{"id":15902,"date":"2017-10-30T15:00:59","date_gmt":"2017-10-30T19:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/woodcarvingillustrated.com\/?p=15902"},"modified":"2017-08-16T13:59:01","modified_gmt":"2017-08-16T17:59:01","slug":"all-about-files-rasps-and-rifflers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/woodcarvingillustrated.com\/all-about-files-rasps-and-rifflers\/","title":{"rendered":"All About Files, Rasps, and Rifflers"},"content":{"rendered":"

These versatile tools have a wide range of carving uses<\/h3>\n

by Roger Schroeder<\/em><\/p>\n

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This article was first published in issue 42 of\u00a0<\/em>Woodcarving Illustrated.<\/p>\n

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While purists will argue that files, rasps and rifflers, not to mention sandpaper, should never touch a wood carving, don\u2019t sell these tools short. Many projects need a smooth surface, not a flat-plane or faceted one. These versatile tools can shape, smooth, even sharpen if necessary, and are actually economical alternatives to sandpaper. They are ideally suited for working oddly shaped areas and difficult wood grain, as well as roughing out. A single file removes wood as quickly as a large rotary cutter and produces a finished surface that rivals 220-grit sandpaper for smoothness.<\/p>\n

Files<\/h3>\n

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A file has three main parts: the length, which is the cutting surface covered with teeth; the tang, which is where the handle is attached (never use the tang as a handle); and the heel, which is the transition between the length and the tang. Files come in wide variety of types and profiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Files, Rasps, and Rifflers at a Glance:<\/strong><\/p>\n