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Filing and sanding: shaping and smoothing

· Updated · 1 min read · Techniques

Illustration: Filing and sanding: shaping and smoothing

Files are the jeweler's precision tool: they shape, correct and prepare the surface for polishing.

Steps of the technique: Hold, Choose the file, File, Check, Sand, Polish
Summary of the steps

Types of file #

There are flat, half-round, round, triangular, square and needle files (very fine). The cut is indicated by numbers: lower ones are coarser and higher ones finer.

Technique #

File in one direction, with pressure on the push stroke and none on the return, resting the piece on the bench. Go from a coarse file to a fine one and then to sandpaper of ever finer grit.

Filings #

With precious metals, filings are collected (in a tray under the bench or an apron) to be recycled: they have value.

Care #

Clean files with a wire brush; do not hit them or mix them with other tools.

Step by step #

  1. Hold. Rest the piece on the bench pin.
  2. Choose the file. Start with a medium cut and go finer.
  3. File. Forward and with pressure; lift on the return.
  4. Check. Look at the surface in raking light.
  5. Sand. Work through grits 400, 600 and 800.
  6. Polish. When no marks remain, move to polishing.

Tools and materials #

  • Files of several cuts
  • Sandpaper and sanding sticks
  • Bench pin
  • Wire brush to clean the files

Common mistakes #

  • Filing back and forth with the file tilted.
  • Skipping sandpaper grits: deep scratches remain.
  • Not collecting filings of precious metal.
  • Rounding the edges by filing from one side only.

See also #

This entry was drafted with the help of AI and is pending review by the author.