do all files cut away from the user?

[Rickabilly]

The Facing heads I have repaired have either a Knurled ring to hold or a ring with a hole in which to insert a torque arm, (so a ring that you hold with a torque arm).

Then internally they have a "Ticker" mechanisim, which with every revolution of the ring relative to the body a little finger on the ring collects a tooth on the feed screw and gives it a "Tick" (partial turn) depending on how many fingers are on the ring and a number of other factors decides how much facing feed per revolution, it is really quite simple to look at but I'm sure there is a load of fiddly design work in there.

On the original topic, backward files, I have heard of certain "Draw filing files" which are designed that way, the idea is that the sideways force resolves into a tension in the right or controlling hand which is easier to control, I've never seen one, but was told about an apprentice that brought one back when told to get the "left handed file" from the store, the joke ended up being on the tradesman and it became one of those stories that carried on for years, incidentally that apprentice ended up running the shop a few years later.

Regards
Rick