A wallboard rasp having an expanded metal blade mounted to a molded plastic handle.
The handle is configured with a downwardly-opening receiving groove for receipt
of an upwardly-curved perimeter portion of the blade. Sections of the blade's perimeter
may be crimped or heat staked within the groove. The groove may be formed between
a downwardly-projecting outer lip and one or more downwardly-projecting inner ribs.
Where the blade is formed with a substantially planar central portion, the ribs
may have substantially planar downwardly-facing surfaces against which the blade's
central portion may be supported when mounted on the handle. The grip portion of
the handle is configured as a contoured, upwardly-extending body having a base
with opposite knurled inset surfaces and a convex top flanged surface with spaced-apart
grip ribs.