Thread: GROUP BUY – LIOGIER RASPS from France

20% discounts on these superb rasps, plus the significant benefit of sharing freight. Email me at [email protected] for more information. An XL file, or for those who can't read it, a .pdf of the pricelist are both attached below and can be accessed by clicking on their respective links:
EDIT: 29 Mar 12 - These links have been removed pending an update.

LIOGIER WEBSITE

You can read Claw Hama’s review of a head-to head between a Liogier rasp and an Auriou rasp. He concludes and that not only are the Liogiers superior in performance, they are less expensive as well (you can buy a Sapphire coated Liogier (top of the line) for less than an Auriou without a coating.

The Liogier thing all started with this thread which sent the punters into an exquisite frenzy of applause, and so one thing lead to another. I began to learn more about the rasps and range, and have had much email dialogue with Noel Liogier, as well as 3 or 4 Skype conversations.
There are three grades of rasps on offer, and all are right or left handed (right by default). The “Traditional” range is hardened to 60 Rc (Rockwell) or about 750 Hv (Vickers); the “Titan” range which is 72 Rc, and the Sapphire range which is an amazing 3800 Hv (Tungsten Carbide is about 2283 Hv) due to a secret coating applied under vacuum by a third party. This coating also significantly reduces corrosion of the rasp, and is claimed to make the rasp outlast 4 “Traditionals”. For me this is a very salient point – when procuring not-easy-to-get tools from overseas it makes sense to purchase the one that will give me the greatest life, because of the hassle of getting them, and the savings on freight.

I learnt a thing or two doing the Colt Drills Group Buy. The Aussie side went like clockwork, but I’m not quite sure what happened to the legendary German efficiency. This time, instead of getting various packages distributed around the country for re-posting, I’ll get them all sent here to Katoomba as they become ready (they make to order), and then Domestic post from here to each purchaser. Control was significantly interrupted by the former method, and with the poor performance of DHL Paket for freighting it became very difficult indeed to work out what was going on. Combine that with wrong orders going to a few package receivers , and for a while it was complete bloody chaos, which was phenomenally difficult, detailed, tricky and time consuming to sort out . Ah, I feel better now. Some of the Colt buyers may comment on the organisation, or you can see some in the thread, around posts 220-235.


This GB will be a different ball game to Colt, and I believe that it will go pretty smoothly from the French side. Not only does Noel read his emails within a very short space of time – he actually answers them, which is a newie on me! Furthermore, he is responsive, active and proactive, and a pretty big Rugby fan, so please – behave yourselves in here until we kick France out of the World Cup – he’ll be watching.

From ordering to dispatch is expected to be about two weeks, probably a week longer for “Sapphires” as they go out to a 3^rd party in France for the secret sexy blue coating. Freight is yet to be finalized, and I will be liaising with Noel in due course. Noel is a member here (“Liogier”) so feel free to ask questions – if I know the answer then I will supply it but Noel will also come in where necessary. I usually find that he emails me in the evening (EST), and that would likely be when he would respond to questions. France is seven hours behind us until their Daylight Saving ends and ours begins.

Liogier is based in St Didier en Velay, which is pretty close to Lyon. I visited this region of France in 1988 and had a wonderful time – the people were fabulous (including the local Butcher who very gently corrected me when I asked him for two hundred salamis – “deux cents GRAMMES de salami?” he asked me with a raised French eyebrow. “Ah, yeah mate, oui”. There was much French amusement and tittering in the shop. I felt a bit like Manuel when he suggested a “Hammer Sandwich”. There was one little gnome of a Gendarme who was very insistent that I move away from an excellent photograph taking spot though.

OK, let’s go!

Cheers, FF