Reply To: Auriou rasp
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@NARRS Paul wrote an article about Auriou rasps here: https://paulsellers.com/2013/07/aurou-rasps-good-on-the-wood-and-good-in-the-hand/ . In the questions section, I asked what he was using, and he said he was using the “chair maker’s triple set.” I don’t see that at Highland any more, but I ordered rasps a couple years later and ordered Cabiet maker’s 12″ 10 Grain rasp, the 7″ modeler’s rasp at 13 grain, and the 10″ Auriou ALBI combination rasp which is rectangular and has 9 grain on one side and 5 grain on the other.
This was my best interpretation of Paul’s comment about using the chair makers triple set, and I think the set was available at the time and formed the basis of what I purchased, but I could be wrong, so please do research it further. The 12″ is a big rasp. It takes off wood quickly, but controllably, and is good for shaping, but you need to refine the surface afterwards. The model maker is smaller and finer and handles details. I use those two the most and maybe the model makers the most, but honestly I think those two go hand-in-hand. As an example, on a cabriole leg, the 12″ cabinet rasp would give the longer lines and much of the transition into the ankle, but the model makers may be needed at a couple of the tighter spots, especially on a smaller leg. If I were only doing tool handles, spoons, and smaller such work with tighter curves, no doubt, I’d pick the 7″ modeler’s rasp and I’ve been happy with the 13 grain (but see below).
Paul has written several rasp articles since the one I linked, including some alternative brands, which you might want to review.
I’m never happy with the surface that is left with rasps. It is too rough and often looks like tooth furrows. A rasp is more agile than a spokeshave, so you can’t clean up with a spokeshave. I’ve been meaning to get some decent shaped files to refine the rasp work, but so far have gotten too confused in the Bahco catalog to actually pick a couple and locate them in the US. Nevertheless, I’m glad to have these rasps. They are excellent for shaping. They may be more expensive than having kids, though.