Rasps look a lot like files but are rougher and are
made for removing wood. Rasps come in several shapes including round,
half round, and flat.
You might not even need a saw with many Pinewood Derby
car designs. Use a rasp to shape the car if no deep cuts are needed.
Rasps leave gouges in the wood so you will need to use sandpaper
to smooth the wood when you are done with the rasp.
What kind of rasp should you get? All three types
have their uses.
A flat rasp can be used to
create a variety of notches.
|
It is also good at
rounding corners.
|
The half round rasp can
make smooth grooves. |
Rounded notches and other detail
work is for the round rasp |
General tips:
-
Keep in mind that most of the wood should be
removed during the push. When you are close to finishing, use
only pull strokes to remove less wood and fine tune the shape.
-
You may find it helpful if you hold the tip
of the rasp with your other hand to help guide the rasp and
control the amount of pressure on the wood.
-
If you can, change the angle of the rasp slightly
during each stroke.
-
Remove the sawdust from the rasp often with
a brush. Also, blow or wipe the sawdust off of the block so
that you can see your progress.
-
Put handles on your rasps. They will be a
lot more comfortable to use and easier to control.
-
Lighten up on the pressure when you are almost
done so that you make smaller grooves in the wood. This will
make sanding your Pinewood Derby car a lot easier.
- A flat metal file is a great tool to use after the rasp to
smooth the wood.
Rasps can be purchased here
If
you've found this page useful, please link to this page
or any other page on this site so that others can benefit.
|
view
shopping cart 
product catalog
