Rasps: Off the Shelf or the Best:

[Pat B]

My first rasps were either flea market finds, inherited or a 4 in 1 I bought. Farriers rasps are great and if you know a farrier he will probably give you a used one. I think you can buy one new for about $20.
 You don't have to break the bank to get started. Once you decide you are hooked, then you can splurge on better tools.

[Badger]

  My Torges rasp wore out after about 2 bows. I can get at least a couple of years out of a nicholson 49 and still cutting very well. I use a 1/2 round metal file after the nicholson and then the scraper. I don't use rasps for tillering only when smooting a tear out or working around a belly knot. I use them mainly in the handles and outer limb areas also rounding the edges on a bow.

[Sidmand]

If you can find a feed shop locally, or a place that sells saddles and such, you can get farriers rasps for less than 20 bucks.  Place down the road from me sells em for 12 dollars each, brand new, and they cut like a dream compared to what I used before.  I started off using the short Nicholson rasp/chisel combo jobbies cause they were cheap, and I remember thinking that was a good deal - I mean I got 4 rasps in a package and I'm sure they will work right?  They sucked, horrible for making bows with, just horrible.  I didn't know how horrible until I got a Nicholson #49 in a trade, I threw those other ones in the trash after using the #49 for about 20 minutes. 

Point being in all that that a good rasp will make your work so much more enjoyable.  You don't have to spend a ton of money, but spend some to get a good farriers rasp or a good cabinet makers rasp.  You won't regret it.

[Drewster]

Based on my experience, you got some good advice from Pat B and Sidmand.......go for it!

[Comancheria]

Thanks for the good advice.  Now let's see--feed or saddle shops in rural South Texas.  I might be able to find one or two or a thousand.  😊

How much difference would you say there is between a Nicholson 49 and 50?

Best regards,

Russ

[Pat B]

Not much difference that I could see but I did prefer the #49. You should be able to find a used farriers rasp for free or very cheap in your area. It will still be sharp enough for bow making.
After I get to floor tiller I rarely use more than a scraper. I use the rasps for shaping around the handle/fade areas and reducing limb thickness early on.

[George Tsoukalas]

Nope. Used a surform for so many bows I can't remember. I alternate it with a scraper-like tool (Swedish push knife held at nearly right angles).
Jawge

[Comancheria]

Sorry to hijack my own thread, but the more I read about it on other threads (he said in a raspy voice), the more I worry--not about my ability to remove lots of wood--or even to scrape.  But keeping the right edge on the scraper seems like a real nightmare.  I did see one video that was pretty instructive.

[bradsmith2010]

if you are working osage, ,nicholson will last longer..it is a  good investment

[PaulN/KS]

You can send your dull rasps to Boggs tool sharpening and they will come back scary sharp. I've used their services in the past and was very pleased.

[Marc St Louis]

I have hand cut files and have cheap files as well.  For rough work I use the cheapos and then switch to the hand cut for a finer finish.

[JoJoDapyro]

At one time there was a Bellotta in the trading post. Tyke has a few he gets from a farrier friend. Hit him up if you are looking for one to trade for. I love mine.

[H Rhodes]

Farrier's rasp - twenty bucks or so from tractor supply.  It does everything I need for a rasp to do.  The rough side hogs off wood quickly.  Alternating between the fine side of the farrier's rasp and the scraper during tillering is my way.    I use a sharp pocket knife for a scraper for the finish tillering.   

[mikekeswick]

Raising a strong burr on a scraper is worthy of an article in it's own right. Just like rasps there is a world of difference in a properly prepared scraper compared to a quicky. I suggest buying Dean Torges book about osage bow making. He explains all this stuff.

[Comancheria]

Well, I dropped a few (actually a lot) of bucks on various rasps, scrapers, a draw knife (I know, I know 😀), a couple of tillering strings, and a burnishing tool I don't know how to use yet.  I have an unused tool box from home Despot already equipped with various saws, hammers, chisels, and what not that will serve as my bow-box.

I will order that book to go with the growing library!