That time a kid asked me to explain my rasp collection

Had a young girl at a 4H event last month point at my 15 rasps spread out on a towel and ask "do you really need all those?" I told her no, but each one has a job like my 8-cut for rough shaping and a 10-cut for finish work. Have you ever had someone totally outside the trade ask a question that actually made you rethink your workflow?

3 comments

3 Comments

umaprice1mo ago

Man, honestly that's a great question from the kid. But here's what gets me - when she said "do you really need all those," did she make you actually count up how many times you reach for each one in a typical day? I've got a buddy who swears by his 7-cut for everything and I'm like, you're missing half the point of having the right tool for the job. What was your honest answer to her after you thought about it for a second?

ivanlewis1mo ago

@umaprice hit on something real there. That kid's question made me count my own reach-for frequency, and I found I grab the same four rasps like 90% of the time. Gave her the honest answer that those other eleven are mostly for specific jobs that come up maybe twice a year, but when they do, nothing else works.

thomas_roberts1mo ago

Figured something out after that kid asked me. Those rasps with the really aggressive teeth? They actually chatter less on green wood than the finer ones do. Never noticed till she made me stop and think about what each one does different.