TM 9-243
TYPES AND USES - Continued
WARDING FILE
SWISS PATTERN FILE
Warding files are tapered to a point for narrow space
filing. They have double-cut faces and singlecut edges.
Warding files are used for lock repair or for filing ward
notches in keys.
CURVED-TOOTH FILE
Curved-tooth files, also known as mill-toothed files, are
generally used on aluminum and sheet steel and on flat
or curved surfaces. They are also used for smooth, rapid
work on bronze, lead, babbitt, zinc, and plastic.
Flat, flexible, curved-tooth files do not have tangs and
are made for easy mounting on a file holder. The file
holder is adjustable for concave or convex surfaces.
Flat, flexible, curved-tooth files come in fine-cut and
standard-cut teeth.
Flat, rigid, curved-tooth files are self-cleaning and used
for filing flat surfaces on cast iron, lead, babbitt,
aluminum, zinc, and plastic. They come in smooth-cut
and standard-cut teeth.
Half-round, rigid, curved-tooth files are flat on one side
and convex on the other. They are used for filing con-
cave surfaces and bearings. They come with standard-
cut teeth.
SAFETY
Swiss pattern files are made to more exact measure-
ments than American pattern files. They are primarily
finishing tools used on all sorts of delicate and intricate
parts. Swiss pattern files come in a variety of styles,
shapes, sizes, and double and single cuts to insure
precision smoothness.
These files are usually supplied in sets. The most com-
mon set consists of twelve assorted files in a set which
are marking (half-round), square, slitting, knife, joint
(round edge), crossing (oval), barrette, flat, equaling,
half-round, three-square (triangular), and round.
Swiss pattern files are made in seven cuts, Nos. 00, 0, 1,
2, 3, 4, and 6. They are most often used for fitting parts of
delicate mechanisms, and for tool and die work.
1.
If a file is designed to be used with a handle, do not
it bends easily. The body of the file is hard and very
attempt to use it without the handle. Holding the
brittle. A light bending force will cause it to snap.
sharp tang in your hand while filing can cause seri-
3.
ous injury.
Do not hammer on a file. This is very dangerous
because the file may shatter.
2.
Do not use a file for prying. The tang end is soft and
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