Full Size Files

Equalling Files have a rectangular profile with parallel sides and even thickness along the length of the cutting surface. All four sides have teeth: double cut on top and bottom, single cut on both sides. These files are used primarily for filing slots and corners. They also make good general purpose files due to their wide, flat cutting surface.

Half Round Files have one curved and one flat surface. Half round files are well-suited for many applications, including removing material from the inside and outside of curved surfaces. These files are tapered in width and thickness and come to a point, allowing them to get into tight areas.

Knife Files are best suited for filing grooves and getting into narrow slots, keyways and acute angles. The sharp profile has teeth on two sides with a safe top edge. Width and thickness taper to a fine point.

Crossing Files are similar in profile to a half-round file, but with two curved surfaces instead of one. One curve has a larger radius than the other. Both surfaces are double-cut. These files are used primarily for filing interior curved surfaces and compound curves.

Square Files have a profile that gradually tapers to a point, with all four sides double cut along their length. Square files are a good general purpose file with many uses for jewelers and metalsmiths, including scoring lines for bending 90° angles, refining slot corners, and making round holes into square holes.

Also called triangular files, Three Square Files have sides that gradually taper to a point. All three sides are double cut. When used along a corner of the file, they create a V-groove with a 60° angle, useful for filing/refining seats in prongs and other jewelry making and metal working tasks.

Round Files, sometimes referred to as "Rat Tail Files" have a profile that gradually tapers to a point and are double cut along their entire length. The round file is typically used to enlarge holes, file a bevel on curved edges and to round off radii.

Warding Files have a similar profile to equalling files, but with tapered sides that come to a point. They are useful for the removal of burs and for filing narrow slots. Double cut top and bottom with single cut edges.