Cabinet Maker'sRasps

[Mikegtr]

Your advice on cabinet maker's rasps. I'm possibly looking for quality flat single sided / double sided / round / half round. May buy single rasps or maybe a set. One's that will last. Not to cheap or to expensive. What make do you use?

Many thanks

 

[DBC]

Hi,

I am sure someone will come along with better advice than the following but I will get you started. Disclaimer; I don’t really do too much furniture making as I find it really difficult to make money out of it compared to general joinery, built-in cabinetry and heritage and general carpentry which is my bread and butter. But once every couple of years or so I get asked to make something with cabriole legs and this is the only time I ever really get rasps out. The guys that taught me my trade way back when all used to own Nicholson #49 rasps for doing cabrioles. I heard this company got sold and the quality of their gear went down but maybe don’t take my word on this.

The rasps that I use are made by Auriou. The teeth are set a little at random and they don’t leave heavy gouge lines like cheaper rasps. They are nice to use and really minimise gouging/tearout etc. They aren’t cheap though (handmade) but they are an investment as I have had my two for over 10 years and they are as good as new. I actually bought them from the forge itself which I visited once while on a campervan holiday; it’s near Toulouse. I have a 10” 7 grain and also a 9 grain. I bought them without handles which was cheaper.

Hopefully a chairmaker or someone else will come along to give you better advice than me. I have really only ever used the same type of rasp to do the same job somewhat infrequently so take my advice with a grain of salt.

Also, be careful if you are a leftie because these rasps are handed.

https://forge-de-saint-juery.com/cabinet-makers-rasps/

 

[Blackswanwood]

Workshop Heaven do their own range which are hand stitched and imho as good as Auriou or Liogier but at a better price.

 

[Droogs]

While Logier and Auriou make the finest hand stitched rasps in the world, for those of us either too poor or who do not use them every other day, I would suggest the following company - Tome Feteira. That make excellent quality affordable rasps and have been for nearly 170 years, that the rest of us can enjoy. I believe you can still buy direct from them, I use these and have done for over 20 years.

 

[Adam W.]

I have a nasty Auriou habit, but then I don't spend much money on machines or buy expensive processed timber, so I can easily justify a bit of luxury with hand tools.

Nice rasps and rifflers, but they need a bit of looking after if you want them to last. So stuffing them in a drawer full of rammel and assorted shiz is out of the question.

 

[Nic Rhodes]

I get the hand stitched rasps, they are a joy (mine are Liogier) but Narex rasps might be worth a look for more affordable ones, no complaints about mine. Wide range available in both styles, sizes and different number of stitches that cover everything.

 

[D.Stephenson]

I love my Auriou rasps, they work beautifully! A little on the spendy side but you certainly won’t regret the investment. As mentioned by Blackswanwood Workshop Heaven have their own range which look very appealing.

https://www.workshopheaven.com/hand-tools/rasps-and-files/workshop-heaven-hand-stitched-rasps.html

 

[Spectric]

What about these Narex Rasps - Rasps & Rifflers - Hand Tools - Tools

I find they work well, but I don't give them heavy usage.

 

[dannyr]

Anyone else use old UK hand-stitched cabinetmakers rasps? Got to be careful not to buy a beater, but some have been well looked after/little used (run a finger over to test for 'bite') - I have some (different Sheffield makers) and they give a very good finish, although if much wood to be removed I often start with something more aggressive - price - under £2 each from flea mkt if you're patient.
I guess they stopped making them 1960s? and were quite expensive then.

 

[thetyreman]

you will have to pay top money for a quality rasp that lasts a long time, I like Auriou as well