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A rasp is a coarse form of file used for coarsely shaping wood or other material. Typically a hand tool, it consists of a generally tapered rectangular, round, or half-round sectioned bar of case hardened steel with distinct, individually cut teeth.
When would you use a wood rasp file?
A rasp, also known as a woodworking file, is used for creating more precise shapes in wood and other timber objects. Compared to a metal file, a rasp utilizes a teeth set that is quite wide apart and is a bit deeper. This enables carvers to cut coarser and allows a chunk of surface material to be removed in one stroke.
What is the function of a rasp?
Rasps, or, more correctly, rasp-cut files, have a series of individual teeth produced by a sharp, narrow, punchlike chisel. Their very rough cut is suited to the fast removal of material from soft substances, such as wood, hooves, leather, aluminum, and lead.
What is a rasp in woodwork?
A rasp is a piece of steel with little teeth cut in all over the surface of the tool. They’re basically used for metalwork, whereas rasps are used on wood and stone. (Occasionally you encounter a woodworking “file,” – just to make it interesting – but typically that tool has teeth like those on a rasp.).
What is the difference between a rasp and a file?
Rasps are similar to files. They are made of hardened steel in the same file shapes. The main difference between rasps and files is the tooth configuration. Rasp teeth are cut individually, and they look like miniature chisels across the rasp surface.
Can a rasp be used on metal?
Share All sharing options for: Files & Rasps Files shape, trim, and smooth anything made of metal, wood, or plastic. Both files and rasps are meant to be used between the rough cut of a saw and the smoothing of sandpaper — not instead of either one.
Do I need a drywall rasp?
A drywall rasp is a handy tool for fine tuning cuts for drywall. A drywall rasp comes in handy on occasions where a piece of drywall is cut out for windows, patches, receptacles or other holes and is too large. A drywall rasp acts similar to a cheese grater skimming off small amounts of drywall with each pass.
How are rasps made?
Steel is forged and then ground to shape. A punch is used to raise a tooth of metal on a piece of steel. Depending on how coarse or fine a rasp you want to make, the size of the punch and the weight of the hammer will vary. The entire surface of the rasp is covered in teeth.
Can a smooth cut mill file be used on wood?
Those for cutting wood are called wood-, cabinet- or pattern-maker’s files. Mill files may be used to shape wood (they perform best on hardwood); however, wood files will not withstand use on metal. These are used to shape and smooth flat surfaces. Files with one semicircular surface and one flat are called half round.
Why is it called a rasp?
The tool called a rasp is a special kind of wood file that’s much coarser than sandpaper, and when you use it, you rasp. The “speak gratingly” meaning of rasp comes from the “scraping” sense of the word. If your voice sounds like a rasp against a rough surface, you’re rasping.
What is a Cabinet rasp?
Cabinet rasps are the heart of the Auriou rasp line. They are used for general shaping work and can remove an amazing amount of wood while leaving a smooth surface. The extra width of cabinet rasps (about 1/8th of the length) makes it easier achieve a consistent surface over a large area.
What is a hand plane used for?
A hand plane is a tool for shaping wood using muscle power to force the cutting blade over the wood surface. Some rotary power planers are motorized power tools used for the same types of larger tasks, but are unsuitable for fine-scale planing, where a miniature hand plane is used.
What are metal files?
file, in hardware and metalworking, tool of hardened steel in the form of a bar or rod with many small cutting edges raised on its longitudinal surfaces; it is used for smoothing or forming objects, especially of metal. The file’s many tiny chisel-like teeth point in the direction in which it must be pushed.
Can you use a file for sanding?
If you’re in a pinch and don’t have the materials to whip up this woodworking file on hand, a simple emery board (also known as a nail file) will work, too. Make a slender woodworking file to use for sanding in tight spaces. Then cut a piece of sandpaper so that it will wrap around the stir stick once.
What is a triangular file used for in woodwork?
The triangular or three-square file was traditionally used by carpenters to sharpen saw teeth. The file’s unique three-sided form allows it to sharpen hard-to-reach places like the gaps between saw teeth.
How do you clean wood files?
So here are the steps: brush off any loose matter. degrease. clean off all debris. degrease a second time if thought necessary. soak in your chosen acid* rinse thoroughly then give the file a quick scrub with a stiff brush (a toothbrush is ideal) using common hand soap. pat dry.
Can you use a drywall rasp on wood?
Dry wall rasps with fine teeth have several other uses. They can be used in model making for shaping foam or clay models, and ones with hardened steel blades can be used for filing plastics, wood and even soft metals such as aluminium. The most obvious other use for a dry wall rasp is for grating food.
