Custom tang slot squaring files?

[HallHandmade]

I've seen files with flats that cut on two or three edges only. I was thinking, if you took a few different sizes of square files and then carefully ground off the teeth on two or three sides, it would make some very handy files for squaring out the tang slot.

Any suggestions here? I don't have any problem doing it with traditional files, but it does take some extra care if you want that half-thou fit without any bites from the long side.

 

[gredpe3]

Triangle files work good.

 

[james terrio]

Absolutely, people do that all the time. I just buy "normal" files in various shapes and sizes, and grind blind (smooth) sides on them as I see fit.

 

[tryppyr]

I use needle files from HF for this sort of thing. One in particular stands out... the one most normal folks would use for cleaning spark plugs.

 

[12345678910]

Heck yes, they call it a safe edge file.


I think probably half of the files I have have at least one safe edge.


They do have the potential to warp and bend though, control your heat when you grind.

... One in particular stands out... the one most normal folks would use for cleaning spark plugs.

I also have one for filing points, it's very small, slim and has parallel edges