Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: NTD on August 22, 2010, 02:56:15 pm

Title: Rasps clogging
Post by: NTD on August 22, 2010, 02:56:15 pm
So I recently received a Nicholson #49 in trade with Thwackaddict.  It really seems like a nice rasp, does not gouge the wood and such...but, it sure clogs easliy!!  Is this normal?  Is maybe my wood not dry enough? (osage)
Title: Re: Rasps clogging
Post by: bigcountry on August 22, 2010, 02:57:40 pm
Mine clogs alot too.  I use a rasp brush. 
Title: Re: Rasps clogging
Post by: 4est Trekker on August 22, 2010, 04:03:20 pm
I use the very same rasp on osage with no clogging issues.  Could be two things:

1) Wood isn't seasoned completely
2) You're not using the correct stroke, which will allow the wood to clear from the rasp's teeth.

I would bet it's #1.  Just my $0.02  ;)
Title: Re: Rasps clogging
Post by: NTD on August 22, 2010, 04:22:14 pm
Thanks for the feedback.  4est, is your #49 pre-brazil? 
Title: Re: Rasps clogging
Post by: wundabred on August 22, 2010, 08:59:38 pm
try a farrier's rasp.   never clogs, never fails
Title: Re: Rasps clogging
Post by: NTD on August 22, 2010, 09:51:09 pm
LOL.  I've have 10 farrier rasps and while they work well and I'll always have one at my workbench they are far from a ideal for tillering and fade out shaping  ;D 

Maybe the Nicholsons are like that restaurant that EVERYONE talks about and rants about how fabulous the food is and then you eat there and find out for the price you'd rather of gone to McDonalds....
Title: Re: Rasps clogging
Post by: ricktrojanowski on August 22, 2010, 10:10:07 pm
I love my Nicholson.  It has finer, closer teeth that clog easier than a farriers rasp.  But a file card takes care of that quickly.  It isn't really meant for hogging off wood as you would with a Shinto or farriers.  More for the final stages of tillering in conjunction with your scrapers. 
Title: Re: Rasps clogging
Post by: profsaffel on August 22, 2010, 10:30:55 pm
I have a Stanley Surform rasp. It clogs like the devil, but I tolerate it. A rasp brush helps if you have this problem.
Title: Re: Rasps clogging
Post by: NTD on August 22, 2010, 10:55:50 pm
Okay, I'm thinking it was the wood I was working on, which broke, before I could even glue it up.... >:(  After breaking the other set of slats I started on a new one and the #49 was quite sweet, still clogged a bit quicker than my others but not bad at all, I loved the way it left a relatively smooth surface.  I think I might keep it.
Title: Re: Rasps clogging
Post by: Alpinbogen on August 22, 2010, 11:28:00 pm
My #49 and #50 Nicholsons are among my most used bowmaking tools.  Some woods clog them more than others (hickory, for example).  Clogging isn't too much of an issue with osage.  A file card cleans them quickly when needed.  A farriers rasp is good to hog wood off, but I put it down and am done with it well before the wood is bending.  Way too coarse for tillering and finer work.
Title: Re: Rasps clogging
Post by: Thwackaddict on August 23, 2010, 02:01:06 am
Nate it might be the zipcode you live in.If you would like you could send it back to Va and I will see if it clogs bad here ;D  :D
Title: Re: Rasps clogging
Post by: NTD on August 23, 2010, 03:48:36 am
Nate it might be the zipcode you live in.If you would like you could send it back to Va and I will see if it clogs bad here ;D  :D


Nah Randy, I'm quite happy with it now...it just didn't like that piece of wood and to think of it neither did I.  Thanks for the trade!!!
Title: Re: Rasps clogging
Post by: profsaffel on August 23, 2010, 08:47:34 am
I have a Stanley Surform rasp. It clogs like the devil, but I tolerate it. A rasp brush helps if you have this problem.

I just reread what I wrote. "clogs like the devil" I always figured Lucifer to be more of a disco kind of guy.  :D
Title: Re: Rasps clogging
Post by: Thwackaddict on August 23, 2010, 10:36:16 am
Haha, that wood was prolly bad ju-ju anyways! Your quite welcome,My Pleasure!!lookin forward to doin more business in the future!
Title: Re: Rasps clogging
Post by: Cacatch on August 23, 2010, 10:59:46 am
If your wood is still not dry, or if you have any kind of oil or grease on the surface, that will do it. I have recently been working on hickory and black locust staves that are still fairly green (reducing to help dry faster), and my rasp has been clogging. I don't know what number I have, but it's a Nicholson something.

CP
Title: Re: Rasps clogging
Post by: Lombard on August 23, 2010, 11:31:21 am
Using to much pressure can jam material in the rasp. Like a saw, let it cut what it will cut. Keep your file card on hand, and chalk your files, note the difference.
Title: Re: Rasps clogging
Post by: aero86 on August 23, 2010, 11:23:33 pm
I have a Stanley Surform rasp. It clogs like the devil, but I tolerate it. A rasp brush helps if you have this problem.

I just reread what I wrote. "clogs like the devil" I always figured Lucifer to be more of a disco kind of guy.  :D



dude, im quoting that in my sig..
Title: Re: Rasps clogging
Post by: JW_Halverson on August 23, 2010, 11:58:52 pm
I have a Stanley Surform rasp. It clogs like the devil, but I tolerate it. A rasp brush helps if you have this problem.

I just reread what I wrote. "clogs like the devil" I always figured Lucifer to be more of a disco kind of guy.  :D

Don't you know anything?  Ol' Scratch is a line dancer!
Title: Re: Rasps clogging
Post by: Tom Leemans on August 24, 2010, 11:31:54 am
I've never had that problem with either of mine. Dean Torges sells (at least I think he still sells it) the UBR10 rasp that is supposed to be the cat's meow if you are looking for something else. $70 Has a coarse side and a fine side