Ronn W Posted April 27, 2016 Report Share Posted April 27, 2016 Found an article on making you own spoke Shave looks like a fun little project but I will need a rasp or 2 to shape the handles. My online research is not helping me figure out what rasp(s) I need. So how are rasps graded? Grain, TPI, teeth per sq. cm? How to I compare different brands? What would you recommend for a project like this? I think $100 per file is a little steep for me. Beyond this one project - If you only had 2 or 3 rasps, what sizes, shape and coarseness would you choose ( assume no real heavy duty wood removal)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted April 27, 2016 Report Share Posted April 27, 2016 I'd go coarse, medium, fine. So maybe a 6 grain, 9, grain, 13 grain. Though you don't necessarily need a rasp to do this, you can use any method of shaping. You can power carve, you can chip carve and sand, etc. I've read people having good success with the Narex rasps. Auriou, and Logier rasps are $100+ each. The difference is they are hand stitched versus machine stitched. Hardness, steel quality, etc also plays into the quality of the rasp. For what you're doing a nicholson rasp or Narex rasp will be more than sufficient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midtnwoodworker Posted April 27, 2016 Report Share Posted April 27, 2016 Check this out http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?p=48070&cat=1,42524 Its from Lee Valley describing how rasps are graded and how different types work. If I could only have two it would be the 12" 6 grain and the 9" 10 grain. Anything finer is nice to have, but I would not put it in my top two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted April 27, 2016 Report Share Posted April 27, 2016 The only thing I know about good rasps is that they breed like rabbits. Bring one home and the next thing you know you have a whole litter. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mds2 Posted April 27, 2016 Report Share Posted April 27, 2016 Here is a really good video from Chris Schwarz on rasps. Explains the differences and what you need to get started. I have a bunch of cheap rasps and I was given an Auriou 9" 10 grain for Christmas. The Auriou is on a different level completely. Cuts like a hot knife through melted butter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Harvey Posted April 27, 2016 Report Share Posted April 27, 2016 For cheap, you can do a lot with one inch wide strips torn from a broken belt sander belt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted April 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2016 I have looked at Narex and Nicholson rasps on line. I understand that there is quite a difference between machine and hand stitched rasps that has to do with the alignment of the teeth and thus the smoothness of cut. It looks like the Narex are machine (CNC) stitched and that the Nicholson are hand stitched. The teeth in pics of Nicholson files appear to me more randomly spaced. Are these observations correct and does it really make a difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted April 27, 2016 Report Share Posted April 27, 2016 Yes it absolutely makes an enormous difference, but I would urge you to look at Auriou and Logier rasps and ignore the rest. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted April 27, 2016 Report Share Posted April 27, 2016 Hand stitched rasps are less uniform in position and therefor do not try to track like machined or machine stitched teeth (too regular). I have a Nicholson 49 but, had to go through three of them to get one I would accept; really poor initial product and QA currently. I have been happy with a Grobert #6 that I have had for awhile. They take some getting used to but, I have a couple of Japanese Milled Tooth files that I find myself reaching for more than I would have thought. If I had to limit it to 2 I would probably go with a Shinto (no, really . . . very versatile) and a #6 half round toothed on both surfaces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 27, 2016 Report Share Posted April 27, 2016 I agree with Eric. I know it is always tempting to save money but Auriou rasps are just plain awesome and you only "need" a few of them. Yes they are addictive but you can easily and enjoyable get by with two of them. I have a 9" 10 grain (or vice versa, can't remember) cabiner maker's rasp and a 13 grain modelers rasp. It makes no sense to me cheap out on this and try to save $50 when you can get the absolute best quality rasp imagineable for $110 or so. This is truly one of the few bargains in woodworking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AceHoleInOne Posted April 27, 2016 Report Share Posted April 27, 2016 I'm gonna cheap out. Flat ass removes wood and for $20.00. A "yeah buddy" in my book! -Ace- 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted April 27, 2016 Report Share Posted April 27, 2016 53 minutes ago, Mike. said: I agree with Eric. I know it is always tempting to save money but Auriou rasps are just plain awesome +1 If you go with these pay attention when ordering, they are left and right handed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted April 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2016 I dug a little deeper into the Auriou and Liogier web sites. I understand that both are excellent rasps. Right now I and mulling it all over. Since I don't see a need for a very aggressive cuts right now, I am leaning towards Liogier and Mike's suggestion of a 10"- #9G cabinet makers and a 7" #13 modellers rasp. Logier looks to be a little less expensive. Chet, Thanks for the right - left handed reminder. AceHOleinOne - interesting. I saw those at woodcraft and will now take a second look. Thanks for all of your replies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted April 27, 2016 Report Share Posted April 27, 2016 6 hours ago, mds2 said: Here is a really good video from Chris Schwarz on rasps. Explains the differences and what you need to get started. I have a bunch of cheap rasps and I was given an Auriou 9" 10 grain for Christmas. The Auriou is on a different level completely. Cuts like a hot knife through melted butter. Neat video. Thanks for sharing. I always wondered how to pronounce Auriou. "RU" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barron Posted April 27, 2016 Report Share Posted April 27, 2016 One of my Auriou rasps is a 5 on one side, 9 on the other, so you get two for one. I also have a 13 modeler rasp and a 10 half round. Those three have served me very well. They are worth the money if you are going to work curves in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted May 18, 2016 Report Share Posted May 18, 2016 I received mine today but it looks like they backordered the sustainer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjeff70 Posted May 18, 2016 Report Share Posted May 18, 2016 On 4/27/2016 at 2:24 PM, AceHoleInOne said: I'm gonna cheap out. Flat ass removes wood and for $20.00. A "yeah buddy" in my book! -Ace- 18 minutes into the video, check it out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted May 18, 2016 Report Share Posted May 18, 2016 I received mine today but it looks like they backordered the sustainer. Sweet Ken! Is that the 9 grain? And dont feel left out, none of mine came with systainers either. I paid extra for that Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted May 18, 2016 Report Share Posted May 18, 2016 Thanks! It's the 9", 10 grain. It arrived about noon via UPS and I've been stroking it ever since, blatantly ignoring the priced packing slip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post shaneymack Posted May 18, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted May 18, 2016 Once you finish stroking it, get out to the shop and try out that new rasp. Your gonna love it!! Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted May 18, 2016 Report Share Posted May 18, 2016 I received mine today but it looks like they backordered the sustainer. Did you get the Auriou or the Liogier? Either way, it looks pretty sweet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted May 19, 2016 Report Share Posted May 19, 2016 Thanks. It's the Auriou. It looks even sweeter up super close! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted May 19, 2016 Report Share Posted May 19, 2016 7 hours ago, K Cooper said: I received mine today but it looks like they backordered the sustainer. After I bought the Auriou's, but after I did I couldn't afford their sustainers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted May 19, 2016 Report Share Posted May 19, 2016 So after playing with it for 30 min. or so, I'd say it takes it to comparable to 80 grt. sandpaper or so? One fine ma-chine mann! Now, how do you clean it , with a tooth pick, fine bristle dry paint brush or brass wire brush and what preventative do you take against rust? 25 minutes ago, Chet K. said: After I bought the Auriou's, but after I did I couldn't afford their sustainers So true! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted May 19, 2016 Report Share Posted May 19, 2016 8 hours ago, K Cooper said: I received mine today but it looks like they backordered the sustainer. Ken which one is that? Never mind. Kept reading.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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