There's been a number of folks posting saws and other tools they've made as of late, and with that there's been a bit of inquiry about good shaping tools. I've seen a few mentions of the Iwasaki Carving Files on this forum but thought it might be helpful to provide some specific details about my experience with one I recently purchased.
Last week after visiting my fiance's family in PA, we headed out to the suburbs of St. Paul, MN to spend some time with my folks. Since there are no Woodcraft's or other woodworking stores in New Orleans, I took this as a opportunity to swing over to the MN Woodcraft to try out and buy some shaping tools. Unfortunately they didn't have much out for one to try, but after an hour or so of looking at different files and rasps I picked up a Nicholson 49 rasp and a 6"/150mm extreme-fine half round carving file for use on some saw handles I've been working on.
I won't go into detail about the Nicholson other than to say it works well and I was happy I got it as soon as I put teeth to wood. It does clogs easier than the one premium Rozco rasp I've tried, but overall works well.
The Iwasaki Carving File on the other hand took some getting used to and warrants some discussion. In fact, its feel in use of so unique, that I almost returned it after first trying it out. If you’ve read up on these files at all you’ve likely read that they cut the wood like a plane, where as rasp or bastard file tends to abrade the wood. This may not seem like a huge difference but in use it can somewhat translate into the difference between sandpaper and a plane. Rasps and most files don’t care much about grain – they work well going with, against, or across the grain, and though you get a different feel they work well on end grain too. The Iwasaki Carving Files on the other hand can be quite sensitive to grain. The first couple times I used mine I found that if I filed against or across the grain, my file had a tendency to dig in and get stuck. This didn’t mar the wood at all, but it did prevent me from getting a full smooth cut.
Despite my initial difficulties with the Iwasaki Carving File, I’ve continued to use it and every time I pick it up I find that I like it more and more. The secret, a VERY light touch… These files can cut very aggressively. In fact with a touch of extra downward force, my little extreme-fine file, cuts almost as quickly as my Nicholson 49. The trade-off, this little extra bit of downward force is what sometimes makes the file catch on and/or follow the grain.
There is a definite learning curve in using these files – much more so than with a traditional file or a rasp. Like when one first learns to saw, it’s helpful to work with the mindset that you should apply no downward force; just let gravity and the file do the work. Also, like sawing, after some practice you will find that you can apply some force to speed things up and will develop a feel for when and how much. Fortunately, the learning curve with these file’s is much shorter than the learning curve for sawing. It really only took me using the file a few times to develop the proper touch that allowed the file to cut well regardless of its orientation to the wood grain. Now that I have the proper feel for this file, I find myself picking this little guy up more and more often.
The final verdict? The Iwasaki Carving File is a tool that with a bit of practice will become a gem. As advertised, even the finest of these cuts FAST and leaves a remarkable surface. Not as smooth as a traditional – slower cutting file, but not far from it. In fact, I’ve come to like mine so much that I’m tempted to buy a couple larger, courser ones to use in place of Nicholson 49. I’ll even go as far as to say that if one wanted to get into making tool handles they could probably get by with just one or two of these and a bit of sandpaper. This of course wouldn’t be ideal, but still would probably be more than adequate. I haven't taken any pictures yet, but when I get a chance I will post some that show what it can do.
Yes indeed, this tool is really starting to grow on me, and at just around $30 a piece these files are great value.