Gramercy Tools has introduced a new line of hand-cut rasps. Unlike the evenly spaced teeth on machine-cut rasps, the barbs on hand-cut rasps are randomly spaced. When it comes to rasps, randomly spaced teeth cut smoother and faster.

Gramercy offers seven cabinetmaker’s rasps and a handle-maker’s rasp. The handle-maker’s rasp is unique: The blade is curved along its length and has teeth only on its half-round side (the back is smooth). Those features make it ideal for sculpting the inside edges of closed pistol-grip tool handles.

All the rasps have nicely shaped ash handles. The blades are surgical-grade stainless steel, so they are tough (the teeth won’t break), long-wearing (the teeth stay sharp), and won’t rust. Stainless steel doesn’t take quite as keen an edge as carbon steel. Even so, I was more than satisfied with the performance of the rasps.

The cabinetmaker’s rasps range in price from $54 to $110; the handle-maker’s rasp is $50. More information can be had at www.toolsforworkingwood.com.

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