Most woodworking tools do their jobs through the use of very sharp edges. Woodworkers can spend countless hours grinding and honing their tools to a razor sharp edge. Manufacturers can get a keen edge on carbide router bit cutters or table saw blades…
And, then there are rasps and files. These oddballs don’t slice the wood they are cutting – they tear the fibers off and leave a pretty rough surface that needs to be refined with planes, scrapers or sandpaper.
There are times when the only tool that can do the job is a rasp or a file, yet they aren’t normally the first tools a woodworker will purchase.
This week, we want to know what you think about files and rasps…
[poll id=”81″]
Tom,
I have to say I thought the same thing about rasps at first. In that they rip and tear the surface that will need some clean up. That was until I got a couple hand cut Gramercy rasps. I can’t really explain the cutting action on these rasps, but they leave a pretty smooth surface. The surface isn’t perfect, but it’s far better than what my Nicholson rasps could ever hope to achieve. I won’t even pick up my Nicholson rasps anymore.
Mike
As long as you use them sparingly, and with a gentle hand, they can really make a project pop.
Thanks Tom.
as in life there is a place for them.