Files: tough tools, refined results

A rasp has coarse, individually raised teeth and is ideal for quickly removing large amounts of material, mainly from wood. A file has fine ridges and is used for more precise work, such as smoothing and finishing wood surfaces.

In woodworking, a wood file or rasp is used to shape wooden forms, round off sharp edges, or smooth out irregularities. They're especially useful for working on freeform shapes or when sanding is simply too slow.

Metal files are designed for precision work on metal components. Think of deburring edges, smoothing welds or adjusting parts for a clean, accurate fit.

There are flat, half-round, round, triangular and square files. Each shape serves a specific purpose, such as flat filing, working in rounded cut-outs or refining corners.

The coarseness of files is often described using the terms smooth, second-cut and bastard. A smooth file, with its fine tooth structure, is ideal for precision work and suitable for metals. The second-cut file is a true all-rounder and useful for most general tasks. The bastard file is the coarsest of the three, as the name suggests. It’s mainly used to quickly remove large amounts of material from softer surfaces.

Clean them after use with a brush or a dedicated file brush, store them in a dry place, and protect them from knocks and drops. This helps prevent damage to the teeth and keeps them working effectively. Tip: Never use a file on wet glue! Once it dries with wood residue, your file becomes almost unusable and very difficult to clean.

No, wood files are too soft and will be damaged immediately on metal. For metal, you need a metal file, made from hardened steel to withstand tough materials.