Afile Square File

TRIANGLE FILE

AFILE THREE SQUARE FILE is the ideal file for filing grooves, square holes, and inside corners for finishing cutting tools. It is suitable for use on slots and keyways. 

APPLICATION AND USES

• Most commonly used for filing grooves, square holes, and inside corners. 
• Ideal for filing keyways and slots. 
• Suitable for turning round holes into square slots. 

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

• The file tapers in thickness and width making it ideal to enlarge square holes. 
• Used to reshape round drill holes into square slots. 
• Double cut on all sides which means they can speedily remove material with multiple faces. 
• Suitable for making right angle notches. 

HOW TO USE (How to reshape a round hole into a square slot)

Tools needed and preparation

• Apply a layer of lay-out ink around the area where the round hole is. Spanjaard Engineering Marking Blue is a good quality layout ink to use. 
• Mark out a square being careful to ensure that each edge of the square touches the circle. Ascribe like Ross Combination Square is a perfect tool for this step. 
• Clamp the workpiece into a vice ensuring that the marked surface points towards you. It is recommended to protect the workpiece using a filing block. 
• For this task, you will need a three-square file (Afile three square file can be used), a square file (Afile Square File is recommended) and a pillar file also called a second cut file (Afile 2^nd cut file is recommended)
• Only work on one corner at a time. 

Reshaping the slot

• Step 1: Use the three-square file to cut a notch in the acute angle of the corner you want to work on. This is done to create a platform so that material can be conveniently removed. 
• Step 2: Use the square file to file away the base material until it is close to the lines that have been marked out. 
• Step 3: The pillar file is now used to create the finish. File right down to the lines that you have marked. 
• Step 4: Repeat on the next corner. Rotate your workpiece and repeat on the next corner. Repeat until all four corners have been filed. 

STORAGE AND CARE

• Store files carefully. Files are designed with a lot of carbon so that they can be resistant to wear and tear. It makes them weak however to sudden shocks so throwing them into a drawer might make them break or snap. 
• Files should be stored in such a way that they do not come into contact with each other. Because they are designed to wear away at materials as strong as metal, they can cause damage to each other. The ideal is to hang them up on a rack or at least store them in a container with dividers. 
• Store your files in a dry place because they are prone to rust. 
• To keep the teeth of the file in good shape for longer it is recommended that you should not apply pressure on the pull stroke but only on the push stroke. 
• Debris stuck to the file will pre-maturely blunt the teeth of the file. Debris can be cleaned off using a file card brush. To prevent excessive debris from getting stuck onto the teeth of the file it is recommended to rub the file with chalk before use. 

SPECIFICATIONS

• Size: 150 mm
• Shape: Tapered towards the point. Square cross-section. 
• Cut: Double cut on all faces 

HEALTH AND SAFETY

• Before using ensure that the file is in good condition and do not use a file without a handle. 
• Use both hands when filing gripping the handle in one hand and the toe in the other hand. 
• Wear suitable eye protection when filing. 
• Don’t file with greasy or oily hands because your hands might slip. 
• When filing a small workpiece, it is recommended that the workpiece be placed in a vice or clamp (for example Aftool G Clamp). 
• Do not carry files in your pockets. 
• Do not place the file hanging off the edge of the workbench. 

WARNINGS AND DISCLAIMERS