Rasp

This article is about the filing tool. For other uses, see RASP (disambiguation).

A rasp is a coarse form of file used for shaping wood, metal, or other material. Typically a hand tool, it consists of a generally tapered rectangular, round, or half-round sectioned bar of case hardened steel with distinct, individually cut teeth. A narrow, pointed tang is common at one end, to which a handle may be fitted.^[1]

Fine wood rasp

Farrier using a two-sided file, double-cut on the visible side and rasp cut against a horse's hoof

Uses

Rasps come in a variety of shapes—rectangular, round, and half-round—and vary in coarseness, from finest, "cabinet", to most coarse, "wood".^[2] Farriers, for example, commonly use rasps to remove excess wall from a horse's hoof. They are also used in woodworking for rapidly removing material and are easier to control than a drawknife. The rough surfaces they leave may be smoothed with finer tools, such as single- or double-cut files.

Rasps are used in shaping alabaster. Saws and chisels are used to rough out alabaster work.

Machine made Rasps have uniformly stamped teeth. They often leave deeper marks and will require a subsequent smoothing step. ^[3]

See also

• Metalworking hand tool
• Surform
• Woodworking tools