Handed vs Un-handed Rasps

[Bill Fleming]

I have a few Auriou left handed rasps and love them. See the following post http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=99208 concerning a supplier of rasps similar to Auriou.

These new rasps are un-handed whereas the Auriou rasps that are available from France are available in right or left handed versions.

Opinions & Thoughts?

Thx Bill

[Mike K Wenzloff]

Hi Bill,

While the handed rasps cut slightly stronger in their respective directions, my work doesn't layout so well for handed rasps. Think of files. As far as I know, no one makes handed files. So they are fairly ineffective in the opposite direction. Handed rasps are less directional, which is a good thing. But, if they are handed or not, I cannot tell.

I bought a few from TBT last week and we have been using them. Equal of the Auriou I also own.

Seeing how David provided his disclaimer in the other thread, I too will. I do have a business relationship with Lee Richmond. So take what I write in light of that. For years before that relationship began I have been a long-time customer of TBT's.

Take care, Mike

[Phillip Pattee]

I read that other thread and checked out the new TBT rasps. I wondered if they were handed like the Aurious.

I don't have an Auriou rasp. The main reason I never acquired one was because they were handed. I can see how that feature could be of benefit, but it didn't appeal to me. I'm a lefty (sinister); I write left handed, throw left handed, hold my fork in my left hand, but that is about it. I play guitar right handed, and learned to do so many other things the right handed way that I can switch. I can plane with the tote in either hand, I can file with the handle in either hand. I frequently switch hands when using a rasp or file so that I don't get tired. Having a rasp set for a specific hand would make switching inefficient--so I avoided the Auriou rasps.

I think the new line at TBT will be a big hit.

[Johnny Kleso]

I never thought about files being handed but I guess it would not be a bad thing but for a rasp with raised teeth vs rows of ridges, I think it not such an issue versus a file..

Side Note:
The Nicholson # 49 & 50 Rasps at TBT have a great price..

[eric auer]

I have a old set of Craftsman Rasps and Files, and it sees little use.

When it does however, it does what I need it to do, but then I dont do any intricate wood working at all, just basic stuff for the house, Im no pro, hardly even a serious Hobbyist.

For some reason Scrapers and chisels and a sanding block is really all I need most of the time, Im guessing if I had the talent to Carve, a big Auroiu Rasp could be real handy.

Looking forward to se what ppl use them for, and maybe even some pictures of the work they done, this is a great forum.

Eric

[David Keller NC]

"For some reason Scrapers and chisels and a sanding block is really all I need most of the time, Im guessing if I had the talent to Carve, a big Auroiu Rasp could be real handy."

There are some jobs that a coarse rasp will take care of much faster than sandpaper. One of these is making a cabriole leg - once the blank is sawn out, you use a rasp to break the corners, then break the subsequent corners. That's a lot of material removal, and while it can be done with a flat bench chisel, a spokeshave, or conceivably a detail sander with a very coarse grit, a rasp is a good deal faster (at least faster than the flat bench chisel or the spokeshave - I haven't tried a detail sander).

Another good use for one of these is chamfering the back of a complex-curved apron to smooth it and remove tear-out from a turning saw or jigsaw. It's tough to do this with sanding blocks - the rasp provides a coarse tooth on a rigid, narrow platform that makes getting into the recesses easy. I suppose that could also be accomplished somehow by using a emery board like ladies use to file their nails, but I'd think those wouldn't be stiff enough.

[eric auer]

Thanks David.

If I ever get to the point of making something like you mentioned, I'll break out my old rasps, They do indeed remove stock pretty rapidly, to the point I realize you need to be a bit careful even.

Eric