The Accu-Burr burnisher makes it easier to turn consistent cutting burrs (or “hooks”) on scrapers. What makes it unique are its V-grooves, which form two burrs at once, one on each corner of an edge. There are three grooves, which produce three different burr angles, for varying levels of aggressiveness. The V-grooves let you simply keep the burnisher level as you push it along the edge, instead of guessing at the correct angle and maintaining it as you push, as you must with a standard burnisher. 

After smoothing and squaring a scraper’s edge with a file and stones, I used the 5° groove to produce sharp, even burrs on each side of the edge. The process was quick and easy, and the scraper produced beautiful, feathery shavings on quartersawn white oak. 

The Accu-Burr is available as a bare rod, as well as with two brass handles pre-attached. I recommend buying the rod only and attaching a single handle of your own, or one of the pre-made handles available from Heartwood. That’s because burnishing actually involves two steps: After forming the initial burrs on the edge and using them for a bit, you refresh them by drawing them upward and then bending them downward again as you did at the beginning. The drawing step requires that the burnisher lie flat against the face of the scraper, which you can’t do with two handles attached.

—Chris Gochnour is a contributing editor.

Photos: Asa Christiana (top two): Rose Serago (center two)

From Fine Woodworking #305