Section 4.4 Shaping Tools 81
Section 4.4 Section 4.4
Shaping Tools
Objectives
After studying this section, you will be able to:
• Identify the common hand tools used for
shaping stock.
• Demonstrate the proper and safe use of
shaping tools.
Technical Terms
coarseness
cut
fi le
gouge
socket chisel
spokeshave
Surform® tool
tang chisel
Reading Prep
Before reading this section, skim the Test
Your Knowledge questions at the end of
the section. Use the questions to help you
focus on the most important concepts as
you read the material.
A squared edge is easily formed using a saw
and a plane. However, different tools must be
used for irregular shapes, such as a radius cut
on the edge of the product. Common hand tools
used for shaping include fi les, rasps, Surform®
tools, chisels, gouges, and spokeshaves.
S A F E T Y
Shaping Tools:
Safety and Care
• Files, rasps, chisels, and other shaping tools
have sharp edges. It is important to prevent
the edges from becoming dull. When storing
these tools, hang them from the tool board,
place them in a drawer with dividers, or roll
them in a cloth tool roll.
• Never use a fi le with an exposed tang or loose
handle.
• Do not carry chisels, fi les, or knives in your
pockets.
• Keep both hands away from the cutting path
of chisels and knives.
• Always fasten your stock in a holding device,
such as a vise, before beginning a fi ling,
chiseling, or cutting operation.
• Clean waste material from the teeth of
shaping tools for better cutting action.
Files and Rasps
The most common tool used to form an ir-
regular shape is the fi le. Files come in different
sizes. In addition, they vary in cut, shape, and
coarseness, Figure 4-48.
The cut of a fi le refers to the tooth pattern.
There are four different cuts: single-cut, double-
cut, curved-cut, and rasp-cut.
• The single-cut fi le is primarily used for
sharpening, fi nish fi ling, and drawfi ling. It
consists of parallel, diagonal rows of teeth.
• The double-cut fi le is used for rough-
fi ling metal. The double-cut fi le has two
sets of diagonal rows of teeth of different
coarseness that cross each other. One row is
called the overcut, and the other, fi ner row
is called the upcut.
• The teeth of the curved-cut fi le are curved.
This fi le is used mostly in auto body work.