Abel Simonds started the "Tradition" way back in 1832. Since then, the company that bears his name has carried on a tradition  of quality, design and innovation at a fair price. A good value. The Simonds brand has unquestionable become one of the most respected symbols of quality and reliability in the industrial marketplace today.

Every Simonds file is precision-cut for uniform tooth height and sharpness. Then they're scientifically heat treated for maximum hardness and individually checked for uniformity & cutting ability. We're particular about quality because we're as dedicated to quality today as Abel Simonds was years ago. It's the only way we know how to do business.

Our field sales force & distribution network shares this same dedication, knowledge and experience to make sure you "use the right tool for the right job". It all adds up to greater productivity for you. So remember whenever you need a cutting tool "Quality endures....Simonds since 1832".

American Pattern Files
Machinists' Files- are generally double cut for rapid stock removal. Used on all types of metals.

Saw Files- are generally single cut resulting in a smoother finish than machinists' files. They're best suited for sharpening saws or dressing edged tools. Saw files are ideal for any situation when a smoother edge or surface is desired.

Standard Tooth Cuts
Three standard cuts are available on most American Pattern Files:
B = (Bastard cut) - Coarse teeth for rapid stock removal.
2 = (Second cut ) - Medium teeth for moderate stock removal.
S = (Smooth cut ) - Fine teeth for smooth finishes.

The following diagram illustrates the cuts of a 10" single and double cut file:

Swiss Pattern Files
Swiss pattern files are used by precision craftsmen for finishing delicate & intricate parts. Narrow in both width and thickness, the teeth extend all the way to the edge   of the file. These files offer the finest cuts available. The tapered files have fine points for delicate detail work.

Standard Tooth Cuts
Cuts range from no.00 (the coarsest) to no. 6 (the finest). The following diagram illustrates the different cuts available on a 6" file:

Convenient Plastic Handles
We offer plastic handles on our Swiss Pattern Needle files. This makes them more comfortable to use by skilled die-makers. No longer do they have to fabricate "makeshift" temporary handles. Plastic handles are safer to use and save valuable time.

Vixen®
(Milled curved tooth files)
The Vixen file is recognized as the most efficient ever designed for automobile body repair and manufacturing. It is also versatile enough to be used on a variety of  other industrial applications. Each tooth is milled to produce extremely sharp edges, resulting in faster cutting and longer life for the file. The following diagram illustrates the different cuts available from a Vixen file:

Teeth per inch
Flat, Flexible, Half-round solid, Half-round, Shells, Babbitt.

Rotary File Types:
"Hand Cut" means the teeth are irregular. They work best on hard/dense metals. Recommended for use on die steel, cast iron, welds and forgings.This type of file CANNOT be resharpened, but it may be converted to "ground-from-solid" types.
"Ground-From Solid" files have less tendency to clog. They're most effective with plastic and soft metals such as: Aluminum, Brass, Bronze and Magnesium. This type of file can be resharpened by grinding.
"Cuts" refers to the size and pattern of indentations made into the file. Choosing the proper cut would depend on the material that needs to be worked and the finish required. Medium cut is most often used on Ferrous metals in general purpose applications. Coarse cut is recommended on soft materials, where as Fine cut works best on hard materials.

SPEEDS
These operating speeds are recommended for High Speed Steel rotary files, Medium Cut: