Protective sleeves for wood rasps...?

[Old-Duckman]

Just ordered some new wood rasps last night, my old ones are getting pretty dull.

I know to protect my rasps and files from touching each other and I have several sleeves of varying quality. Some are simple, thin plastic bag-type sleeves that the tools were shipped in originally. Others (old Craftsman brand) are nice heavy plastic sleeves.

Anyway I want to protect these new rasps and was wondering what others used or if there are any commercially available that are any good. Of course I searched the Net and the only nice ones I found were leather sleeves that looked very nice but were coming out of New Zealand. High price and probably high shipping. Other sleeves seemed to be for kitchen tools and were specific brands so I could not tell if they would work for the rasps I have and those I have ordered.

Any ideas, or help?

 

[billraby]

I have been getting the Liogier rasps. Each one comes in its own case.

 

[Eric Krewson]

Send your dull rasps and files to Boggs Tools for sharpening, I sent my Nicholsen 49 and 50 to them and they came back like new.

Here is how I keep my rasps from touching anything when not in use;

As you can see, I like to make osage handles on my hobby lathe.

 

[64Springer]

Put soft padding in a tool chest drawer. Lay files on padding not touching each other. Done.

 

[Greg_E]

Chunk of lumber and a router? Do you have a saddle shop nearby? Maybe order leather and get a speedy stitch and sew something? One thing about leather is that it can hold moisture, that causes rust so leather may be a poor choice.

 

[necchi]

Buy some canvas and make your own, it could be a simple hand stitch or fancy done with a sewing machine;
https://www.harryepstein.com/7-pock...MIqaKkoOur-wIVuRTUAR3ZLA5TEAkYCSABEgI-VvD_BwE

 

[Scota@4570]

My rasp and file drawer has vertical slots that organize the rasps and files side to side and prevent them touching each other.

 

[poker]

I use some larger diameter commercial shrink tubing. Its a pretty heavy and fairly stiff plastic and comes in a lot of sizes. Of course I dont get it near any heat source.

 

[ord sgt]

Since my files and rasps are kept in a drawer, I made some covers from brown paper bags and some masking tape. Then I was given some cardboard from carving knives. Both works well.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

Paper towel tubes and duct tape works pretty well and looks handmade.

 

[LongWalker]

I use lengths of leftover ABS plastic pipe scrounged at construction sites. Match inside diameter of the pipe to the circumference of the rasp. Hit the pipe with a heat gun til it softens, flatten it so the rasp fits, let the pipe cool, and done. They don't last forever, but one of mine has lasted 20+ years.

 

[TDM]

Some with handles I hang like @Eric Krewson and the rest in an old pocketed canvas wrap like @necchi suggested.

 

[TDM]

A good wood rasp is getting hard to find, at least for me it is. I’d love be to get another 10” tapered half round if anybody knows a good source.

 

[SOLANCO]

I don't have many. Roll them up, not touching, in an old towel that has been lightly drenched with Ballistol. Keep that in a Glenfiddich scotch can.

 

[Artificer]

I think Eric's suggestion is the best, but if you have to store them in a drawer and don't have some method of keeping them separated, then make a sheath out of cardboard wrapped around it with masking tape to hold it together. Some of my sleeves like that are over 30 years old and still going strong, but it's cheap and easy to make replacements.

Gus

 

[Coinneach]

Just ordered some new wood rasps last night, my old ones are getting pretty dull.

I know to protect my rasps and files from touching each other and I have several sleeves of varying quality. Some are simple, thin plastic bag-type sleeves that the tools were shipped in originally. Others (old Craftsman brand) are nice heavy plastic sleeves.

Anyway I want to protect these new rasps and was wondering what others used or if there are any commercially available that are any good. Of course I searched the Net and the only nice ones I found were leather sleeves that looked very nice but were coming out of New Zealand. High price and probably high shipping. Other sleeves seemed to be for kitchen tools and were specific brands so I could not tell if they would work for the rasps I have and those I have ordered.

Any ideas, or help?

Leather will attract moisture thereby the Rasps can rust.
I've trimmed my Horses hooves for decades now and always used a piece of old thin wooden blanket rolled around my hoof rasp, never had any rust or dulling problems although I replace a Rasp every few years or so.
I do the same with my wood rasps and metal files.
Never discard old woolen anything, you'd be surprised at how practical Wool can be for various purposes.

 

[Rifleman1776]

protect my rasps and files from touching each other

I've done more than a little bit of woodworking over the years and never heard a necessity for that. Mine are just in a drawer touching each other. No complaints from them or me. BTW a couple are about 100 years old and still going strong.

 

[Barry Strickland]

I build different racks for different tools. One for metal files one for wood files and one for some scrapers and chisels. Etc.
Barry

 

[Eric Krewson]

My general files are in a drawer piled on top of each other like Rifleman's, I don't stir the pile, they sit there quietly next to or on top of each other and never move. I have never had one dull because of the way they are stored. The picture is of my file drawer and the $1 brass BBQ brush file card that I have been using for at least 20 years.

I built my workbench to be as solid as a boulder so the files in the drawer won't be shaking about.

I made the file rack because these are my most used rasps and one half-round wood file, I also wanted my mini files easily accessible as well. I really did want to protect these as well as make them easy to grab.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

Could it be that letting files touch each other causing them to get dull is just another old wives tale that keeps getting repeated? I've always believed it.