Sanding vs. Filing: What's the Difference?
By Aimie Carlson || Updated on May 22, 2024
Sanding involves smoothing surfaces with abrasive paper or cloth, while filing uses a metal tool with ridges to shape and smooth materials like metal or wood.
Key Differences
Sanding is a process that uses abrasive materials, such as sandpaper, to smooth surfaces, typically wood or drywall. It removes small amounts of material to create a finer finish. Filing, on the other hand, uses a metal tool with rough ridges, called a file, to shape and smooth materials, often metal or wood. The action of filing is more precise and suited for detailed work.
Sanding is generally used for larger surfaces and is often part of the finishing process in woodworking or painting. It can be done manually or with power tools like orbital sanders. Whereas filing is more commonly used for shaping metal, such as in metalworking or jewelry making, but it can also be used on wood. Filing provides greater control over the shape and details of the material.
The abrasives used in sanding come in different grits, allowing for a range of finishes from coarse to very fine. Higher grit numbers result in a smoother finish. On the other hand, files come in various shapes and sizes, including flat, round, and half-round, each designed for specific tasks. Files have different levels of coarseness, such as coarse, medium, and fine, allowing for different degrees of material removal and surface smoothness.
Sanding is often the final step before painting or varnishing a surface, ensuring it is smooth and free of imperfections. Filing, however, is frequently used in the shaping and fitting of components, such as in metal fabrication or fitting joints in woodworking. Filing can create precise edges and intricate shapes that sanding cannot achieve.
Comparison Chart
Method
Uses abrasive paper or cloth
Uses a metal tool with ridges
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Materials
Typically wood, drywall, sometimes metal
Mostly metal, but also wood and other materials
Surface Area
Larger surfaces
Smaller, more detailed areas
Tools
Sandpaper, sanding blocks, orbital sanders
Various types of files (flat, round, etc.)
Precision
Less precise, used for finishing
More precise, used for shaping
Sanding and Filing Definitions
Sanding
Using power tools for sanding.
An orbital sander makes quick work of sanding large surfaces.
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Filing
Shaping or smoothing a material with a file.
She filed the edges of the metal sheet to remove sharp burrs.
Sanding
The process of smoothing or polishing with abrasive material.
He spent the afternoon sanding the wooden table to prepare it for painting.
Filing
Working on detailed areas.
The jeweler meticulously filed the ring to achieve the desired shape.
Sanding
Creating a finer finish on a surface.
After sanding the rough edges, the chair felt much smoother.
Filing
A container, such as a cabinet or folder, for keeping papers in order.
Sanding
Preparing surfaces for finishing.
Sanding is crucial before applying the final coat of varnish.
Filing
A collection of papers or published materials kept or arranged in convenient order.
Sanding
Small loose grains of worn or disintegrated rock.
Filing
(Computers) A collection of data or program records stored as a unit with a single name.
Sanding
(Geology) A sedimentary material, finer than a granule and coarser than silt, with grains between 0.06 and 2.0 millimeters in diameter.
Filing
A line of persons, animals, or things positioned one behind the other.
Sanding
Often sands A tract of land covered with sand, as a beach or desert.
Filing
A line of troops or military vehicles so positioned.
Sanding
The loose, granular, gritty particles in an hourglass.
Filing
(Games) Any of the rows of squares that run forward and backward between players on a playing board in chess or checkers.
Sanding
Sands Moments of allotted time or duration
"The sands are numb'red that makes up my life" (Shakespeare).
Filing
(Archaic) A list or roll.
Sanding
(Slang) Courage; stamina; perseverance
"She had more sand in her than any girl I ever see.
In my opinion she was just full of sand" (Mark Twain).
Filing
An official document that is filed with a court, government agency, or other legal or political institution.
Sanding
A light grayish brown to yellowish gray.
Filing
Any of several hardened steel tools with cutting ridges for forming, smoothing, or reducing especially metallic surfaces.
Sanding
To sprinkle or cover with or as if with sand.
Filing
A nail file.
Sanding
To polish or scrape with sand or sandpaper.
Filing
Chiefly British A crafty or artful person.
Sanding
To mix with sand.
Filing
The act or an instance of using a file.
Sanding
To fill up (a harbor) with sand.
Filing
A particle or shaving removed by a file
Metal filings.
Sanding
Present participle of sand
Filing
To put or keep (papers, for example) in useful order for storage or reference.
Sanding
The act or process by which something is sanded; the application of sandpaper, etc.
Filing
To enter (a legal document) as an official record.
Sanding
A type of dancing where the floor is covered in sand. See Sanding (dance).
Filing
To send or submit (copy) to a newspaper.
Sanding
The process of testing the surface of gilding, after it has been fired, with fine sand and water.
Filing
To initiate (a lawsuit)
File a complaint.
File charges.
Sanding
The process of burying oysters in sand.
Filing
To march or walk in a line.
Sanding
The process of applying sand to rails in railway track to aid adhesion.
Filing
To put items in a file.
Sanding
Using sandpaper to remove imperfections.
Sanding the drywall created a smooth surface for the paint.
Filing
To make application; apply
Filed for a job with the state.
File for a divorce.
Filing
To enter one's name in a political contest
Filed for Congress.
Filing
To smooth, reduce, or remove with or as if with a file.
Filing
To sully or defile.
Filing
Any particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving.
The process left metal filings all over the bench and the part.
Filing
The act of storing documents in an archive; archiving.
Filing
Something that has been officially filed; a document on file.
Filing
Present participle of file
Filing
A fragment or particle rubbed off by the act of filing; as, iron filings.
Filing
The entering of a legal document into the public record;
He filed a complaint
He filed his tax return
Filing
A fragment rubbed off by the use of a file
Filing
The act of using a file (as in shaping or smoothing an object)
Filing
Preservation and methodical arrangement as of documents and papers etc.;
I have some filing to do
Filing
Using a metal tool with ridges.
Filing the rough spots on the wood created a smoother finish.
Filing
Removing small amounts of material precisely.
He filed the joint until the pieces fit perfectly together.
Filing
Using different types of files for various tasks.
A round file is perfect for smoothing out circular cuts.
FAQs
What tools are used for sanding?
Sandpaper, sanding blocks, and power tools like orbital sanders are common for sanding.
Can filing be used on wood?
Yes, filing can be used on wood to shape and smooth smaller, detailed areas.
What materials are typically filed?
Metal is commonly filed, but wood and other materials can also be shaped using files.
What are common types of files?
Flat, round, and half-round files are common, each designed for specific tasks.
Is sanding necessary before painting?
Yes, sanding creates a smooth surface that is essential for a good paint finish.
Can filing create intricate shapes?
Yes, filing is ideal for creating detailed and precise shapes.
What does a higher grit number mean in sanding?
Higher grit numbers indicate finer abrasives, resulting in a smoother finish.
Can power tools be used for filing?
Yes, there are power files and rotary tools that can be used for filing.
What is the main purpose of sanding?
Sanding smooths surfaces and prepares them for finishing, such as painting or varnishing.
Is sanding more precise than filing?
No, filing is generally more precise and used for detailed work.
What are files made of?
Files are typically made of hardened steel with ridges or teeth.
Are there different coarseness levels for files?
Yes, files come in coarse, medium, and fine, each suitable for different levels of material removal.
Is sanding used in woodworking?
Yes, sanding is a crucial step in woodworking to smooth and prepare surfaces.
Can sanding remove a lot of material quickly?
Yes, especially when using coarser grits or power sanders.
Is sanding used in metalworking?
Yes, sanding can be used to smooth metal surfaces, though filing is more common for shaping.
Does filing remove a lot of material at once?
Filing removes material more slowly and precisely compared to sanding.
Is hand sanding more precise than using power sanders?
Hand sanding allows for more control and precision on detailed areas compared to power sanders.
Can sanding create a polished finish?
Sanding can prepare a surface for polishing, but additional steps are usually needed for a high polish.
What does "orbital sander" refer to?
An orbital sander is a power tool that moves sandpaper in a random orbit for efficient sanding.
Can filing be used on plastic?
Yes, files can be used to shape and smooth plastic materials.
About Author
Written by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
