Most of my woodworking is sometimes labeled "straight" or "square" work: Cabinets, tables, bookshelves, and other pieces that consist mainly of straight workpieces assembled into a square or rectangular shape.
But there are times when the design calls for curved or shaped workpieces. These add visual interest to the project and are a nice departure from the boring straight lines common in a lot of woodworking projects.
Shaping a workpiece with Narex Fine-Cut Rasps by Infinity ToolsShaping a curved piece can be frustrating — if you don't have the proper tools. And sometimes power tools like a router can't get the job done, especially if it's a freeform shape or a workpiece that consists of complex curves.
When shaping a piece by hand, I've had bad experiences trying to work with cheap, hardware store rasps. They did a better job of catching or ripping out the grain than they did at smoothing the wood. Granted, technique has a lot to do with using a rasp, but I'll talk more about that in a minute.
When I first tried the Narex rasps, I wasn't sure what to expect. These aren't your expensive, high-end, hand-stiched rasps but they aren't the cheap rasps you'd find at the local big-box store either. But when I put the Narex rasps to wood, I was pleasantly surprised. These rasps are aggressive. The teeth are sharp and cut quickly. You can vary the amount of wood removed with each stroke simply by varying the amount of pressure applied.
I find it's best to use a two-handed grip. The large, round, wood handle on the rasp makes it easy and comfortable. A two-handed grip gives you better control over the amount of pressure and angle of attack. Use a lighter touch if the grain has a tendency to blow out when cutting across the grain.
Using a two-handed grip with a Narex Fine-Cut Rasp from Infinity ToolsThe final smoothing before the sanding process is best done with the Narex fine-cut rasps. You can see the difference in the smoothness of the cut between the standard rasp and the fine-cut rasp. And that brings me to my next point: You need these rasps. Especially if you're like me and don't enjoy sanding. These rasps get you one step closer to the final smoothness you're after with a lot less sanding required than after using standard rasps.
The difference in smoothness of cut between a Narex standard and fine-cut rasp from Infinity ToolsOur Narex Fine-Cut Rasp Set consists of three rasps that you'll find handy: flat, round, and half-round. Narex rasps provide a good value and excellent performance. They'll make a great addition to your toolbox.
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