Files and rasps are used in many aspects of prop-making; carpentry, metal-work, plastics, foam, and sculpture are among the most common.

The WeWilliams Library has a PDF of a book called File Filosophy available for free reading and downloading. In this 40 page pamphlet, they define some of the terminology of files (as well as rasps and burrs) and describe how they are made. The majority of the book shows how to use files in a variety of circumstances.

So when you get a chance, give this a read and “file” the information away for later use.