Craft File Flat Medium I35

A flat file with a medium cut

A flat file is the tool for the first stage of cleaning up. A medium cut removes material noticeably faster than abrasive paper, but it does not leave as coarse a trace as a coarse file, so you can move straight on to fine sanding after it. It is used to level mating surfaces, to even out the remains of gates, to sand parting seams down and to adjust the shape of a part. The maker is the Japanese company Mineshima, which has long devoted itself to hand tools for modelers.

Use

• File with a stroke in one direction; a back-and-forth movement clogs the cut and makes the surface wavy.
• Hold the file flat on the part, as tilting it will round the edge.
• Knock or brush the cut out regularly; a clogged file slides and burnishes.
• Press lightly on soft plastic, as a hard stroke leaves scratches all the way down.
• Finish the work with abrasive paper; the file alone will not prepare the surface for a clear coat.
• Store the file so that it does not rub against other metal tools, as a blunted cut cannot be restored.

Who it is for

It suits anyone who builds from plastic or resin and needs to level a surface faster than paper allows. It is a basic tool whose handling even a beginner learns, but you must not hurry, because material once removed does not come back.

When filing resin, work in a ventilated room and protect your breathing; the dust must not be inhaled. Store the tool out of the reach of children.