File, Rasp. Float

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I want to jump in here since I´m hooked with those tools.

When I read the first time that those carving files should work quick like rasps but precise like files by leaving a smooth surface, I couldn´t believe it. It sounded a little bit exaggerated. Since I need to have good tools for shaping saw handles, I was interested although. Fine-Tools sent me two of those and I tested them for a review in the German forum woodworking. de. That to be said, I want to share my experience with those tools.

The files look a little bit unusual, the cutting edges are interrupted by skew channels and the half round file isn´t flat at the back, it´s concave and smooth.

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There´s another thing that´s not to see. The edges are shaped with little chip breakers. The amazing result: the file doesn´t produce dust but little shavings.

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For the test I used 6 handle blanks of Pear (2), Maple, Mahogany, Wenge and Ebony.

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To compare the speed of the tool I shaped one edge of the handle with a coarse rasp and the other with the carving file. The surprising result was, that there is no speed difference. The carving file is as quick as my coarsest rasp, perhaps even a little bit faster. It feels a little unusual because the carving file wants to go a little bit skew. You can force it to work with a straight cut but then it works a little rough. If you let it work how it wants, it is easy to steer and works very smooth. You´ve to take care not to remove more stock than you want. Very amazing. The following pics show that the surface the carving file leaves is way better than the rasp can do.

Pear:

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Wenge:

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Maple:

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I think that the pics are speaking for themselves. After this test I wanted to know, if the carving file was able to do the fine work too. So I worked on one side of a Pear blank only with this tool. It worked fine.

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At last a pic of three saw handles that were made by using the carving files.

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Actually the carving file replaced the coarse rasp when I make saw handles. It´s at least as quick but better to steer and leaves a better surface. It´s one of the tools I´d hate to miss. IMO, you can`t get a better shaping tool for the money.

Klaus
 
Very very interesting indeed!

I feel a birthday pressie coming on!

Klaus...nice to see you posting again on here....and fantastic review....I was a bit confused because first time I hit the link I got "Forbidden 403" but it works now.

They are relatively good value too...I'm impressed!

Jim
 
I just knew that someone, somewhere had tried them.
Thanks for the review Klaus.
 
MIGNAL":hfc6ybhp said:
I just knew that someone, somewhere had tried them.
Thanks for the review Klaus.

And who better to execute an unbiased review than one of two Lawyers!!!

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Jim
 
Thank you all.

Two things I wanted to add after working with these files for about 9 months now.

The first is, that the tools keep their cutting edges very well. They are in heavy use, I work with them nearly daily only on hard woods. Actually the cutting speed is not slower than 9 months ago.

The second, I want to mention is, that the files are cleaning themselves while cutting. I never worked with files before that needed less care on cleaning than these ones.

Klaus
 

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