Filing Effectively
Filing metal or wire can be a good deal of work; therefore, it's important to maximize our efforts. I try to avoid what I call "air filing". That is the practice of holding a piece in one hand and filing with the other without any stabilization.
Instructions
It's tempting to file "in the air"! But it's not efficient.
It is more effective for me to put the piece I'm filing on the bench block or bench pin, hold it in place with my nondominant hand and file in one direction with my dominant hand.
In my opinion, this makes the filing more productive. When I "air file", the file pushes the piece and it moves slightly rather than giving resistance. While you might not notice this on a lighter gauge piece of wire, you should definitely see a difference when filing a piece of metal.
It is more effective for me to put the piece I'm filing on the bench block or bench pin, hold it in place with my nondominant hand and file in one direction with my dominant hand.
In my opinion, this makes the filing more productive. When I "air file", the file pushes the piece and it moves slightly rather than giving resistance. While you might not notice this on a lighter gauge piece of wire, you should definitely see a difference when filing a piece of metal.
Materials
18 Gauge Round Dead Soft .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-18D
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
- Price: $4.93
- Gold Club Price: $3.70
18 Gauge Round Half Hard 1/10 Sterling Silver Filled Wire
H10-18H
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
- Price: $1.45
- Gold Club Price: $1.09
Wire
Sheet
Tools
10 Piece Diamond Needle Files - 140mm X 3mm
G14-8
- G14-8
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $13.57
- Gold Club Price: $10.18
Pocket File Set--6 PC
FIL-663.00
- FIL-663.00
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $21.95
- Gold Club Price: $16.46
Deluxe V-Slot Bench Pin with Clamp
BPN-105.00
- BPN-105.00
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $10.95
- Gold Club Price: $8.21
Bench Block Helper with Steel and Nylon Blocks
DAP-500.30
- DAP-500.30
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $29.95
- Gold Club Price: $22.46
6 Piece Assorted File Set with Wooden Handle
G14-7
- G14-7
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $5.57
- Gold Club Price: $4.18
Supply Detail
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- Category: Tools
- Technique(s): Tools
Karen Meador, Ph.D.
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