Machine Workshop
Maker SpacesFab LabRobotics LabNExT Lab
  • Machine Workshop
  • Our Contact Details
  • Workshop Access
  • Outdoor Area
  • Machinery & Materials
    • Equipment
      • Hand Tools
        • Carving Chisels
        • Chisels
        • Clamps
        • Double Square
        • Files and Rasps
        • Hand Saws
        • Hand Planes
        • Marking Gauge
      • Power Tools
        • Heat gun
        • Impact driver
        • Cordless drill
        • Dremel
        • Domino
        • Jigsaw
        • Orbital Sander
        • Plunge Saw
        • Router
      • Machines
        • Radial Arm Saw
        • Bandsaw
        • Mitre Saw
        • Table Saw
        • Thicknesser
        • Planer
        • Drill press
        • Lathe
        • Belt and Disc Sander
        • Drum Sander
        • Router Table
        • Large Disc Sander
        • Metal Belt Grinder
        • Spindle Sander
    • Materials
      • Timber
        • Timber Properties
          • Seasonal Movement
        • Timber Species
    • Purchasing Timber
      • Pre-Purchase Checklist
      • Timber Cost Estimator
      • Where to Buy
  • Making
    • Step-by-Step
      • Designing
        • Concept Development and Ideation
        • Designing for Making
          • Structural Design Principles
          • Ergonomics and Product Interactions
          • Material Selection
          • Limitations
        • Product Life Cycle and Sustainability
      • Purchasing Timber
      • Dressing
      • Joining
        • Dowel joint
        • Bridle joint
        • Mortise and Tenon joint
        • Dado, Groove, Rabbet joints
        • Lap joint
        • Dovetail joint
        • Finger joint
        • Mitre joint
        • Tongue and Groove
        • Floating tenon joint
      • Gluing
      • Finishing
        • Finishing Continued
  • Job Submissions
    • Metal Work Area
  • Resources
    • Video Tutorials
      • Build Projects
        • Build a Plinth
        • Build a Butcher Block
        • Build a Box
        • Build a Picture Frame
        • Build a Side Table
        • Turning a Spherical box
      • Advanced Making
      • Tips and Techniques
      • Steam Bending
    • Designer Maker Inspiration
    • Start Your Own Workshop
      • Workbench options
      • Where to buy
    • External Workshop Facilities
  • Library
  • Further Reading
  • Glossary of Woodworking Terms
  • References
Powered by GitBook
On this page
  • Introduction
  • Reasons To Use Files and Rasps
  • Materials
  • Hand Tool in Operations Video

Was this helpful?

  1. Machinery & Materials
  2. Equipment
  3. Hand Tools

Files and Rasps

Files and Rasps are long steel tools with hundreds of small distinct individual cutting teeth along their surface.

PreviousDouble SquareNextHand Saws

Last updated 4 years ago

Was this helpful?

Introduction

Files and Rasps are designed to remove or shape material to a desired form. Files are used on metal, while rasps are used on timber only.

Reasons To Use Files and Rasps

Files can be used to make fine adjustments to timber joints, clean up metal/acrylic surfaces after they have been cut with a saw and quickly shape small components. In the workshop we also use them for sharpening scrapers and cold chisels.

Rasps have much coarser teeth than files and are only used on timber. They can quickly shape curves into your work and are a step between rough cuts from a power tool and refining shapes with sandpaper.

Materials

Timber: Dried Timber Species

Acrylic: Acrylic material (Consult Workshop Technician)

Aluminium: Aluminium and other non-ferrous metals (Consult Workshop Technician)

Steel: Steel (Consult Workshop Technician)

Hand Tool in Operations Video