Thread: Liogier handlemaker rasps

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

Ian - increasing or decreasing the curve diameter? I thought a decrease?

Sorry Brett - I think I had a senior moment (or two) & confused us all. I mean decrease the diameter to make the curve of the rasp tighter. I also think it should be the same curve throughout, rather than the parabolic shape it is now (the curvarture increases toward the tip). However, as I said to Pops, I'm the only dissenter so far, so wait until all have given their opinions before getting too serious about any changes to the status quo.....

Cheers,

Hi Guys, I was also honoured with being one of the test drivers. I had missed this thread and it has got away form me as I have been moving my workshop, home and my partnes office etc etc. I haven't read the whole thread yet but at this point I agree with Ian, (I think), a slightly tighter even curve in the length and a smaller radius. I also like a larger handle for greater control. I didn't make a handle but I did repair one and did some work on one of my sculptures. I will give a longer report shortly and post a few more photos.

The Lioger rasps arrived yesterday, (thanks ClawHama) and early impressions are very positive, I'd agree with IanW on the curvature, could be a bit tighter.

I've asked my friend who makes gunstocks to have a look as well, so we get a bit wider opinion, although it would take a fair bit to get him away from his Auriou's

More and a few pictures to come later.

Regards
Ray

I'm curious to know if anyone has more feedback on the handle maker's rasps, particularly regarding the curvature. I have and use the Gramercy one quite a bit, and that is about the only thing I would change about it.

Isaac

Welcome Issac, good to see you here.

Toby

Yes, welcome Isaac. It seems to be the general opinion that they need more curve, the curve should be more circular than parabolic, and should use up more of the straight (hope that makes sense).

They are currently with the final tester, and then they'll go back to Derek as he wasn't able to give them a thorough going over in the time available.

Hi Isaac,

Welcome to the forum.

Here's the TFWW and the Liogier side by side..



I like both, but I think both could use a tighter curvature for inside saw handles, the handle on the Liogier was too small for my taste. Still it cuts clean and smooth, and quite impressed with the quality.

I think FF is going to do a more complete report on the evaluation sometime in the next few weeks.

Regards
Ray

Originally Posted by RayG

...the handle on the Liogier was too small for my taste. Still it cuts clean and smooth, and quite impressed with the quality.

That seems to be a fairly common request as well Ray.

I think FF is going to do a more complete report on the evaluation sometime in the next few weeks.

Yes, I'll condense all the comments into one post, and see if I can get a diagram of the proposed curve changes.

Claw Hama thinks he would prefer them to made from a Modeller's Rasp (slightly smaller profile). That's easily enough done, as once we have the curve correct then it can be applied to whichever profile the user would like.

We could start a whole new discussion on handles!

I must be the only one who found the handle size suited to the tool. Not sure if that's due to the size of my hand (smallish) or the way I work. I tend to hold rasps up as cose to the action as I comfortably can, so a shorter, thicker handle suits my style. I would have much less control over what I was doing if I were to hold that TFWW rasp with the bulgy rear part in my palm.

It's interesting that so many files & rasps come handled, now. In the past everyone made their own handles to their own tastes, and re-used them when the tool was replaced. If you looked at the files & rasps in a few tool collections, you'd see a very wide range of sizes & styles, from corn-cobs (favoured by my old pot when in a hurry.. ) to very elaborate & fancy things. So it'd be a hard day's work to please everyone when it comes to the 'perfect' handle! I would prefer all rasps & files came sans handles & saved me a few $$s for something I usually chuck away, but of course, not everyone has the gear or the inclination to make their own, so why not give us the choice as lathe tool makers do??

FF - is there a limit to how tight a radius can be stitched? I'm thinking that stitching a concave curve must be a bit trickier than a straight blade or convex curve. I will make a mock-up of one & work out what curvature would suit me best, to staart the ball rolling.

I was very happy with the size & shape of them, I would not want the backs to have a tighter radius (less if anything) for working the grips & tongues of closed handles. For those really tight spots, the rat-tail was useful, but the flatter backs do the job on the grip & tongues nicely, for me. However, as you say, it's really a matter of establishing the curvature, which can then be applied to whatever size(s) the purchaser prefers....

Cheers,

Originally Posted by IanW

I must be the only one who found the handle size suited to the tool.

That is the standard sized handle that Noel puts on a 150mm rasp. I have a supply of his various sizes here, so they can be swapped, or as you say the user can make their own. My supply will increase a little, as any rasp I send to you won't have one!

I would prefer all rasps & files came sans handles & saved me a few $ for something I usually chuck away, but of course, not everyone has the gear or the inclination to make their own, so why not give us the choice as lathe tool makers do??

The savings would be about $1.50, and so not worth the paperwork headache that would go with it.

FF - is there a limit to how tight a radius can be stitched? I'm thinking that stitching a concave curve must be a bit trickier than a straight blade or convex curve. I will make a mock-up of one & work out what curvature would suit me best, to start the ball rolling.

The stitching is done before the curve is applied. I too will do a mock-up, and see if I can get a member to do a cad drawing of it (I have someone in mind - think Melbourne, and someone who has clearly been reincarnated from the 18th Century). It will be interesting to compare our drawings.

I was very happy with the size & shape of them, I would not want the backs to have a tighter radius (less if anything) for working the grips & tongues of closed handles. For those really tight spots, the rat-tail was useful, but the flatter backs do the job on the grip & tongues nicely, for me. However, as you say, it's really a matter of establishing the curvature, which can then be applied to whatever size(s) the purchaser prefers....

There's some discussion about smaller profiles, but don't forget that there is also the Cabinet Maker's profile, which is marginally wider and significantly flatter. Here's a list of the suitable profiles for curving (all 150mm length, and the profile dimensions increase with rasp length):

Modeller's profile 11 x 3.5mm .....Radius of the half-round 6mm
Half-Round profile 16 x 4.5mm .....Radius of the half-round 9.4mm Supplied for testing
Cab. Maker's profile 17 x 3mm .....Radius of the half-round 13.5mm

Hi Guys just passing by, I have a couple of photos here showing the length of my handles. Ians larger size I found ok but still realy like mine a bit longer again. Ians shorter/smaller handles were a bit too small for me but it's realy a personal choice.Something that can be ordered long or short anyway. When I get back down to the workshop I will measure the length and add to the post.
Mine are the larger two sitting behind Ian's on the second photo.
Yes all radii I think need to be tighter
And no that wasn't the postion of the saw while I was sharpening the teeth I think I had been repairing the handle at that stage.

Oh and Ians are beautiful handles, mine are purely utilitarian.

Bye

Originally Posted by Claw Hama

Yes all radii I think need to be tighter

Radii - of the profile, or the curve? Don't tell me - both!

Isn't that ALL? oh no, not the handle

Originally Posted by Claw Hama

Oh and Ians are beautiful handles, mine are purely utilitarian.

Actually, Claw, he handles on the rasps & files going round are rejects from the batch I turned for FF. They all have small defects like splits, or wormholes in the wrong places.

Looks like I'm part of a smaller minority than I thought - everyone likes bigger handles! But have you seen the handles they put on their small files? If so, you'll know what small is -they are decidedly dinky, & far too small even for me!

Cheers,