Need information about European hand files.

[thudson]

Hi everyone. I am an American searching for special hand files that I used many years ago when I worked for Michelin Tire Corporation. There doesn't seem to be an American equivalent.

These files were flat for about three quarters of their length, and then tapered in both width and thickness, giving them a slight bump that could be used for filing high spots on a flat.

We just called them French files (this was almost twenty years ago, so I may have forgotten the technical name for them).

Any pointers to suppliers would be helpful.

Thanks, Thomas

[kewlkiwi]

Originally Posted by thudson Hi everyone. I am an American searching for special hand files that I used many years ago when I worked for Michelin Tire Corporation. There doesn't seem to be an American equivalent.

You don't mention a size, so I'm wondering if a 'Riffler file' is what you are thinking of.
See: here for example (Micromark)

Bob

[thudson]

Here is a rough drawing (I left out the tang):

[thudson]

It looks alot like a flat file, but if you lay it on a table and put a thumb on each end, it will rock back and forth from end to end.

[thudson]

I think I found it, they're called 'mill taper files' in Grobet's catalog. Strangely, they're listed under American Pattern Files. At least those files look close.

[wildwestpat]

Hi Thomas

There is a specialist file called a 'bulls foot' normally circular with the handle attached at right angles to the circular cutting pad. These files are common in clock making as well as tool making and are used to remove material in the middle of the work. However they are normally small and available only in the finer grades.

Just a thought but wh not grind away the teeth on either side of the active area to create a cutting platform with which to correct the job?

Regards - Pat

[thudson]

I went to Hardwick's Hardware here in Seattle, which has one of just about every file made, including milling files and riffler files. None of the files are the same. I may have to contact some old colleagues at Michelin to find out what these files are.