files come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes. The most frequent shapes you'll find are: mill (or flat), half-round, round, 4-in-hand, and triangular (
right drawing). For all-around woodworking, the halfround shape is your best bet. This combination of a gently curving face with a flat face will handle most jobs. Lengths for files vary from 4" to 12" and larger. Eight-inch and 10" files are the most suitable for the shop, while smaller files, particularly taper or triangular files, are useful for sharpening.
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