JEWELERS FILES SET: AN ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR ALL JEWELERS

Filing is a basic technique used by all jewelers in making jewelry. And a jeweler's file is one of the most important shaping and finishing tool that a jeweler should invest in.

But for someone who is just starting out - you need to get the appropriate tools. It is a must to have your own set of jewelry files set that is perfectly suited for you.

Not having the proper tools may cause you problems in creating your designs which may cause frustration in the long run.

That is why we made this article to help you differentiate the different types of jeweler’s files available. This will also help you in choosing the right type of metal files for the designs that you want to create.

WHAT IS A JEWELER'S FILE?

A jeweler's file is used for cutting, shaping, and smoothing metal. It is used to remove fine amounts of material from a workpiece and is made of a case hardened steel bar.

They come in various shapes – rectangular, square, triangular, or round cross-section, with one or more surfaces cut with sharp, generally parallel teeth.

They also have a smooth edge on one side so they don’t mark the metal when you are filing in tight spaces.  They come in coarseness of fine, medium, course and extra coarse.

WHAT ARE THE USES OF A JEWELER'S FILE?

A jeweler's file may be a simple looking tool, but they can actually be used for a number of ways - making it very essential to any jeweler:

• Enlarge holes in beads
• Smooth the edges of a metal piece
• File excess metal and solder on your pieces
• Allows you to reach tricky and hard to reach areas such as jewelry clasps
• Very ideal in tidying up intricate pierced areas and corners
• Can adjust settings of a bezel cup to fit your chosen stone
• Create grooves on the jewelry
• Used as a reamer to enlarge holes
• Perfect for filing large flat edges such as the outside of a ring.
• Creating notches in a tight space metal
• Engraving details into the material

HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT TYPE OF FILES?

When searching for the perfect files for your craft, consider the material you will be working with, the level of detail you’ll need to achieve, and the style of jewelry you’ll be making.

There are many different cuts, shapes and varieties of files; some files are designed to meet very specific needs. Choosing the right file will save you time and money.

TYPES OF CUTS

The cut of the file refers to how fine its teeth are. Most files are classified as Swiss Pattern and American Pattern.

• AMERICAN PATTERN

Credits to Glenn McKechnie / CC BY-SA

These are available in three grades of cut:

1. Bastard Cut
2. Second Cut
3. Smooth Cut

They are defined from roughest (16") to smoothest (4") grade and the length of the file affects the output. A shorter file produces a finer work than the longer files.

• SWISS PATTERN

Credits to: Lucasbosch / CC BY-SA 

These are available in seven cuts, ranging in coarseness from No. 00 to No. 06, with No. 6 being the finest cut. These files have teeth that extend to the edge and narrow points of tight areas. Very ideal for jewelers, watchmakers, model makers, and tool and die makers who are into detailed work pattern.

TYPES OF AMERICAN PATTERN FILES

1. MACHINIST FILES

Credits to: Glenn McKechnie / CC BY-SA

These files are used in numerous applications and on most metals and are available in a variety of profiles and cuts. Most machinist files are double cut for rapid and maximum stock removal.

2. SAW SHARPENING FILES

These files are suited to sharpen saw blades and tool edges, where a finer, sharper edge or smoother surface finish is desired. They are usually single cut to deliver a smoother finish.

3. SPECIAL PURPOSE FILES

These are files that are used for specific applications or materials, examples of these are wood rasps, foam files and body filler files.

TYPES OF SWISS PATTERN FILES

1. DIE-SINKER FILES

These are small versions of machine and knife files which is designed to dress and finish dies. They have small handles and often come in sets that include a variety of profiles.

2. DIE SINKER RIFFLERS

Credits to: Glenn McKechnie / CC BY-SA

These files have uncut middle sections, making them safer and more comfortable to handle. They have slender and narrow ends to optimize small and fine detail work.

3. NEEDLE FILES

Credits to: Lucasbosch / CC BY-SA

Most needle files has a double cut pattern and comes in 12 different shapes and features long, easy to grip handles. Because of their small size, some needle files have integrated handles to decrease finger cuts and abrasions.

DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS OF A NEEDLE FILE

When it comes to the different types of needle files available, I’m sure that there are a couple of specific items that you certainly want to invest in. But as your metal work and filing skills quickly progress you’ll want to step up the finishing element of your work.

One way of ensuring more precision is by getting to work with a set of needle files. They improve precision filing simply because they are a smaller set of jewelers’ hand files. Now let me show you the different characteristics of each needle files – to help you pick what is needed best for your delicate designs.

• KNIFE FILES

  These are tapered in width and thickness, but the knife edge has the same thickness the whole length, with the knife edge having an arc to it. Used for slotting or wedging operations.

• HALF ROUND FILES

  It has one flat and one convex surface, and either tapering slightly or maintaining an even thickness, width, or both over their length.

• DEAD / FLAT FILE

  These are the most common shape, can be single-cut or double-cut, rectangular in cross section, with an even thickness throughout their length. They may be either parallel sided or taper slightly in width from heel to end.

• ROUND / OVAL FILE

  These files are round in cross section and equal diameter over their length (not tapered). They are used for smoothing inside holes and circular grooves, and for sharpening certain kinds of saw.

• SQUARE FILE

  They are gradually tapered and cut on all four sides. Used for a wide variety of tasks such as filing angles.

• THREE SQUARE / TRIANGLE FILE

  These are triangular in cross-section, which may taper gradually, often to a point on smaller files. The sides may be equal in cross-section, or have two long and one short surface.

• HALF ROUND FILE

  It has one flat and one convex surface, and either tapering slightly or maintaining an even thickness, width, or both over their length.

• FLAT FILE

  It has a flat surface and is used to file larger, flat areas of metal, to straighten up edges, and to work on the outside curve of a ring.

JEWELER’S PICK: NEEDLE FILES OR DIAMOND FILES?

One main characteristics of a traditional steel file is that it has teeth that looks like a saw blade. And we all know that the smaller the teeth are, the finer the cut of the file will be. But all these teeth are lined up in the same direction, so a traditional file will only cut in one direction like a saw. Even when you have a round or half round file, they still only cut in a forward direction. They don't work sideways or in a circular motion.

That is why a lot jeweler prefers to use a diamond files set rather than the traditional needle files set.

TRADITIONAL FILE VS. DIAMOND STEEL FILE

TRADITIONAL NEEDLE FILE

• Works in one direction only (back and forth)
• Has teeth that resembles like a saw
• If used incorrectly, the teeth will round off and dull quickly
• Cannot be used with too hard materials as it might damage the needle file
• Can only cut on the pull stroke and limited on the push stroke
• Can be easily damaged by friction from other tools

Credits to: Glenn McKechnie / CC BY-SA

DIAMOND NEEDLE FILE

• Movement is not limited to back and forth sawing action
• Doesn’t have teeth, but it has diamond grits that is finer than a steel file
• Cuts in all direction and produces a better finish
• Offers a variety of abrasive output
• Can be used in a variety of materials and will not have an impact unlike the traditional steel file
• Easier to work in confined and tight spaces of the jewelry
• It can cut on the pull stroke as well as the push stroke
• Can cut twice as fast as a needle file
• It can work sideways and in a twisting motion

OUR RECOMMENDATION: MULTIPURPOSE DIAMOND NEEDLE FILE SET

If you are still starting to choose your jewelry making files, you can start with a small set of needle files. And soon, as you create more projects and more detailed variations of jewelry, you will know which needle files work best with your style and designs.

Now that you know more about the different files and the advantages of getting a diamond files set. You will feel more confident investing on the right set of hand files for your jewelry making craft.

Take time to carefully choose your tools. And to help you more, we have made a comprehensive review on Gaxcoo Multipurpose Diamond Needle Files Set – excellent for beginners and for skilled jewelry makers who wants to get the most value for their money!

https://gaxcoo.com/products/multipurpose-needle-file-set-files-tools-round-files-small-for-metal-sanding-sanding-jewelers-hobby-wood-and-more-free-bonus-cutter

FEATURES

• EXCELLENT QUALITY: This set is ideal for all delicate metal works and comes with a comfortable rubber grip handles.

• VERSATILE: It can be used on wood, plastics, soft metals, ceramics, hard metals and glass.

• GREAT VALUE: This set comes in various shapes and sizes, you get all 10 needle shapes in one set - Knife, Half Round, Dead, Oval, Taper Flat, Round, Square, Triangle, Half Round and Flat

• HIGH PRECISION: Excellent for pieces that requires precise and accurate filing of metal parts.
• BONUS: Comes with a FREE Micro Soft Wire Cutter – a perfect add-on to complete your jeweler’s files collection.

These Diamond Needle Files by Gaxcoo are essential tools not just for jewelry making, but also for 3D prints, Plastic Toy Models, Mold Lines, Miniature Carvings and any small object filing.

It is also a perfect gift that you can give to a craftsperson, watch makers, engineers, and model makers.

Get the job done with these popular mini diamond needle files set that is perfect for just about anything else.  Jewelry making is a great way to tap into your creative side and have something original created from your own hands. This set is a good start to create your own jewelry files set – it will only cost you $14.90 and it comes with a 100% money back guarantee!

So what are you waiting for? Grab your own set and achieve the results that you want with these especially designed diamond needle files set!

REFERENCES

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File (tool)#Needle_files

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewellery

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniature_art