February 25, 2025
Additional information
IWASAKI sculpting files
As fast as a rasp, as clean as a file! This is how the characteristics of these woodworking tools can be summarized. Unlike the produced sawdust of conventional rasps, this tool generates small shavings with its sharp edges. At first, we were unsure whether the emphasis in the name should be on "file" or "rasp," but then we followed the manufacturer's translated designation, which simply called it "Carving File." After our first trial, we were so convinced by the properties of this "carving file" that we found the initially strange-sounding name to be quite fitting.
Cross-section dimensions of the Aweso rail
Left: Wood worked with a conventional rasp.
Right: Wood worked with a sculptor's file.
In principle, the cuts of these rasps are arranged like those of single-cut files, but interrupted by diagonal grooves to produce narrow shavings or to prevent wide shavings that could clog the cuts.
Right: Wood worked with a sculptor's file.
In principle, the cuts of these rasps are arranged like those of single-cut files, but interrupted by diagonal grooves to produce narrow shavings or to prevent wide shavings that could clog the cuts.
Comparison coarse, fine, extra fine
The highlight, however, is the integrated chip breaker. This chip breaker ensures that the chips are broken and move upwards, away from the surface of the file. This effectively prevents or at least significantly reduces the annoying clogging of the teeth, depending on the type of wood. The teeth are very sharp and grip aggressively while having a long service life.
These files are suitable not only for wood but also for bamboo, resin objects, particle boards, plywood, MDF boards, and plastics. The variety of materials that this rasp can handle makes it interesting not only for sculptors but also for carpenters, musical instrument makers, toy manufacturers, and all other woodworkers who do not only work with rectangular panels. The surface produced is so fine that the need for subsequent sanding only arises for objects that require a very high surface quality. Made in Japan.
These files are suitable not only for wood but also for bamboo, resin objects, particle boards, plywood, MDF boards, and plastics. The variety of materials that this rasp can handle makes it interesting not only for sculptors but also for carpenters, musical instrument makers, toy manufacturers, and all other woodworkers who do not only work with rectangular panels. The surface produced is so fine that the need for subsequent sanding only arises for objects that require a very high surface quality. Made in Japan.
Chemical polished
Comparison of sculptor files, left coarse, middle fine, right extra fine. The tooth spacing of the coarse sculptor files is approximately 3 mm, the fine ones about 1.6 mm, and the extra fine ones about 1.2 mm.