What are needle files for?

Needle files are small files that are used for filing down excess metal or solder, tidying up pierced work and parts of your jewellery which would be hard to access using a hand file.

What is a warding needle file?

Warding files are machinist’s files and are frequently used by locksmiths. They are named after the shaped openings in keyholes that act as a barrier to lock picking, as they are used to both deburr and repair them. They can also be used to file the notches in a key that allow it to fit into the warding.

What is a Swiss file?

Swiss pattern files earned their name from the Swiss inventor and toolmaker F. L. Swiss pattern files are most often used for fine shaping and finishing tasks, such as working on machine parts and musical instruments. Unlike American-pattern files, Swiss pattern files are produced and made in very small sizes.

How are needle files made?

Needle files consist of cutting ‘teeth’. The cut is indicated on a scale ranging from 00 that is the coarsest, to 6 that is the finest. Each cut has a certain number of teeth per square centimetre. Splash out once and buy quality Swiss made steel needle files.

Which is the best needle file for jewelry?

Valtitan files are Swiss made and considered the best in the jewelry business. Otto Frei and Rio Grande offer them on their website in packs in the desired shapes. Choose a set of coarse (0) and medium (2) or fine (4). Amazon carries a less expensive set of needle files.

What kind of files do jewelers use to cut metal?

Swiss pattern needle files from Grobet and metal files and sets for jewelers. Smaller than typical needle files, escapement files are perfect for filing metal in tight places when making jewelry. Grobet Swiss pattern / cut.

How big of a file do you need for jewellery making?

If you are a beginner, you may only need a half-round, flat hand file, plus a few needle files in other shapes. Hand files are about 4-10 inches long, and can be used on a wide variety of jewellery making materials. Needle files are often 4-8 inches long and are best used for refining detail.

What kind of file is a needle file?

Needle Files. Needle files are small files used to finish and shape metal. They have a smooth edge on one side so they don’t mark the metal when you are filing in tight spaces. They come in various shapes – round, half round, square, triangle, flat and barrett. They come in coarseness of fine, medium, course and extra coarse.