What is a crosscut file?
What is a crosscut file? |
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Crosscut files are saw files that were developed exclusively for sharpening crosscut saws.
For more on saw sharpening, see: |
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What are the characteristics of a crosscut file? |
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Cross sectionA crosscut file’s cross section resembles a triangle with a curved base. |
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The triangular part of the file fits perfectly between the teeth of the saw and can sharpen both tooth edges at a time. | |||
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Some crosscut saws, referred to as ‘Great American’, have regularly spaced curved notches between the teeth to allow for the ejection of wood shavings. | |||
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The curved part of the file can be used to enlarge the hollow at the point where the teeth meet the face of the saw. This is referred to as the ‘gullet’. | |||
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The gullet may need to be enlarged after multiple sharpenings, when the saw’s teeth have worn down far enough that the points are close to the face of the blade. | |||
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If the gullet is not enlarged then it will be more difficult for chips of wood to be ejected from the groove the saw cuts into a piece of wood, which can cause it to jam. | |||
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While the 60° angle between the two flat faces of a crosscut file will fit between the teeth of rip saws, the curved back on these files has no application for working on anything other than the gullets in crosscut saws. | |||
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ProfileCrosscut files are slightly tapered in thickness to make the filing stroke smoother for the DIYer. This is because the file is already in motion before it fully engages with the edges of the saw’s teeth. |
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CutThey are single cut on both faces and the rounded part of the blade. |
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SizeCrosscut files are usually available in lengths from 200mm (8 inches) to 250mm (10 inches). |
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Swiss or American?Crosscut files are American pattern files. |
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