Author Topic: Iwasaki rasps (Read 4581 times)

Mauser06 · « **on:** January 13, 2018, 11:54:07 PM »

I'm looking for a couple rasps to start with.

Iwasaki seems to be a favorite..and price isn't crazy.

Issue is they are either half round or flat.

I suspect I kinda need both. Don't know that you can get nice flats with a half round.

Any opinions on 2-3 rasps to get started with?

I will be finishing out precarves as well as working from true planks.

Right now, I don't wanna invest hundreds into rasps. Hoping a couple could get me started..

I was thinking an aggressive and a fine flat and a medium half round...but wanted to check for recommendations before I order..

Thanx.

Eric Kettenburg · « **Reply #1 on:** January 14, 2018, 12:08:37 AM »

Stewart-MacDonald sells some good sized rasps that are hand cut and work really well. I forget what they're called now but I've got a bunch and they won't break the bank for hand-cut rasps. They're probably Chinese. Look through their website, they are there somewhere.

TommyG · « **Reply #2 on:** January 14, 2018, 04:56:34 AM »

Mauser, I just bought 5 of them on Friday(had some Woodcraft gift cards to help). I ended up with a med. & fine flat, med. & fine half round all 200mm. I also purchased the curved half round in fine, gonna try and give that a go on shaping the buttstock, don't know if it will work or not, but it looks promising. I just used the flats this morning to bring the bottom side of the upper forestock to finished size at the RR channel. These files really work well!!! Matter of fact, you could probably get by with just the med cut and finish with scrapers. The fine actually seems to cut a bit more aggressively than the medium, maybe because it has more teeth?? The finish from both is better than anything I have used in the past. Worthwhile investment.

moleeyes36 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 14, 2018, 06:30:42 AM »

Quote from: Mauser06 on January 13, 2018, 11:54:07 PM

I'm looking for a couple rasps to start with.

Iwasaki seems to be a favorite..and price isn't crazy.

Issue is they are either half round or flat.

I suspect I kinda need both. Don't know that you can get nice flats with a half round.

Any opinions on 2-3 rasps to get started with?

I will be finishing out precarves as well as working from true planks.

Right now, I don't wanna invest hundreds into rasps. Hoping a couple could get me started..

I was thinking an aggressive and a fine flat and a medium half round...but wanted to check for recommendations before I order..

Thanx.

Mauser06,

Asking for opinions on any subject here is going to get you a lot of them ranging from A to Z. I've several Iwasaki rasps that are my favorite rasps. I like the way they shave the wood rather than "tear" it out like a rasp with teeth does. One thing I would say, and I've seen others here say it also, is that the rating of Iwasaki rasps is a little off when it comes to the degree of coarseness. I think the rating is about one level off. For instance, their rating of fine is really closer to what most people would call medium, a rating of extra fine is really closer to fine, etc. A medium Iwasaki will really remove some wood pretty quickly and would be a good choice for working on a stock that has a lot of wood to remove. A good basic starter set, in my "opinion", would be these:

https://www.woodcraft.com/products/iwasaki-8in-half-round-extra-fine-file?via=573621f469702d06760016cd%2C5764197769702d3baa0002e9
https://www.woodcraft.com/products/iwasaki-file-150mm-flat-extreme-fine-cut?via=573621f469702d06760016cd%2C5764197769702d3baa0002e9
https://www.woodcraft.com/products/iwasaki-file-150mm-flat-fine-cut?via=573621f469702d06760016cd%2C5764197769702d3baa0002e9

Smallpatch tipped me off about the first one last summer and I got it. He was right, it's very handy. You can always get a medium or some half round fines and/or extra fines if you find you need them. Rasps are like chisels and gouges in that the worst thing you can do is buy a prepackaged "set" of them only to find out that about half of them you will seldom, if ever, use. Just my druthers on rasps, others have their own views.

Mole Eyes

smallpatch · « **Reply #4 on:** January 14, 2018, 09:13:58 AM »

If you're only going to buy a couple, get them finer than you think you should. These babies are aggressive. Also use a very light touch, they bite!

Longshot · « **Reply #5 on:** January 14, 2018, 03:59:55 PM »

I've got a couple of Iwasaki rasps [fine] and find them very effective in the right application. They are a little finicky to use [ grain sensitive] and, as previously stated, pretty aggressive. As much plane as they are rasp [ 'Surform' comes to mind]. I also use a few Dragon rasps [10", fine & med] which I'm appreciating more all time. Finish is a little rougher, but control is generally a little more forgiving and I like the shape and profile. That said, I still often use one of the half-dozen old 4-in-hand rasps lying in the rubble on my bench.

Jerry V Lape · « **Reply #6 on:** January 15, 2018, 12:27:26 AM »

I have four of them. The most used are the 10" medium and 10" fine. The extra fine's wood finish isn't significantly different from the fine and cuts slower. I have one of the smaller half round in fine cut and it is semi useful around the front of the comb.

Mauser06 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 15, 2018, 03:07:34 AM »

Thanks all!

My first project is a precarve that's done pretty dang well...there isn't much to remove or shape. I could probably (and probably will) scrape most of it...

Figure Everytime I order I can throw on a rasp...or chisel or going etc. Start collecting what I need as I need it. For now, a fine flat and round aughta get by...then onto the planks where heavier removal will be needed..

David Rase · « **Reply #8 on:** January 15, 2018, 05:13:56 PM »

I purchased a couple of the Dragon rasp's from Stewart MacDonald and have been very pleased with them. When they first arrived I was taken a back. They looked like poor quality Chinese. I almost sent them back upon initial inspection. I decided to keep them and I am glad I did. I cleaned off the preservative and really like the finish the fine 10" rasp gives me.
David

Mauser06 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 15, 2018, 08:38:08 PM »

Thanx all!

Recommendations are appreciated!

One of those things where a little guidance can save a lot of money...I know each person's preferences will differ, how they run the tools, what they use them for etc...but will get me a good start..

Do you guys find yourself using the flat side or half round side more?

moleeyes36 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 15, 2018, 11:31:56 PM »

Quote from: Mauser06 on January 15, 2018, 08:38:08 PM

Thanx all!

Recommendations are appreciated!

One of those things where a little guidance can save a lot of money...I know each person's preferences will differ, how they run the tools, what they use them for etc...but will get me a good start..

Do you guys find yourself using the flat side or half round side more?

I can't say about other rasps, but the Iwasaki half round rasps have no flat side.

Mole Eyes

WKevinD · « **Reply #11 on:** January 16, 2018, 03:14:25 AM »

[/quote]

I can't say about other rasps, but the Iwasaki half round rasps have no flat side.

Mole Eyes
[/quote]

I was a bit surprised with my Iwaska half rounds, expecting a flat side as well, I'll be ordering a 10" Dragon Fine soon, my #49 is getting dull and needs to go out to Bogg Tool for a sharpening.
Kevin

Mauser06 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 16, 2018, 06:53:10 AM »

I know that the Iwasakis are either half round or flat...

That's why I'm wondering if one if more useful than the other. I'm certain they both have their place... didn't know if you guys have a preference or regularly use both flat and half rounds.

Also can't decide which size lol.

Will probably start with a flat and half round fine Iwasaki. Then either mediums or Dragons for more aggressive removal..

Stoner creek · « **Reply #13 on:** January 16, 2018, 01:47:37 PM »

I have two half round and one flat Iwasaki rasps. I can’t work without the half rounds. The flat is useless.

moleeyes36 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 16, 2018, 04:42:59 PM »

Quote from: Stoner creek on January 16, 2018, 01:47:37 PM

I have two half round and one flat Iwasaki rasps. I can’t work without the half rounds. The flat is useless.

I suspect it is a matter of what feels comfortable to you as to what profile and size you use the most. I use flat rasps a lot as well as half rounds. I find flat rasps to work better for me at some tasks than half round rasps. As to what size to get, again that is a personal preference. Most of my rasps are 150mm (about 6in) but a couple of the more aggressive ones are 200mm (about 8 inch) for tasks such as removing a lot of wood more rapidly for rough shaping.

It seems to me the brand, profile, size, or aggressiveness of the file you prefer and find works best for you is what you should use. It's a personal preference thing, like good bourbon

.

Mole Eyes

Frank · « **Reply #15 on:** January 16, 2018, 04:48:06 PM »

I like my Nicholson #49 and #50 rasps. Some say the quality has dropped, but not sure about that. Of course I bought these two about 15-20 years ago, so they may have been better back then.

Just checked them. No wonder they are so good. They are made in the good old USA.

Mauser06 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 16, 2018, 07:34:11 PM »

Moleyes, you're right...but I'm attempting to make educated decisions and not end up with hundreds of dollars of rasps and only using a couple of them lol.

P.W.Berkuta · « **Reply #17 on:** January 16, 2018, 08:23:12 PM »

Have a look at - MICROPLANE 8" SNAP-IN BLADE RASP SET or just the microplane itself. Course & fine blades in 3 different shapes.

Mauser06 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 21, 2018, 01:46:28 AM »

Oh man.

I ordered a half round fine Iwasaki.

I haven't officially "used" it...but ran it on a good hard piece of highly figured maple just to see what it does.

Fine or not, you can hog off some wood in a hurry. But with a nice light touch, it'll take off a small amount.

It also leaves a pretty dang nice surface..with a little practice, I'm sure it'll cut real nice...

Definitely believe it'll be a useful tool!

It's a start to the collection anyways..

JCKelly · « **Reply #19 on:** January 21, 2018, 02:50:08 AM »

Few years ago bought my last Nicholson rasp, at our local Woodcraft Supply.

It was right when they were transitioning from Alabama Mfg. to Mexico. Big cost difference. Eyeballing them closely I also saw a marked difference in how they were cut. Spent the extra $$ & bought the American made rasp. I don't know if there is an American file or rasp mfg any more. Japanese are serious, to the extreme, about quality.

Chinese tools of any sort, IMHO & Experience, probably suit for landfill & will be a source of iron for your garden.

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Author Topic: Iwasaki rasps (Read 4581 times)