About rasps....

[wapiti1997]

I have a couple of farrier's rasps, and a couple of wood rasps..  So far my technique either sucks or I have "used" up rasps..  A drawknife is far more effective for me...

Anyhow..  I came across this at an antique shop, $10 made in USA Nicholson... did I get a good deal?  Seems really sharp, haven't used it yet..

[Fred Arnold]

Looks like a good one. You can sharpen your old rasps by soaking them overnight in vinegar and in the morning rinse them thoroughly in water with a couple tablespoons of baking soda mixed in the rinse water. It will kick the rust, then just let them air dry. Works great. If the file is loaded with wood or other debris use a pick or needle to remove before starting the process.

[osage outlaw]

If its still sharp its a good one.  Is it thicker than a normal farriers rasp? 

[Pat B]

I love the one you gave me Clint. That thing will remove some wood with little effort.

[autologus]

I really like my farriers rasp.  It is a Brazilian Diamond but it will chew through wood like an angry beaver.

Grady

[Bloodhound]

Most of the nicholsons I have bought have honestly been too agressive. I got a set from harbor freight for about$3 that has become my go to. After 3 years they were getting to dull so I dropped another $3 and got a fresh set, the duller ones are still kept for finer work. Got a drawer full of nicholsons collecting dust.

All that said I am moving more and more toward using my flexcut drawknife and my scrapers for work I used to use a rasp for. Rasps and becoming more just handle shapers for me.

[Fred Arnold]

Bloodhound, not me, I'll take those good old Nicholson 49's and 50's, a Bellota or SaveEdge farriers rasp any day off the week. I'll buy you 10 of those harbor freights brand new for a good Nicholson.

[osage outlaw]

I love the one you gave me Clint. That thing will remove some wood with little effort.

I like to use it to get a good thickness taper.  I can squat down beside the bow and work the rasp without putting any pressure on it.  The weight alone is enough to remove the wood and I can keep a close eye on the taper.

[bubby]

i'm with Fred on the bellota farriers rasp's, they are uber sharp and you can get like six with varying aggressiveness

[mikekeswick]

Aurioux rasps.......drool......
Yes there is a technique for using rasps. There are many times when an edged tool just won't do the job - that's what a rasp is for!

[Hrothgar]

Looks like a good deal I use such a rasp quite a bit now days.  A couple years ago I screwed up one of my biceps and can no longer use a draw knife for extended periods. If there is a downside to rasp vs. drawknife it would be the buckets of dust a rasp produces.

[Sidewinder]

I bought a Dean Torges rasp about 5yrs ago and love it. Keep it wrapped in leather to protect the teeth and keep it clean of debris build up. It works like a dream. Was a bit pricey but I'm not complaining cuz properly cared for will last a lifetime. It has an agressive side and a finer side and the combo does all the rasp work I need. I go from draw knife to rasp to scrapper. I Would recomend it to anyone.   Danny

[GB]

I'd say that's a great deal on a Made in USA Nicholson rasp.  The only reason I haven't bought one is because I've heard that the new ones made overseas aren't the same quality.  The Torges rasp sounds nice, too.  I bought a Bellota farrier's rasp 3 bows ago and I love it.  The coarse side takes wood off in a hurry and it's easy to control.

[autologus]

I have one of the Torges UBR-10 rasps too and I will agree it is a very good rasp, I use it to clean up the farriers rasp marks and the fine side for tillering just before the scraper stage.

Grady

[dwardo]

I tried a load of different rasps and none of them were, are as good as my microplanes.