Making a Riffle File from a Needle File

This step by step 15 page paper shows how to take a standard needle file and shape it into a riffle file, a curved file that can fit into recesses areas and remove material from jewelry and other objects. Used by steel die makers, chasers and casters, a riffle file can cost thirty dollars or more. Here we take a needle file, heat it to orange heat, bend it to the desired riffle file curvature and then harden it. Hardening and tempering is covered in a detailed appendix. There are lots of photographs of each stage of the process.