Thread: Four-in-hand rasps... Seen any for sale in Australia?

Hi Peter
Try this mob http://www.veneerinlay.com.au/90-files They are the mob who have heaps of interesting stuff at the WWWS, including abrasives and brassware for boxes.

Alan...

Perfect. Cheers Al!

Originally Posted by McPete

Hi All,

I'm trying to track down something like this Nicholson, as seen here on eBay;
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Cooper-Ha...c916e52&_uhb=1

I did see one for ~$30 including postage, but that still seems a bit rich for a small rasp. Anyone seen these around Australia for a reasonable price?

Cheers,
Peter

Peter, there are a number of cheap versions of this file that are rubbish since you do not know where they are manufactured. You tend to get what you pay for. Here is a one such file, but purchased from Lee Valley (possibly they are therefore sold by Carba-tec?), this one is likely to be decent quality.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/pag...84,42524,69909

Regards from Perth

Derek

+1 for the Lee Valley item.

That one doesn't appear to be sold by Carba-tec, Derek. I have ordered an pair from this "Veneer Inlay" mob, and I shall report on quality when I get them. Thanks for the suggestion though!

I must admit, I am contemplating a Lee Valley order, but finances at the moment are not conducive to such an operation /

Peter, I have a vintage 8" 4-in-1 made by Geo Barnsley Sheffield - in little used condition. I have no idea what you are using one for, and you are welcome to this one, Barnsley made tools for cobblers, and I guess this is the main use of this particular version of combined file/rasp.

Send me your address and I will mail it to you, I will never use it given my stock of files and rasps. Note on Grobet, unless the file or rasp actually says made in Switzerland, there is a good chance the item is made on the subcontinent. Rifflers and Needle files I understand are still made in Switzerland. I think you will find that files or rasps are no longer made in Britain or Germany, although there are still rasp (not file) makers in France, Czech Rep, and Italy. There is a large file maker in Portugal - Tomé Fèteira - supplying Barco and probably other "makers". Simmonds may still make some files in the USA, Nicholson reportedly do not.

Cheers
(another) Peter

A bit out of left field, but may be worth investigating farrier supply companies such as this - http://www.farriershop.com.au/rasps-and-handles/
I remember filling in some time at a corporate event at Harold Park trots some years ago by checking out the shop below the grandstand.
There were heaps of interesting items for horses and the buggies, ranging from a huge range of horse shoes, saddle equipment, leather conditioners, parts for buggies and hoof repair products including rasps etc.
You never know what you might find.

Alan...

I see that the 4-in-hand has been used as a farrier's tool.
I don't recall that there ever was a shortage of horses in Australia.
Cruise the shops that sell farrier's supplies.

My nearest city is just 75,000 but there are 4 different shops with farrier's things.
But, they are not cheap. Downright expensive. The owner of a $500kilobuck horse doesn't need to catch you
fooling with a $12.00 rasp.
I check these place out as 8/12 of my crooked wood carving knives started life as farrier's tools.

I had a look at the farriershop rasps. I don't think that those prices are any much different than
what I find here. Bear in mind that most are 35cm whoppers = big tools.

I have a couple of cheap 4's that can't
be more than 20cm long but even those were pushing $20.
Certainly too short and small to do any hoof work in a rimely manner.