This Old House’s page on Files and Rasps

So, you have cut some nice scrollwork and you need to smooth out the curves. Perhaps you are cutting a new handle for a saw or chisel and you really need to refine the shape. Maybe you are looking for an easy way to round over some edges on a project, but you are afraid to break out the router.

Never fear – rasps and chisels are here!

This page, run by the folks at This Old House, serves as a primer for how to use these useful, yet often overlooked tools. Here, you will learn about the bewildering array of rasps and files, learn how to use them properly and how to care for them. Of course, once you grasp the basics, an Internet search will lead you to much more specific information on how to make the most of your new tools.