Smoothing odd-shaped oak

[GrahamRounce]

Hi - Smoothing odd-shaped oak is more of a chore than I expected... How did they do it in the olden days fgs? I've rasped it into shape, not too bad but left very rough finish, then thought hand-sanding would be ok... ha ha! No chance. So now I'm trying to use a flap wheel (about 2" dia) in the electric drill, but even that is very slow. The flap wheel is lasting better than expected considering how much work it's doing, but it's not cheap (£7) and it looks like the whole thing has to be replaced when it does wear out.
Is there a better way? Like an electric rasp that leaves a fine finish? Electric wire brush? - that might overdo it!?
Thanks for any advice....
Graham

 

[anzo]

you could use a power file llike the oneBlack-Decker make
hope that helps
Anzo

 

[Racers]

Hi, Graham

Try a cabinet scraper/gooseneck scraper. A sharp scraper will remove wood at a fast rate and leave a glass smooth surface.


Pete

 

[Paul Chapman]

You need just rasps, files and sandpaper. Here's a sequence of how Wenzloff & Sons shape their saw handles - which is similar to what you are trying to do http://www.wenzloffandsons.com/saws/kit ... index.html

Maybe you need some better rasps :-k

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[big soft moose]

How did they do it in the olden days fgs?

that was why god made apprentices :lol:

of course these days the'd probably tell you to fck off as it was an abuse of their human rights to ask them to graft

 

[GrahamRounce]

You can get different grades of rasp?? And wood files??? :roll: See, my knowledge is coming at a slow drip...
Thanks for the other suggestions, but I think I like the idea of rasps/files best for a curved-all-ways surface, unless anyone's experience is different?
And now I know you don't just go into B&Q and get their only rasp! Well, I didn't think it was that precision a tool - clearly not the only tool lacking precision in this house.
I suppose rasps and files are more of the tools which start at £2.50 and go up to about £250 - and guess which end of the scale the ones worth getting are at. Sigh.
That 'saw handle' photo sequence was good: Started off with #50 rasp, they moved on to "a rasp from TBT (The Best Things)", then a file.
I wonder what grades they used for the second rasp and the file? And what an economical source might be?
Thanks again.

 

[Paul Chapman]

Hi Graham,

There are lots of different rasps. The best are probably Auriou but they are very expensive http://www.forge-de-saint-juery.com/

Workshop Heaven do a good range at a more affordable price http://workshopheaven.com/cgi-bin/cp-ap ... +%26+Files

Good rasps are a joy to use and you can get a fabulous finish, very fast, with them.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

PS I believe Michel Auriou will be at the Cressing Temple event - well worth chatting to if you want to know all about rasps and how to use them http://www.classichandtools.com/acatalo ... _Show.html

 

[paulm]

Try here for flap wheels and other sanding/polishing stuff, very good prices

http://www.thepolishingshop.co.uk/acata ... sives.html

Cheers, Paul

 

[dannykaye]

They used scrapers and rasps. Get a good gooseneck scraper you will be surprised.

 

[Paul Chapman]

Scrapers can be good. When I had to make a new head for an Ebony walking stick I shaped it roughly with rasps

Then used a card scraper

Ended up not too bad

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Alf]

Try here for flap wheels and other sanding/polishing stuff, very good prices

http://www.thepolishingshop.co.uk/acata ... sives.html

Ooo, thanks for that link, Paul. Good prices indeed.

Graham, bear in mind for files that the shorter ones have a finer cut than a longer one of the same grade. Fwiw, from memory, after the rasp, the three Half Round I use go from 8" *******, 6" Second and 6" Smooth and that works out a pretty good progression. (Obligatory picture to demonstrate practical results follows. :wink: ) Scrapers work brilliantly too, but you can't always get them to where they're needed.

Oh, and make sure you keep a stiff brush handy to clean both rasps and files as you go. Makes a world of difference.

 

[Harbo]

I have various rasps from Auriou, Workshop Heaven and **** but by far the best are the Aurious. Even their finest grade cut faster than the other makes and leave a smoother finish.
Pity they are now so expensive?

Rod

 

[Shrubby]

Hi Graham
J-flex sanding cloth is good on curves
Tiranti might be worth a visit - on Warren street near the tube.
The website lists rasps and rifflers including Italian hand cut types
Matt

 

[GrahamRounce]

Overwhelmed by mass of super-helpful advice. The Polishing Shop looks like an incredible improvement over B&Q for flap wheel prices.
.... and Paul - in that first photo, the left-hand rasp looks a lot like my "Sandvik Ergo" - does that mean it's not too bad? I can't remember where I got it, but it certainly wasn't expensive....
I'll definitely be going to the European Woodworking Show - that's very fortuitous!
Thanks again to all,
Graham

 

[Jacob]

After rasps (B&Q are OK) I tear up strips of worn out belt-sander belt i.e. heavy duty cloth backed. A long inch wide strip which you pull to and fro like drying your back with a towel.
And work through the grits.

 

[Paul Chapman]

.... and Paul - in that first photo, the left-hand rasp looks a lot like my "Sandvik Ergo" - does that mean it's not too bad?

They were a couple of cheapo rasps - can't remember the makes off-hand. They weren't very good so I only used them to do the very rough shaping then went over to the scraper. That was the first time I had used rasps. Since then I've tried better ones and found a big difference. I won't go back to using cheapo rasps......

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[jimi43]

Use 3M MicroMesh cloth...get the various mesh pack and you will get glass like finish...

Ebay example I use

After you have shaped with a rasp and scraper of course!

Jim