Riffler files useful for relief carving?

[Bill Whig]

Woodcraft has a small set for about $22.99, and another small set for about $169. Never used one. Are they tools for relief carvers?

Thank you,
Bill

[pallin]

As a relief carver I'd admit never using rifflers, but I like reliefs that show the marks of gouges, etc. For deep reliefs that you want to be smooth, they might be useful.

[Robson Valley]

I have a handful. They seem to get bunged up with wood fiber quite quickly, hence my thread "Cleaning Out Corners." Next is to get clean grooves without some sliver lying in the bottom!

[stave]

I use them often for all kinds of applications. Most recently I used a fine riffler to give a slight texture to the background of a relief carving. Not something I use everyday but when you need them nothing else will do.

Stave

[carverwood]

I use them once in a while for giving a different texture, look to certain spots.