Editor's Review: Fast Rasp Excels at Inside Corners

4-in-Hand rasps are widely available, and most finish carpenters carry one. But I've traded mine for a Shinto Saw Rasp, which raises the bar to a new level for only $12 more. The drawback to a 4-in-Hand is that the teeth don't extend to the file's edges, so it's nearly impossible to clean up an inside corner. The Shinto rasp makes working in corners a breeze because the teeth cover its entire face, including the edges.

Like many woodworking tools, this rasp is meant to be held with two hands, so you'll have to clamp down the workpiece. The teeth on the tool look like bandsaw blades sandwiched together in a waffle pattern, and they cut faster than a file without clogging. Each Shinto Saw Rasp has two working sides; the coarse side cuts so quickly that you'll soon be making pocket cuts without any fear, and just a few hits with the rasp's fine side leave any cut ready for sandpaper.

Editor Test Results: