IWASAKI Carving Files (sculptor's files, joinery floats, planemaker floats)
As fast as a rasp, as clean as a file! That is the simplest way to describe these woodworking tools. Contrary to the rough cut and sawdust produced by conventional rasps, the Iwasaki sculpting files actually act like tiny planes taking small shavings. At first we were not sure how to categorize these tools, as files or rasps. But Iwasaki's name, translated directly from the Japanese, is "carving or sculpting files." After trying these files, and comparing them to the cut of normal Western-style rasps, we were amazed by the cut, and found the description accurate. These type of tools are also called "joinery floats" or "planemaker floats" as they are used - among many other purposes - for fine tuning of joints.
Left: cut of conventional rasp
Right: cut of sculptor's file.
The teeth of these files are arranged like a single-cut file, with the diagonal rows of teeth interrupted by diagonal grooves, in order to take many tiny, narrow shavings and to prevent wider shavings that could clog the teeth.
File face close-up
The key is in the way the face of the tooth is formed to make a mini chip-breaker. It breaks the shavings off and forces them up and away from the face of the file. This helps keep the teeth from getting clogged up, sometimes a little and sometimes a lot, depending on the kind of wood. The teeth are very sharp and hard, cut aggressively and have a very long useful life, again depending on the kind of wood being worked.
The Iwasaki sculpture files also work will with bamboo, resins and plastics, OSB, MDF and other wood products. This variety of materials and the clean cuts make these files ideal not only for sculptors and carvers, but also for cabinet makers, toy makers, musical instrument makers, and anyone who needs to shape softer materials into forms other than plain right angles. The finish left by the files is so good that one can often skip the normal sanding necessary with normal files and rasps, except when a very smooth or glossy finish is needed. They are made in Japan.
Conventional rasp in action - Video
Carver's file in action - Video
We addded the coarse bastard cut to the existing extra fine cut (= ultra fine) and fine cut!
Comparison of coarse (left) fine (center) and extra fine (right) carving files. The tooth distance (pitch) of the coarse files is 3 mm, of fine files is 1.6 mm, of the extra fine files 1.2 mm.
The flat files are designed for general rasp work and rounding straight edges. The flat files can also make dressing the tops of pegs or treenails flat in their holes almost a pleasure, in that after a few strokes, no one will notice you didn't cut as exactly as you might have. They are also perfect for re-working or finishing the plane iron beds on Japanese and other types of wooden planes. The teeth are cut into the broad faces of the files, the edges are flat.
Flat fine - Cutting length 150 mm
Blade section 16 x 4 mm
Broad sides toothed, edges flat
Order nr. 312920
Price ✱€ 19.95
Flat extra fine - Cutting length 150 mm
Blade section 16 x 4 mm
Broad sides toothed, edges flat
Order nr. 312921
Price ✱€ 22.50
Flat fine - Cutting length 200 mm
Blade section 20 x 5 mm
Broad sides toothed, edges flat
Currently not in stock!
Order nr. 312922
Price ✱€ 24.30
Flat extra fine - Cutting length 200 mm
Blade section 20 x 5 mm
Broad sides toothed, edges flat
Order nr. 312923
Price ✱€ 27.50
Flat coarse (bastard) - Cutting length 250 mm
Blade section 25 x 6 mm
Broad sides toothed, edges flat
Comparison with the others
Order nr. 312918
Price ✱€ 26.50
The half-round file is most often used to round the insides of curves, such as tool handles, guitar building, boat building, figure carving, contoured chair legs, and the like. Only the half-round side has teeth!
Half round, fine - Cutting length 150 mm
Blade section 15 x 6 mm
Only rounded side with teeth
Round side has a radius of about 12.5 mm
Order nr. 312924
Price ✱€ 19.95
Half round, extra fine - Cutting length 150 mm
Blade section 15 x 6 mm
Only rounded side with teeth
Round side has a radius of about 12.5 mm
Order nr. 312925
Price ✱€ 22.50
Half round, fine - Cutting length 200 mm
Blade section 21 x 7 mm
Only rounded side with teeth
Round side has a radius of about 14 mm
Order nr. 312926
Price ✱€ 24.30
Half round, extra fine - Cutting length 200 mm
Blade section 21 x 7 mm
Only rounded side with teeth
Round side has a radius of about 14 mm
Order nr. 312927
Price ✱€ 27.50
Half round, coarse (bastard) - Cutting length 250 mm
Blade section 25 x 8 mm
Only rounded side with teeth
Round side has a radius of about 19 mm
Comparison with the other halfround carving files
Order nr. 312919
Price ✱€ 26.90
The half-round file is most often used to round the insides of curves, such as guitar building, boat building, figure carving, contoured chair legs, and the like. Only the half-round side has teeth!
Cutting length 150 mm
Blade section 15 x 7 mm
Only the half-round side has teeth!
Round side has a radius of about 12.5 mm
Order nr. 312934
Price ✱€ 25.90
Versatile tool for many applications!
Cutting length 200 mm
Cross section 8 mm
Order nr. 312937
Price ✱€ 26.90
The flat files are designed for general rasp work and rounding straight edges. The teeth are cut into the broad faces of the files, the edges are flat. The rubber grip is comfortable to use.
Cutting length 100 mm
Total length 200 mm
Blade section 10 x 3 mm
Broad sides toothed, edges flat
Order nr. 312930
Price ✱€ 19.50
The half round file is most often used to round the insides of curves, such as tool handles, guitar building, boat building, figure carving, contoured chair legs, and the like. Only the half round side has teeth! The rubber grip is comfortable in use.
Cutting length 100 mm
Total length 200 mm
Blade section 9,5 x 4 mm
Only rounded side with teeth
Round side has a radius of about 8 mm
Order nr. 312931
Price ✱€ 19.50
The half round file is most often used to round the insides of curves, such as tool handles, guitar building, boat building, figure carving, contoured chair legs, and the like. Only the half round side has teeth! The rubber grip is comfortable in use.
Cutting length 100 mm
Total length 200 mm
Blade section 10 x 4 mm
Only the half round side has teeth!
Round side has a radius of about 8 mm
Order nr. 312933
Price ✱€ 22.20
Diameter 3 mm
Cutting length 100 mm
Total length 200 mm
Blade diameter 3 mm
Order nr. 312935
Price ✱€ 13.90
Diameter 6 mm
Cutting length 100 mm
Total length 200 mm
Blade diameter 6 mm
Order nr. 312936
Price ✱€ 19.50
The name "Floats" is used for a group of files or rasps intended to be used for working the bodies of wooden planes, and especially adjusting the iron bed and mouth of the plane, but are useful for many other types of work because they cut so cleanly. For working on planes, the side float is the most useful type and extremely practical for re-working the bed to accept its iron. The floats we offer are some of the best produced today, and cut so cleanly that smoothing with sandpaper after filing is no longer necessary. If you have been hesitating to buy a Japanese plane because of the difficulty of fitting the iron, you can now do it confidently as this tool makes the work almost child's play! The floats have teeth only on one side. The rubberized grip is very ergonomic and lies easily in your hand.
Cutting length 100 mm
Total length 200 mm
Width near grip 16 mm
Width at tip 3 mm
Thickness 3 mm
Only one side with teeth
Order nr. 312938
Price ✱€ 34.50
The Name "Floats" used for a group of files or rasps intended to be used for working the bodies of wooden planes, and especially adjusting the iron bed and mouth of the plane, but are useful for many other types of work because they cut so cleanly. The edge float is specially designed for widening the iron bed. Because the working surface is only 3 mm wide, it can be used to remove material in all but the tightest corners. The floats we offer are some of the best produced today, and cut so cleanly that smoothing with sandpaper after filing is no longer necessary. If you have been hesitating to buy a Japanese plane because of the difficulty of fitting the iron, you can now do it confidently as this tool makes the work almost child's play! The floats have teeth only on one side. The rubberized grip is very ergonomic and lies easily in your hand.
Cutting length 100 mm
Total length 200 mm
Teeth only on one 3 mm wide edge!
Order nr. 312939
Price ✱€ 29.90
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