No...not a brand new hand cut rasp, but really razor sharp.

I've had my old Nicholson 49 and 50 rasps sharpened at least four times. I'm sure there's a finite number of times this can be done, but I don't know what that number is.


Boggs Tool Company in Paramount CA does the job,,I have them sharpen checkering files and any other file,including expensive fine cut Swiss files.

But back to rasps: The Brazilian made "Nicholson 49 and 50" had a dismal reception, but Mr Boggs tells me that their quality is getting better, but to guild the lilly, he'll sharpen the brand new ones and sell them retail for around $50.00.

They are sharper than the old Nicholson's ever dreamed of. Oh! the cost of re sharpening as of now is only $8.50!

Do they last as long...yes, but you get so spoiled with a razor sharp tool like me, have It sharpened when It starts to lose a little of it's "bite"

Nothing in this for me, jus passing on some good news.

BTW, they sharpen just about anything that can be sharpened and have been doing it for decades

Duane.

Thanks for the info, just in time as well.

Yes Nicholson also changed the half round bastard files. They are no longer tapered, and it appears that they have done it long enough ago that I can not find any in the area that is old stock. Have used those type of files for years for the final stock shaping and I am down to my last two files that are half way sharp.

So I will sending all of mine half round bastard files down to be sharpened.

Thanks.
JW

Thanks for the info Duane.

When I got my Nicholson 49 & 50 raps, the company I bought them from sharpened them prior to shipping. They have been super.

It may be time to have them sharpened.

Thanks Duane. I have several dull ones that I'm going to ship out to be done including my draw file.
Phil

Had no idea you could sharpen a rasp, thanks Duane for that info.

Just curious, how do they sharpen a rasp? I've seen services that etched them with nitric acid, and services that sandblasted them at an angle. Are they using one of these processes, or something that actually grinds the teeth?

edit:
Never mind, it occurred to me that they probably have a website! I went there, and they are the company that abrasive blasts them to sharpen. Glad to know that the process really does work well.

I should send off some of my old, high quality rasps to be done.

Some use media blasting if they are really bad and then etch finish. Most just etch sharpen with sulfuric acid. I used to sharpen my own. It's a 10% acid solution and takes two to four hours. Once you have actually rolled the teeth you can't really do much with them. Some guys use pickling vinegar or muriatic acid. Vinegar is usually 8 hours or more to get an edge back on them. We have a guy that owns a sharp shop close to my shop that does them for about $10 each so it's not worth it for me to buy the acid anymore. Plus, I don't use a lot of expensive files anymore as I quit making stocks a lot of years back. Getting mill files and lathe files sharpened is usually not worth it. Pattern makers files, riflers and pillar files are quite another matter !

Teeth on files are not ground, unless times have changed. Regular files are struck with a chisel (obviously a machine now) to create the raised teeth. Riffles and cabinet makers files are pinned or stitched. They are struck with a single, pointed tool at regular intervals to bring up the hooves. Both types are then heat treated and acid sharpened. Back in the day all files were struck or pinned by hand. I think you can still buy pattern makers files and rifflers that are hand cut from some of the expensive boutique places. People claim they cut nicer and don't chatter because the spacing is irregular throughout the file. I saw one of those How It's Made type shows years ago on the subject. It's pretty cool and a lot more simple than one would think.

Off the wall smile to share.

Worked for an outfit once with the super named Nicholson. One day I was asked what I thought of the guy. I just held up my file with HIS name and description on it!!

Cheers, everyone, hope '18 is better.

George

quote:

Originally posted by georgeld:
Off the wall smile to share.

Worked for an outfit once with the super named Nicholson. One day I was asked what I thought of the guy. I just held up my file with HIS name and description on it!!

Cheers, everyone, hope '18 is better.

George

For some reason I don't think it was a smooth file that you held up..

Here's a video of how boutique wood rasps are made. I think I would start drinking after about the fifth day on the job.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ09O3d8y9Q

There's a reason mechanization of tasks became popular!

According to Mr Boggs, they use a carbide blasting media..the rear of the tooth loses some material as well as going deeper..near as I can tell, the geometry of the tooth seems to be unchanged. I do notice that the lettering is pretty much going away with each sharpening.

Logically, the blade will get thinner and thinner??

Even on the super fine single cut Swiss files,, the geometry is unchanged and even.

I watched the vid. It is a pleasure to watch a real pro at work, and all I can say is WoW!

quote:

Originally posted by speerchucker30x378:
Here's a video of how boutique wood rasps are made. I think I would start drinking after about the fifth day on the job.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ09O3d8y9Q

I think you mean "A fifh a day"

This thread is very helpful and interesting to me, as a hobby gun crank. Thanks to all for the info. Brian

quote:

Originally posted by Duane Wiebe (CG&R):

quote:

Originally posted by speerchucker30x378:
Here's a video of how boutique wood rasps are made. I think I would start drinking after about the fifth day on the job.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ09O3d8y9Q

I think you mean "A fifh a day"

More than that Duane.
By the fifth day I would be drinking a fifth and pleading the Fifth as to why my stitching was going from the shank of the rasp and right across my bench!

I just finished doing 40 bolt hole patterns in a bunch of brake drum housings for a local hot rod shop and my sanity is somewhere between Hillary Clinton losing the election and Donald Trump commenting on CNN !

I'm am smart enough to know that I was not cut out for repetitive tasks. But not smart enough to quit doing them !

I sent in several rasps and files to Boggs about two weeks ago. I already have them back in hand and they really look nice and sharp. I even sent in my drawing filing bar, it now looks like new. Even tho I absolutely hate draw filing, I am almost eager to do some now, almost.

Mr. Boggs also told me they sell new Nicholsen rasps which they have touched up to make them sharp. They sell for $45, less than new #49's at Brownells.

Thanks, Duane, for helping me find this company.
Phil