Official Luthiers Forum!

I am amassing the tools for luthiery(is that a word?)
I was looking at some of the stanley sureform tools that look like they do the job of a rasp. Anyone tried them out or have an opinion.

Thanks
Zac

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Zac

Anchorage Alaska

Finshed my 1st! See #1 here

Take a look at Microplane products too as you are looking. Kinda like a cheese grater for wood. I have two and would recommend them. Cheap enough too.

Also look at the Shinto Japanese Saw Rasp. I preferr the ones without the planer handle.

http://www.dilegnosupply.com/Files-Rasps-Shapers/shinto_saw_ rasps.htmScott Thompson38748.0193981482

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Scott Thompson
Port Townsend,WA

"In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune
But this is reality so give me some room"
-Billy Bragg

I'm not a huge fan of Sureforms; they're never quite sharp enough. The microplane stuff (fits surform handles) is much, much sharper, although it can dull a bit quickly, and I like it quite a lot. And I second the Shinto saw rasp reccomendation. Great tool.

For all that, I still use my half-round rasp. A lot. So much so that I'm pondering getting a Nicholson #49 or so.

I like the Surform for hogging off wood, but it leaves a REALLY rough finish. It's not good for detail work at all. The Microplane can leave a pretty smooth finish, but, in my experience, it dulls very quickly. I'm still using a Surform blade I bought before I bought the more expensive Microplane blade, which went into the trash long ago. The saw rasp works very well, lasts a long time (I'm still using one I bought about ten years ago, though it's only gotten regular use in the last three), and leaves a pretty smooth, controllable surface. It's too wide, though, for detail work, like shaping a heel. The Nicholson #49 and #50 rasps are superior, hard-working, tools that cut fast and smoothly, can be used for larger details (headstock/heel transitions), and will last for many years with reasonable care.

I use both depending on the job, but I diidn't like the Stanley surforms very much. They didn't cut very well for me.

I picked up a Stanley sureform a couple weekends ago and realized the same issue: doesn't cut. I took it back.

Haven't bought one yet, but StewMac has recently added these to their catalog. Not cheap, but look pretty good.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Files/1/Dragon_Hand-cut_Ra sps.html

CrowDuck

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Chris Nielsen
Soquel, CA.

In my remodeling business we use Sureforms to true up sheetrock edges. They are supposed to be good for surfboards too. I never considered using it for wood when there are so many power tools for that!

Kurt

I use them for shaping the neck profile. The only power tool that I know of that would acomplish that would maybe be a CNC $$$