Rasps

[Patrick Kane]

Im about to start a few maloof-like projects, which means i need shaping tools. Ive read thoughts on machine stitched versus hand stitched, and obviously everyone suggests Auriou rasps. Is it better to have 1-2 Auriou or 3+ of lower quality Narex/similar? Ive never used a rasp before, but when it comes to chisels, id probably rather have a cheap 1/4", 1/2" and 1"+ than a veritas PMV11 1/4".

[Jim Koepke]

For rough work it doesn't matter much what you use.

For fine work my Auriou 13 & 15 grain rasps can produce surfaces smoother than #220 sandpaper. The important part of the equation is being able to shape the inside curves and other odd places.

Get some decent rasps, maybe even a half round float or shear file if one can be found.

IMO on chisels it is best to have ones that feel comfortable in your hand.

You may also want to look into some round bottom spokeshaves like this one:

http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?p=71042&cat=1,50230&ap=1

Mine took a few minutes of fettling to get it working well.

jtk

[Rob Luter]

I had the pleasure of trying out an Auriou at the LN Tool Show in Michigan a couple weeks ago. They really work well. I ordered a 10" cabinet makers rasp in the 9G tooth and have used it a number of times. I'll order a complementary smaller size soon.

[Günter VögelBerg]

Loigier are also excellent rasps, but expensive. I have a couple of Gramercy rasps that are decent, and as I recall they are a lot more affordable than the French makers.

[Jim Koepke]

Here is an old thread on rasps:

https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?255103

A comparison of my rasps is in the 8th post.

jtk

[Edwin Santos]

Does anyone here have an opinion or review of the Japanese milled tooth files that Lee Valley sells? They claim them to be excellent for shaping.

I have a few Auriou rasps and yes they are excellent. For flat curves I have had good success with the inexpensive Shinto rasp. I read that Sam Maloof used the Surform type rasp. If I am not mistaken, the modern day equivalent to this might be the Microplane. In comparison to the Auriou or Liogier rasps the Shinto and Microplane are a bargain. I personally feel they each have their purpose.

Edwin

[Frederick Skelly]

Does anyone here have an opinion or review of the Japanese milled tooth files that Lee Valley sells? They claim them to be excellent for shaping. Edwin

Hi Edwin. FWIW, I noticed that the LV files you mention look an awful lot like the Iwasaki Carving Files I have. Mine are great. The LV price is roughly in line with what I paid too. (And with LV, you can easily return them if not satisfied!)
Fred

[Hilton Ralphs]

Hi Edwin. FWIW, I noticed that the LV files you mention look an awful lot like the Iwasaki Carving Files I have.

They are the Iwasaki files. I bought a couple and they are magnificent.

[Patrick Kane]

As i feared, all these sources are saying just about everything below the $100 mark is awful and best avoided.

[Mike King]

Personally, I find a pretty significant difference between hand-stitched and machine cut rasps. I have three of the Loigier and they are great.

All that being said, I find a drawknife and the Lie-Nielsen spokeshaves to be both faster with a better finish. I do use rasps, but generally prefer a sharp cutting tool.

I also made a Krenov style round bottom plane and use a travisher now and then. Less often a Barr scorp. Very useful tools.

Mike

[Larry Frank]

When I built my Maloof rocker, I looked at Rasps and was quite shocked at the prices. I bought a couple of Kutzall Rasps to do some of the shaping. I also used a Kutzall donut disk on my angle grinder and a ball nose Kutzall on a die grinder.

I know that the Kutzall Rasps are probably not considered good Rasps by many Neanderthals but worked great for me.

410588

[Mike Henderson]

I have the Nicholson #49 and #50 rasps and they do the job that I need them to do. I don't know what they sell for today but I think I got the two for about $100 total ($50/each).

Mike

[Frederick Skelly]

As i feared, all these sources are saying just about everything below the $100 mark is awful and best avoided.

Not sure where you got that interpretation. The LV rasps that Edwin mentioned are around $30 USD. Hilton confirmed they are a good product, as I also experienced.

[Edwin Santos]

As i feared, all these sources are saying just about everything below the $100 mark is awful and best avoided.


Not sure where you got that interpretation. The LV rasps that Edwin mentioned are around $30 USD. Hilton confirmed they are a good product, as I also experienced.

Furthering Fred's comment, you might also give the Microplane rasps a try. They are all under $20. I would say they are new improved version of the Stanley Surform that Maloof used (which itself is still available for under $15 on Amazon). I'll also repeat my recommendation to give the $15 Shinto rasp a try.
The upgraded hand stitched French rasps are a real luxury and a pleasure to use, but it is absolutely possible to do spectacular work without them. Good luck with your projects, wood shaping is very rewarding and one of those features that will immediately distinguish your work from that which can be found in stores.

[James Waldron]

Corradi has nice rasps at a decent price points; they work very nicely, almost at the French hand stitched level of performance.

http://www.corradishop.com/index.php

[Tony Zaffuto]

Another vote for Iwasaki (first I reach for), also Miicroplane rasps (I have a #13 Auriou). Tools for Working Wood used to sell an sbsolute lovely 4 in 1 file rasp, rounded one one side, flat on the other, with fine and coarser teeth. I used mine last week and after the years, it is becoming a bit dull. Looking through the TFWW website, I don't see it listed anymore.

[Jason Kamery]

I have a couple of Gramercy Rasps. I have been pleased with them. I tried out Auriou rasps, and they are amazing, but for the price difference, I couldn't personally justify it. I also don't do a ton of rasp work. Maybe if I did I would have paid more for Auriou.

[Rob Luter]

I have a couple of Gramercy Rasps. I have been pleased with them. I tried out Auriou rasps, and they are amazing, but for the price difference, I couldn't personally justify it. I also don't do a ton of rasp work. Maybe if I did I would have paid more for Auriou.

I just visited the Gramercy site, and other than the smallest sizes found their rasps to be more expensive than the Auriou products.

[Jason Kamery]

I just visited the Gramercy site, and other than the smallest sizes found their rasps to be more expensive than the Auriou products.

I am just doing a quick search right now. 9 inch cabinet makers rasp from Auriou on Lie Nielsen's site, $100. 9 1/4 size from Gramercy is $75. Auriou 12 inch is $130. Gramercy has one the same price and one more expensive. So I guess it matters on what size you get but I only see one example of Gramercy being more expensive.
Then like you said, if you look at modelers and rat tail rasps, the price difference is huge. $100 vs $40 or $50.

[Rob Luter]

I was comparing the 10" version initially. LN may have recently raised their prices. I ordered a 10" version last month and it was $10 less than the website price is today.

[Phil Mueller]

Yet another vote for Iwasaki. I tend to pick up a few when Woodcraft has their occasional sale on them. For smaller work, the Corradi riflers are quite nice.

[Jason Kamery]

I was comparing the 10" version initially. LN may have recently raised their prices. I ordered a 10" version last month and it was $10 less than the website price is today.

Gotcha. I forgot that the Gramercy does have a more expensive version rasp. I guess since I wasn't looking at it that's why I overlooked that haha. And they probably did raise the prices recently, it seems (but this is just me guessing based on anecdotal evidence) that the tool companies raise their prices each year. I get it, inflation.

[Jim Koepke]

[edited] Tools for Working Wood used to sell an sbsolute lovely 4 in 1 file rasp, rounded one one side, flat on the other, with fine and coarser teeth. I used mine last week and after the years, it is becoming a bit dull. Looking through the TFWW website, I don't see it listed anymore.

You can likely find one of those at your local hardware store:

410609

Check their web site or give them a call.

jtk

[Jim Koepke]

BTW, one of my first woodworking tools was a 4-in-1 hand rasp. Good for roughing work. Now with many other rasps to choose from my 4-in-1 doesn't see much use.

jtk

[Tony Zaffuto]

You can likely find one of those at your local hardware store:

410609

Check their web site or give them a call.

jtk

Not the same, Jim. The one I got was shaped like an auger file and works like a champ. I'm thinking it came from Tools for Working Wood, but not positive. I'll have to post the name of it tonight. Also, I have several of the 4 in 1's like you posted and they're very handy.

T.

[Tony Zaffuto]

You can likely find one of those at your local hardware store:

410609

Check their web site or give them a call.

jtk

The 4 in 1 I was referring to is made by Grobet Vallorbe. It is called a "Swiss pattern", and available on Amazon for about $35.00. The appearance is that of a file, but definitely not for metal, but made for wood/hard wax, etc., and as I previously posted, looks like an auger file, with two flat and two rounded surfaces.

[Jim Koepke]

The 4 in 1 I was referring to is made by Grobet Vallorbe. It is called a "Swiss pattern", and available on Amazon for about $35.00. The appearance is that of a file, but definitely not for metal, but made for wood/hard wax, etc., and as I previously posted, looks like an auger file, with two flat and two rounded surfaces.

How about a link? Searching on Swiss pattern or Grobet Vallorbe or both turned up nothing to meet the description.

TIA,

jtk

[Tony Zaffuto]

How about a link? Searching on Swiss pattern or Grobet Vallorbe or both turned up nothing to meet the description.

TIA,

jtk

Link? I don't even know how to post pics! Do an Amazon search for Grobet files, and scroll down through the list.

T.

[Hilton Ralphs]

Lee Valley used to sell a 4 in 1 Rasp (http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=69909). Doesn't look like an Auger though.

[John Schtrumpf]

How about a link? Searching on Swiss pattern or Grobet Vallorbe or both turned up nothing to meet the description.

TIA,

jtk

I have one, it is a good detail file:

GROBET HALF-ROUND VULCANITE FILE

31-384 HALF-ROUND VULCANITE FILE
360-313-841WB
1/2 Round Vulcanite File

Mfr Part: 31384

4 Cutting Faces In One File

We've had lots of calls wanting us to find this file - and once you've tried it, you'll know why. Gives you 4 different cutting faces: half-round bastard, flat bastard, half-round 2nd cut and flat 2nd cut. Because of special shape, you can get into places easily where a square-ended file just won't fit. Fantastic for shadowline cheekpieces, shaping combs or schnables, inletting bolt knobs, around the wrist, tang and grip. Great on hard rubber, soft metals, plastics and wood.

GROBET FILE CO. OF AMERICA INC - HALF-ROUND VULCANITE FILE

http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/stock-work-finishing/stock-making-hand-tools/wood-files/half-round-vulcanite-file-prod6764.aspx

[Phil Mueller]

Here’s an amazon link

https://www.amazon.com/Grobet-Swiss-Pattern-File-Vulcrylic/dp/B000H1VZ5G

[Jim Koepke]

Link? I don't even know how to post pics! Do an Amazon search for Grobet files, and scroll down through the list.

T.

A search on Amazon was tried, didn't work, that is why the link was requested.


I have one, it is a good detail file:

[edited]

GROBET FILE CO. OF AMERICA INC - HALF-ROUND VULCANITE FILE

http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/stock-work-finishing/stock-making-hand-tools/wood-files/half-round-vulcanite-file-prod6764.aspx


Here’s an amazon link

https://www.amazon.com/Grobet-Swiss-Pattern-File-Vulcrylic/dp/B000H1VZ5G

John, Phil, thanks for the links.

jtk