derekcohen
Member
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2008
- Messages
- 1,001
A tool kit would be incomplete without awls and files to shape curves and detail. I have several handmade Auriou rasps and rifflers as well as a range of smooth cut files for use in the woodshop. The Auriou are fantastic. Mine are about 20 years old and, although some have noticeable wear, they continue to work. I also like the Japanese Shinto, which looks like a collection of saw blades stuck together. They are a great bang for the buck, but they are too large to fit in here.
Now it is not possible to take a range of these things in the tool box. I am not expecting to do much, if any, shaping, and this narrowed the choice to Japanese wood files. These are unique in that they have milled teeth along the lines of a float instead of the teeth of a traditional rasp. They shear the wood rather than tear it, and are capable of leaving a smooth finish.
I have included two Japanese wood files, one flat with medium cut teeth, and the other rounded. These files have safe side edges, which is a plus. On the negative side, they require a light touch to avoid stalling. This needs practice and they are not kind to a heavy hand.
The obvious place for them in the tool box was along the left side below the lid stay. This was also the best place for a gennou.
The gennou has a modified 225 gm head - one side has a UHMW cap for setting plane bodies and working with bench chisels, while the steel end is used to set blades. The handle is shaped from Hard Maple, and shorter than a standard gennou to fit the tool box. I like its balance. At 225 gm it is a good compromise for wacking chisels and setting blades ...
Below the gennou is a case holding the two wood files ...
These slide out ...
The milled teeth and my custom Jarrah handles are seen here ...
Regards from Perth
Derek
Now it is not possible to take a range of these things in the tool box. I am not expecting to do much, if any, shaping, and this narrowed the choice to Japanese wood files. These are unique in that they have milled teeth along the lines of a float instead of the teeth of a traditional rasp. They shear the wood rather than tear it, and are capable of leaving a smooth finish.
I have included two Japanese wood files, one flat with medium cut teeth, and the other rounded. These files have safe side edges, which is a plus. On the negative side, they require a light touch to avoid stalling. This needs practice and they are not kind to a heavy hand.
The obvious place for them in the tool box was along the left side below the lid stay. This was also the best place for a gennou.
The gennou has a modified 225 gm head - one side has a UHMW cap for setting plane bodies and working with bench chisels, while the steel end is used to set blades. The handle is shaped from Hard Maple, and shorter than a standard gennou to fit the tool box. I like its balance. At 225 gm it is a good compromise for wacking chisels and setting blades ...
Below the gennou is a case holding the two wood files ...
These slide out ...
The milled teeth and my custom Jarrah handles are seen here ...
Regards from Perth
Derek
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