The file cutter
Files are essential tools for the removal of material, used since Antiquity and throughout the Middle Ages in many trades.
They are found both in the workshops of blacksmiths and goldsmiths.
They are used to rough out, shape and finish the surfaces of materials, whether metal, wood or other softer substances.
Thanks to their regularly cut teeth, they allow for gradual and controlled work, offering great precision to the craftsman.
Files differ in their shapes (flat, round, half-round, triangular, square, etc.), their sizes and the arrangement of their teeth.
Each shape corresponds to a specific use: flat files are used for flat surfaces, round files for holes or internal curves, while triangular files are used to refine angles or sharp edges.
The size of the teeth, whether coarse or fine, determines the amount of material removed: a coarse file removes a large amount of material quickly, while a fine or very fine file is used for finishing and delicate adjustments.
The manufacture of files in the Middle Ages
In the Middle Ages, file cutters were specialised craftsmen responsible for making these tools, which were essential for working metal cold. Their know-how required great precision and perfect mastery of materials, because a badly made file became useless, or even dangerous to use.
The steel used had to be hard enough to retain its teeth, but also resilient enough not to break under repeated blows.
Files were considered versatile tools.
They made it possible both to rough shape a raw piece coming from the forge and to apply the finishing touches to a carefully worked object.
They were often used in the final stages of production, when the hammer and anvil could no longer provide sufficiently precise work.
Two main methods were used to make files:
The direct method:
the teeth were created directly on a steel bar by striking it with a specific hammer.
This technique required great dexterity, as each blow had to be delivered with extreme precision in order to form regular teeth. Very few sources describe this method in detail.
The indirect method:
the teeth were formed by striking an intermediate tool, such as a chisel or a burin, with a hammer.
This technique, which was more widespread and better documented, allowed finer control over the shape and orientation of the teeth. It endured for several centuries and was still used by some specialised craftsmen until the twentieth century.
After the cutting of the teeth, the file was generally subjected to a heat treatment, intended to harden it and give it its final properties.
This hardening was a delicate step: a file that was too hard became brittle, while a file that was too soft wore out very quickly.
The craftsman’s skill was therefore measured by the quality, longevity and efficiency of the finished tool.
Warning: The techniques shown are provided for information purposes only. Using them without proper knowledge can be dangerous or even fatal.
All our products are for adults only.
Artisan d’art – Automates mécaniques
Craft artisan specialising in mechanical automata