Do you know what is a tool rat tail? What is it and how is it used? What types and models are there? Where you can buy it and how much does it cost?
If you want to know everything about the tool to install rat tail, continue reading this article. We tell you what you need to know about this tool so useful and versatile.
What is a tool rat tail?
A tool rat tail is a type of file or rasp that has a cylindrical shape and ends with a point.
Its name is because it looks like the tail of a rat. It is used to soften, smooth, enlarge or shape holes, slots, tubes or round pieces of metal, wood, plastic or other materials.
The tool rat tail is composed of a handle, usually wood or plastic, and a metal part with teeth or splines that form the cylindrical body and tapered tip.
The teeth can be of different sizes and shapes, according to the degree of coarseness or fineness want to achieve. The most common are teeth triangular, the square teeth, and the teeth in the shape of a diamond.
What is it for and how a tool is used rat tail?
A tool rat tail serves to work on curved surfaces, or hollow that can't be licked with a flat file or rectangular. For example, you can use it to:
- Remove burrs, rust or dirt from pipes, rods, shafts and screws.
- Enlarge or adjust the diameter of holes, threads or sockets.
- Shape pieces of round or cylindrical as handles, bolts or pins.
- Repair circular saws or jig that have teeth worn or damaged.
- Create designs or ornaments on wood, bone, leather or other soft materials.
To use a tool rat tail, you should hold the handle with one hand and apply moderate pressure on the surface that you want to iron out with the other.
You must move the tool forward and backward in the direction of the teeth, without making any lateral movement or rotating.
In addition, you must avoid hitting or bending of the tool, as this may damage or break.
You should also clean the tool after each use to remove all traces of the material that has accumulated between the teeth.
What types and models of tools rat tail are there?
There are different types and models of tools rat tail according to the material, the size, shape, and type of teeth they have. Some examples are:
Tools rat tail carbon steel
Are the most economical and resilient, but also more prone to rust or desafilarse. Used for filing soft metals such as iron, copper or aluminum.
Tools rat tail of steel and chromium-vanadium steel
They are more expensive and durable than the previous, as they have a higher content of carbon and other elements that give them greater hardness and resistance to wear and corrosion. Used for polishing hard metals such as steel, brass or bronze.
Tools rat tail diamond
Are the most expensive and fine there, as they have a layer of diamond powder synthetic adhered to the metal surface. They are used for rough grinding very hard materials such as glass, ceramic, tungsten carbide or titanium.
Tools rat tail wood
Tend to be the most inexpensive and simple there, as they are made of wood with a sharp tip. They are used for rough grinding or carving soft materials such as wood, bone, leather, or cork.
Tools rat tail of different sizes
You can find tools rat tail of different lengths and diameters, depending on the size of the hole or the piece that you want to iron out.
For example, you can find tools rat tail from 3 mm up to 25 mm in diameter and from 10 cm up to 40 cm in length.
Tools rat tail in different ways
There are tools rat tail with different forms on the tip, according to the shape of the hole or the piece that you want to iron out.
For example, you can find tools rat tail round, square, triangular, hexagonal, or stellate.
Tools rat tail from different types of teeth
You can buy them with different types of teeth, depending on the degree of coarseness or fineness want to achieve.
For example, you can find tools rat tail teeth coarse, medium, fine or very fine.
Where can you buy a tool rat tail and how much does it cost?
You can buy a tool rat tail in any store specialising in tools, hardware stores or online stores.
The price will depend on the type, the size, shape and the type of teeth that has the tool.
In general, the price ranges between 5 and 15 dollars.
However, if you want to save time and money, we strongly recommend you purchase a tool rat tail on Amazon.
Amazon is the leading platform in e-commerce, where you can find thousands of high-quality products at competitive prices and with fast and secure shipping.
In addition, you can read the reviews and ratings of other buyers to choose the best option for you.
To facilitate your search, we'll leave you some links to the best deals on tools rat tail that we found on Amazon:
Tool rat tail round carbon steel
It is a basic tool, and economic for filing soft metals. It has a diameter of 10 mm and a length of 20 cm Has triangular teeth bastos.
Tool rat tail square steel chrome-vanadium
It is a tool durable for rough grinding hard metals. It has a diameter of 12 mm and a length of 25 cm Has square teeth media.
Tool rat tail starry diamond
It is characterized by being thin face for polishing very hard materials. It has a diameter of 8 mm and a length of 15 cm Has teeth in the shape of a diamond very fine.
Tool rat tail round wood
It is a simple and inexpensive tool for polishing or carving out a soft material. It has a diameter of 5 mm and a length of 10 cm Has a sharp tip without teeth.
Conclusion
As you've seen, the tool rat tail is a very useful and versatile tool for shaping, smoothing, enlarge or shape holes, slots, tubes or round pieces of different materials.
There are different types and models according to the material, the size, shape, and type of teeth they have. You can buy it in any specialized store or on Amazon at various prices.
