Originally Posted by
Mike Holbrook
Noel, I do not mean to question what the site says about those products. I just do not understand how these particular tools perform, apparently quite differently, than basic principals I had come to rely on regarding metal hardness/toughness. Certainly I am no expert on this subject. I guess my question is whether or not there are trade offs with these harder steels that I should take into consideration before ordering a file for working hard hardwoods? For instance, is there a greater risk of chipping off "teeth" with the harder steels vs the softer steel? Certainly a rasp does not undergo the abuse of say a jack hammer's blade, and since I doubt these tools are made to be resharpened maybe hardness is much more important than "toughness"? Maybe the loss of a few very small "teeth" among many is much less important in the long run than how well all the rest of those teeth wear away hard woods without getting dull? Certainly in the case of Japanese saw teeth we run into a similar situation. The teeth on some of these production model saws are hardened with a process that makes them very hard but they are not made to be resharpened. I like the Japanese saw blades that are designed this way and have no problem replacing blades vs sharpening them. I did break the tip & one or two teeth off one blade which had little effect on the saws performance. I used it that way for years before I got around to replacing the blade recently. Western saws I think are typically softer steel designed to be resharpened regularly. I think the softer steel also makes it possible to set teeth without risk of breaking them.
So in this context I am wondering whether each of the three offered steels has particular conditions in which it may perform better or whether I simply have to consider whether to pay more for a more expensive steel that will simply last longer?
I am also wondering about that Sage Leaf file vs tool handles with curves and hollowed out areas. I am working on plane bodies, totes, saw handles, tool handles, bow saw bodies...and looking for a better tool than a simple flat or rounded float, especially for getting into the tight curvy places.
I look forward to hearing Gordon's opinions on these rasps, but will probably order something to try before that information becomes available.