Narex Rasps

[MrGinCT]

Does anyone have any experience with any of the Narex Raps - fine cut especially - as I need to buy a couple of rasps and don't want to have to buy Arriou (probably misspelled their name) rasps if I can get something decent.  I'm an active hobbyist so they won't be used daily.

 

[bdiemer]

https://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/GT-CMRASP.XX
These are also hand cut rasps that are a few dollars less then their French counterparts.

 

[DzordanoBruno]

I have them. They are really great, but They need little bit of sharpening.

 

[ear3]

Can't help you with the Narex, but I just recently picked up the Grammercy Tools 6 1/2" and 9 1/4" rasps, and am very pleased with them so far (they're two weeks old, so obviously I can't speak for their longevity).  I will definitely get their 12" rough cutting rasp when the need arises for a larger model.

When you say [member=43782]DzordanoBruno[/member] that the Narex have to be sharpened, do you mean some sort of chemical treatment?  I can't imagine one can refile the individual teeth.

Are the Narex rasps hand stitched, btw?  EDIT2: Just checked product info and saw that they are uniformly/machine stitched

EDIT: here's some info on the Gramercy Rasps
https://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/GT-CMRASP.XX
https://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/store/blog/90/More Stuff about Rasps

 

[Kev]

Don't know you application, but the Japanese Shinto style rasps are really interesting ...
https://www.japanesetools.com.au/products/shinto-saw-rasp

 

[mouppe]

You will never regret buying an Auriou. Two are all you need, so how much are you really saving?

 

[Kev]

You will never regret buying an Auriou. Two are all you need, so how much are you really saving?

When I was looking at Auriou rasps down under I had a double take on the price. Their rasps make their chisels actually look cheap!

A full set of rasps would have set me back $3K+ AUD [scared] [eek]

I'm certainly not experienced enough at shaping with a rasp to appreciate the finer differences and don't know what the rational sub set of rasps would be [embarassed]

 

[mouppe]

You will never regret buying an Auriou. Two are all you need, so how much are you really saving?

When I was looking at Auriou rasps down under I had a double take on the price. Their rasps make their chisels actually look cheap!

A full set of rasps would have set me back $3K+ AUD [scared] [eek]

Rasps range from 1-15 for roughness.1-8/9 are for stone, 9/10-15 for wood. A #9 or 10 about 10 inches long is your primary cabinetmaker's rasp. Then a finer rasp around #13 or #15 maybe 7" for smoother work. That's it,  unless you need rifflers for specific work such as the escapements in wooden planes.

I'm certainly not experienced enough at shaping with a rasp to appreciate the finer differences and don't know what the rational sub set of rasps would be [embarassed]

 

[waho6o9]

Highly recommend Auriou and the Shintos

 

[rizzoa13]

I have a few auriou rasps for cleaning up coped trim. I beat the hell out of them and they still work perfect. Can't say enough about them.

 

[RKA]

I bought a set of 3 cabinetmaker's rasps from LN (auriou).  A #10 and #15 (I think) and a rat tail.  The Gramercy rasps look to be quite good (and also $$), the issue I see is availability. I wanted the longer 12" for rougher work and I would recommend that, then I went with the 10" for the fine grain.  I'm not sure the larger size is available from TFFW right now?  Even LN can have significant lead times.  The price difference for the set of 3 wasn't terribly significant, so it boiled down to availability. 

 

[Rip Van Winkle]

Can't help you with the Narex, but I just recently picked up the Grammercy Tools 6 1/2" and 9 1/4" rasps, and am very pleased with them so far (they're two weeks old, so obviously I can't speak for their longevity).  I will definitely get their 12" rough cutting rasp when the need arises for a larger model.

When you say [member=43782]DzordanoBruno[/member] that the Narex have to be sharpened, do you mean some sort of chemical treatment?  I can't imagine one can refile the individual teeth.

Are the Narex rasps hand stitched, btw?  EDIT2: Just checked product info and saw that they are uniformly/machine stitched

EDIT: here's some info on the Gramercy Rasps
https://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/GT-CMRASP.XX
https://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/store/blog/90/More Stuff about Rasps

The sharpening of rasps and files, is something that has been around for ages, and which is sometimes actually part of the manufacturing process, but which doesn't seem to be commonly mentioned much now in most technical literature.

One method involves dipping the files or rasps in acid. I've seem mentions if muriatic and phosphoric acid, as well as possibly even using white vinegar. This mostly seems to be mentioned in regard to old worn files, but it is common to clean steel that has gone through a hardening and quenching process with acid, so it may actually be part of regular file and rasp manufacturing as well.

The supposedly better method for sharpening files involved blasting the file surface with a combination of abrasive and compressed steam.  The angle at which the surface is blasted may vary depending in the type of file or rasp, as well as possibly the type and size if abrasive. The technique isn't new. I'm not sure how old it is but I think it goes back to at least the late 1800s when some files were still being hand cut. I'm not sure how many file manufacturers if any still use it ad part of their manufacturing process, but I ran across an old article explaing the manufacture of Vixen files, and it was specifically mentioned as a separate step used in the manufacture of the files.

There is a USA company called Boggs Tool and File Sharpening Co. that specializes in sharpening files, rasps, burrs, and other tools using this technique. I'm not sure if there are other companies that do it as well.
http://www.boggstool.com/page74.html

WKFineTools.com has an old article on the process in the website.
http://otools1.wkfinetools.com/file...hinist/1879-SandBlastSharp-AmMachinist-01.asp

There are also float files which are not always fully hardened, or at least tempered softer than regular metal files, and which a meant to be sharpened with other metal files, or abrasive files such as India or Arkansas files. This is a Lie Nielsen video on sharpening floats.


SawmillCreek had a thread mentioning acid sharpening, and there's a video on Youtube.
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?166743-Can-I-sharpen-a-file

 

[Michael Kellough]

Thanks for the very interesting post Rip!

 

[Knight Woodworks]

I have a few auriou rasps for cleaning up coped trim. I beat the heck out of them and they still work perfect. Can't say enough about them.

Rizzoa,

Which of Auriou rasps are you using?

John

 

[McNally Family]

I have a few auriou rasps for cleaning up coped trim. I beat the heck out of them and they still work perfect. Can't say enough about them.

Rizzoa,

Which of Auriou rasps are you using?

John

[member=20320]rizzoa13[/member]

I would be curious as well regarding what size (length), and # grit you are using, and why?

I am about to buy at least two, and possibly a float as well.  Any advice you could provide would be appreciated. 

Cliff

 

[derekcohen]

Highly recommend Auriou and the Shintos

I agree. I have used all for over a decade, and they are still going strong.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[rizzoa13]

I have a few auriou rasps for cleaning up coped trim. I beat the heck out of them and they still work perfect. Can't say enough about them.

Rizzoa,

Which of Auriou rasps are you using?

John

[member=20320]rizzoa13[/member]

I would be curious as well regarding what size (length), and # grit you are using, and why?

I am about to buy at least two, and possibly a float as well.  Any advice you could provide would be appreciated. 

Cliff

No problem I'll edit this post tonight when I can sit down and post

 

[McNally Family]

I have a few auriou rasps for cleaning up coped trim. I beat the heck out of them and they still work perfect. Can't say enough about them.

Rizzoa,

Which of Auriou rasps are you using?

John

[member=20320]rizzoa13[/member]

I would be curious as well regarding what size (length), and # grit you are using, and why?

I am about to buy at least two, and possibly a float as well.  Any advice you could provide would be appreciated. 

Cliff

No problem I'll edit this post tonight when I can sit down and post

[member=20320]rizzoa13[/member]
[member=15603]Knight Woodworks[/member]

I had forgotten about this post, but am still curious about your experience with these rasps.

Cliff

 

[rizzoa13]

Sorry about that McNally. So I looked up what I have and they are the 10" cabinet makers rasp In grain 9 (medium), a 10" grain 9 round rasp, and a knife/spoon riffler. I use them pretty much exclusively for coping inside corners but I've also used them to shape and scribe mouldings when I need to.

There's not much to say about them except they are perfect. Really great heft and feel in the hand. The cabinet makers rasp does the majority of my work and with its concave side can get into some decent curves. I pull out the round rasp for any really tight circles or bends. I'd suggest skipping the riffler as they are smaller and don't have the same feel as the larger rasps.

If I were to buy them again I'd get a grain 6 and grain 10 cabinet makers rasp and then a grain 9 round rasp.

 

[McNally Family]

Sorry about that McNally. So I looked up what I have and they are the 10" cabinet makers rasp In grain 9 (medium), a 10" grain 9 round rasp, and a knife/spoon riffler. I use them pretty much exclusively for coping inside corners but I've also used them to shape and scribe mouldings when I need to.

There's not much to say about them except they are perfect. Really great heft and feel in the hand. The cabinet makers rasp does the majority of my work and with its concave side can get into some decent curves. I pull out the round rasp for any really tight circles or bends. I'd suggest skipping the riffler as they are smaller and don't have the same feel as the larger rasps.

If I were to buy them again I'd get a grain 6 and grain 10 cabinet makers rasp and then a grain 9 round rasp.

[member=20320]rizzoa13[/member]

Thanks for the information.  When I first started looking, I almost purchased a 12" grain #3 (which I now know is suitable for shaping stone).  FOG is so helpful when researching both power and hand tools.  Thanks again!

Cliff