auriou rasps?

[loefflerchuck]

 I tried out a friends hand made Auriou rasp and was amazed at how fast and smooth it removed wood. I have always used $10 rasps, but this was so much faster and better in every way. I figure I could save enough time to justify the money spent, but before I drop $120 on a wood rasp I want to know who else uses these and see what is the best grain for max efficiency in their opinion.

[Badger]

  I did not like the torges rasp, it dulled extremely quickly. Would like to try one like you are looking at.

[loefflerchuck]

Steve, it blew my mind! After I tried it out, I just knew I needed one. Just not sure what grain it was that I used. If I am spending over $100 on a rasp I need to make sure I'm getting the best one.

[Hamish]

Good brand, I have one about 12" long, cabinet rasp, very,very fine teeth(The finest grain for that length, 10 grain maybe). I rarely use it for tillering these days as I tend to use scrapers and scraper planes, except in the early stages, I may use a rasp for getting a taper, or initial shaping of the dips/fades. The teeth on this one are actually too fine for my liking with tillering. It takes a lot of strokes to remove enough wood and must be brushed frequently to unclog. One with slightly coarser teeth, (8 grain, or maybe even 6,) just not as coarse as a regular rasp would be ideal, for tillering.

[Hilongbow]

I have a 9 grain 10 inch auriou rasp, and I love it. I use a scraper on woods like ipe, but find with ring porous woods like ash and osage that the scraper takes early wood off the belly much faster than late wood, leaving a "stepped" surface on the belly. The auriou allows me better control over the taper. It leaves a fairly rough surface that requires coarse sanding to get smooth, but I really enjoy working with this rasp. It works well for me until the last few inches of tillering, when I switch to coarse sandpaper instead. YMMV but I have no regrets spending the money on it. I use a plastic scrub brush to clean it and spray with wd40 after use to prevent rust.

[stuckinthemud]

They are very lovely, but are they worrh 8 shinto rasps?

[Azmdted]

I have one that I enjoy, especially for clean up after using a farriers rasp.  However mine seems to have dulled after heavy use on just just 3 Osage bows.  I wouldn’t get another, but I will keep using mine for light work.

[loefflerchuck]

Thanks everybody. Sounds like about 8 grit is what I want

[osage outlaw]

Please post some pictures of it when you get it and keep us updated on how it performs

[bownarra]

They are very lovely, but are they worrh 8 shinto rasps?

Coming from somebody who has a box full of knackered, snapped and bent shinto's and 3 Auriou rasps still in perfect condition after 5 years of solid use......yes they are worth the money Easily Shinto rasps are ok but they are flat both sides so no good for shaping the contures you normally find on a selfbow. They are good for lam bows. I would say a Shinto lasts me about 2 months then its done.