Quick Poll

July 12th, 2009 at 6:17

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…

So, what do you think about rasps and files?

• Essential tools
• They are great to have
• They are OK
• Only if someone buys them for me
• I think they are a waste of time
• Aren't those just fancy back scratchers?

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Posted by Tom, in Quick Polls

3 Responses to “Quick Poll”

1. Mike Lingenfelter Says:
   July 12th, 2009 at 9:39 am

   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

2. Eric Says:
   July 12th, 2009 at 10:54 pm

   As long as you use them sparingly, and with a gentle hand, they can really make a project pop.
   Thanks Tom.

3. tom churchill Says:
   July 13th, 2009 at 11:30 am

   as in life there is a place for them.

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