Hand Filing of Plastics

Files that are available from retail and industrial sources are normally manufactured for use on metals, where sharpness is less important than brute force. Most plastics have a low coefficient of friction and do not respond to an ordinary file. They require a sharp edge that will slice into the plastic to leave a clean cut.

Plasti-Cut® files have been developed specifically for use on plastics. A proprietary process sharpens the edges of all the teeth so that they cut cleanly with a minimum burr on the edges.

Originally developed for hand finishing the edges of decorative laminates and solid surfaces, Plasti-Cut files have been widely used in the decorative surface markets for many years. They also work particularly will on other hard plastics. The softer plastics tend to leave a burr that must be trimmed by reverse filing or some other burr removal device but achieving the bevel or removal of the a lot of material can easily be accomplished by using a proper file. Plasti-Cut files are available in sizes from 8” to 14” and in a smooth Mill cut or more aggressive Fast® cut and a combination 10” Duplex® that has a Fast cut on one side and a Mill cut on the reverse side.

For more information, contact Sandi Cline, Practical Products Co., 3925 Virginia Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45227, 800-847-8839/513-561-6560, Fax: 513-561-6778, Email: practical@fuse.net, Web: www.practicalprods.com.