I get Tom Fidgen's Newsletter in my inbox and I always look forward to it. Tom is a hand made by hand tool guy, long story short, great stuff, beautiful work, I have been following him for along time.

In the most recent newsletter he is advertising his new Two Handled Rasps, these are beautiful tools, I want them, I gotta have them, don't know how yet, but some day I'll have them in my shop. These tools just make sense, with their two handles, stitched rasp, these are made for accurate stock removal.

I have no horse in the game here, I just love beautiful tools is all. Here they are. Just thought I'd share them.

 

Must be a pleasure to use! Total control over the wood removal.

Two hands on a tool is always better for control.  Even using a file metal working I always want to use two hands on it.  Second handle makes so much sense.

Great idea.

I googled "two handled file" and here's what I got. 

who says Google doesn't have a sense of humor?

Tow handles make complete sense, for shaping and fairing. As Tom describes it, it's like having a spoke shave in a file. My observation is that if you have a file like this, you can use it on the tricky grained woods, and you wouldn't have to worry about grain direction as you do with a shave. Once you get it roughed down to the line, you can then clean it up with a traditional shave. I love these.

Got a link?

2 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Got a link?

You can em here Gene, https://theunpluggedwoodshop.myshopify.com/

Thanks, buddy. On my list.

8 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Thanks, buddy. On my list.

Ya they are a tad pricey, extended future list for sure!!! Hmmm, tax return time?

One at a time won't feel so bad. His design of horizontal stitching sure makes sense. 

The price isn't too bad considering where and how they are made. Hand stitching ain't cheap....even in France.

2 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

Great idea.

I googled "two handled file" and here's what I got. 

who says Google doesn't have a sense of humor?

...or a good system of redirection to the sponsors that Google sells your information to, so they can target you with specific products. Try cleaning out your cache, cookies, etc and perform the same search and see all of the relevant search results...

Really nice files! I really do see the advantages, but at $130 a piece or $350 fro a set of three is a little pricey.

3 minutes ago, schnewj said:

Really nice files! I really do see the advantages, but at $130 a piece or $350 fro a set of three is a little pricey.

Amortization.

7 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Amortization.

...by the year or by the stroke?

Shaping contours in chair work, the advantages of these files far out weigh the investment. I can see the worth. I can Invision the advantages. Now I just need to get em, so I can actually report on them.

 

1 hour ago, John Morris said:

Shaping contours in chair work, the advantages of these files far out weigh the investment. I can see the worth. I can Invision the advantages. Now I just need to get em, so I can actually report on them.

 

A tool is only worth what you get out of it. If you buy a tool and never use it, then no matter how much you paid for that tool, it is a waste of money.

 

So, if the tools make what you like to do easier and you use them all of the time, then no matter what the cost it is worth the price.

 

With that said, when you buy yours, buy two sets...my birthday is in August!

5 hours ago, schnewj said:

then no matter how much you paid for that tool, it is a waste of money.

Respectfully disagree.   I have many tools which i use often, seldom, or not at all; but they all serve a purpose (even if only to look at and admire as a neat/good tool).   SWMBO may think they are a waste of money, but then she's not buying or paying for them.  I have a personal relationship with all my tools. 

18 hours ago, p_toad said:

Respectfully disagree.   I have many tools which i use often, seldom, or not at all; but they all serve a purpose (even if only to look at and admire as a neat/good tool).   SWMBO may think they are a waste of money, but then she's not buying or paying for them.  I have a personal relationship with all my tools. 

So, do you use adjectives, like NicKP, does (cute, handsome, pretty), to describe the lookers?  

 

 

1 hour ago, schnewj said:

So, do you use adjectives, like NicKP, does (cute, handsome, pretty), to describe the lookers?  

 

 

Erm, our personal relationship stays private.   What's said in the workshop stays in the workshop. 

Anyway, those tools remind me of certain two-handled draw knives or push knives i've seen; so probably good for control, but not a new idea.

Be interesting to hear how well they work when John gets his set.