Thread: Rasps, files and complete bastards - home collection?

Rob,
I just buy files as I need them. The important thing for woodwork is that files to be used on wood should not be used on metal also. Keep the wood and metal ones apart. They are the same but after use on metal they have lost the edge cutting wise. For wood I use a half round rasp, half round bastard and for small stuff I have a set small needle files to get into small corners and on pens to fit the clip recess. A round chainsaw file is good for making rounded notches. For metal I have a flat bastard a half round mill and saw sharpening files. I dont think you will need to spend $200, as cheepish files will still cut wood. Get a file cleaner wire brush too.
I would not buy old files as they are likely to be rats**t.

Regards
John

Recently bought a set of 5 files in a segregated plastic wallet - Bahco - Swedish, I think but made in Spain - they work fine and got them on special for $40 at Trade Tools. [if you have a set of these please don't tell me that you bought exactly the same or better set for $30, $25 etc - I was told they were on special and I thought they were good value at what I paid for them]

Regards,
Bob

Correction - when I checked - the files are made in Portugal

Originally Posted by orraloon

Rob,
I just buy files as I need them. The important thing for woodwork is that files to be used on wood should not be used on metal also. Keep the wood and metal ones apart. They are the same but after use on metal they have lost the edge cutting wise.

Thanks for that - I'll remember!

Originally Posted by orraloon

For wood I use a half round rasp, half round bastard and for small stuff I have a set small needle files to get into small corners and on pens to fit the clip recess. A round chainsaw file is good for making rounded notches. For metal I have a flat bastard a half round mill and saw sharpening files. I dont think you will need to spend $200, as cheepish files will still cut wood. Get a file cleaner wire brush too.
I would not buy old files as they are likely to be rats**t.

Good advice. I went to the local borg and they had a chart of 3 x 3 sections - levels of coarseness, single/crisscross and ??? design. Confuse the h&ll out of me since I was just going to buy "a file" .

So this is what you've got:

Wood

• half round bastard (are there different types/coarseness?)

• half-round rasp (that's coarser isn't it?)

• small needle files (pack?)

• chainsaw file (what the?! I have a mental picture of a thinish file about 4 feet long attached to a mill )

Metal

• flat bastard (different types/coarseness?)
• half-round mill/saw sharpening

Thanks also Bob, I'll be in Melb (from Canberra) on Friday so I'll try and see what there is that Canberrans are missing (apart from a proper woodworking store that is!). Any thoughts from mexicans as to the best toolshop(s) to visit (Tullamarine-city axis best - Carbatec is too far out!).

Rob

Rob,
A rasp is very course and you can see the teath on it. Good for shaping wood. It cuts quite quick. A bastard file is the heaviest cutting file and then mill files come in at least 2 grades. Files for handsaws are triangular in section and come in different grades and sizes. I have a chainsaw so I have some files to sharpen it but I sometimes find them handy for other stuff. A rats tail file is also handy to have.(round and tapered, looks like a rats tail) Good to enlarge holes and make slots.
As I said before just buy them as and when the need arises and before long you have a collection that suits you'r requirements.

Regards
John