A wood rasp is a coarse, toothed tool used for shaping wood through abrasion. It differs from a wood file in that its cutting surfaces consist of individual teeth, rather than continuous ridges. An example application includes removing significant amounts of material quickly to achieve a desired form, such as rounding an edge or creating a curved surface.
The ability to rapidly shape wood makes the rasp valuable in woodworking and carpentry. This characteristic is especially beneficial when working with irregular shapes or when speed is a priority over a perfectly smooth finish. Historically, rasps have been employed to refine wooden components where precision machinery was unavailable or impractical.
