Hi Folks,
I just got a new LV Card Scraper Set and am wondering if anyone has had experience with one. Any tricks to its use?
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
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Replies
A card scraper is pretty simple; not too many knobs to tweak. Have you seen the Brian Boggs video somewhere on this site? I think he covers all the bases.
-Steve
Just learn to sharpen it. Do a search here and you should find more than enough conflicting information to confuse the heck out of you.
;-)
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Mike,
Sad but true! Tooo funny!
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Bob,
Are you speaking of the curved set?
Best!
-Jerry
Jerry,
No, it's the one with these parts.
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
I got that set and it's a breeze to put a burr on the edge -- takes about a minute. I find I only use one or two of the square scrapers, one for smoothing and the thin one held flat against the surface for removing bits and pieces from a finished surface. I have a cabinet scraper for heavy duty scraping. Unfortunately you can't use the burnisher from the set on that . Now you'll have to buy one of those canvas rolls with a separate pocket for each one...
Jim
"I have a cabinet scraper for heavy duty scraping. Unfortunately you can't use the burnisher from the set on that ."
Hmmm. That's exactly what I've been doing. The instructions for the Veritas cabinet scraper say to hold the burnisher at 15° from horizontal. And since the variable burnisher can be set to that angle, that's what I use.
-Steve
LV's instructions for the cabinet scraper tell you to use a sequence of three angles, ending with 15deg., I'm not sure why. I suppose you could do all three in the card scraper burnisher, but it's quicker just to put the blade in a vise and have at it with a rod. They recommend using their Tri-burnisher (which I don't have) so I assumed they didn't want the other used for some reason. I'll give it a try next time. Thanks.
Jim
There seem to be two schools of thought regarding the turning of the burr. Some people say to do it gradually, with several strokes at increasing angles. Other people do it with one stroke at the final angle.
I tried the one-stroke approach, and it worked, so that's what I do now.
-Steve
Having given it some sober second thought, as they say, I think I see why LV don't recommend the card burnisher. It's designed to put a burr on a flat edge. The cabinet scraper blade has a sharp edge. The first two sets of strokes are meant to spread the surface and to turn it over slightly so that the final 15 deg. strokes don't blunt or mar the cutting edge. Once you've done the first two stages once, I imagine it wouldn't hurt to use the card burnisher to repeat the 15 deg. burr until such time as you had to start from scratch again. Or not. I'm no Leonard Lee.
Jim
Hi Jim,
If memory serves me correctly, the 15° burr is for rapid/aggressive stock removal. My intention is to graduate the burrs on each scraper for different uses, and keep one straight and sharp. Perhaps square on two sides and 45° on the other two.
This scraper business is relatively new to me so I guess it will be a live and learn exercise. Last week I purchased a Sandvik scraper to give it a go. Managed to get a decent burr on it using a bastard file, medium and fine oil stone and a screwdriver to make the burr. Made that one at 10° and it seemed to work quite well.
I have found that these things really get hot, but cool down fast. Also, I found that my wrists ached wicked bad! A friend has the Veritas holder and I tried that; no more burning and not as much ache in the wrists either, so that's why I bought the set. The only one I have to justify it is me; cept perhaps the CFO (read wife!).
Plus, I'm a bit of a gadget freak too, needed several scrapers and oh what the hell. I also like Lee Valley tools and they are a pleasure to work with too, both the tools and the folks there.
Regards, Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
I use them much the same way, and the burnisher works fine. I guess I was unclear (again!) about the 15 deg. That was on one of those cabinet scrapers with side handles like a spokeshave that I use for heavy work. Some people including LV call all scrapers cabinet scrapers and it can get pretty confusing. So I call the flat sheets card scrapers and tend to forget that other people don't.
Cheers, Jim
My intention is to graduate the burrs on each scraper for different uses ??I was wonderin' about that statement as soon as I saw it..Then I saw.. Plus, I'm a bit of a gadget freak too, needed several scrapers and oh what the hell.Then I understood where you are commin' from!Thinks you will need a Tormek and the attachment for planner blades!All in all, I find that to get a good 'new edge' on a scraper you need to remove the hardened edge first (heat from scraping).I think all the prep work you see sharpening one is to remove this hardened edge so you can sharpen a new edge. I'm only wrong when I notice it!
OK.
I would be curious as to how you like the burnisher. I have seen shop-made versions of a like design that are at a fixed angle.
Have never gotten the hang of the scraper holder. Bought one c. 15 years ago when they first came out and have not made much use of it. This might be as good time as any to give it another try.
One of the things I like about Knots, is that when you least expect it, someone comes along and tweaks a memory of this or that to keep you up and running.
-Jerry
I bought the set mainly because of the holder, because I have fairly painful arthritis in my wrists. It is easier on your hands, but I don't get the same feel for the wood using it. For a small job I use the scraper without it. One minor problem with it is that the screws tend to work loose, though that doesn't affect how it works. Probably I'm being too heavy handed.
I mentioned the scraper case earlier in jest, but it's not a bad thing to have. It saves you having to get out the loupe to figure out which thickness of scraper you want, or what burr (assuming you keep a variety of burrs ready made). I used to mark each one, but that didn't last, so now each one has a fixed place.
Jim
I have the same set. I really like the scraper holder, but I'm not entirely sold on the burnisher (which, ironically, was the main reason I bought the set). In my opinion, a regular rod-type burnisher allows more flexibility--you can "draw out" the edge before you set the hook.
Just my two cents.
t,
Hopefully I'll get some time in the woodshop this weekend, maybe tonight. I'll give it a twirl and post here wgat I find.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Man, that’s a lot of stuff! Most of my scrapers were cut from old hand saw blades and I just use an old chisel to roll the burr. Total cost, about nothing and they work great.
Napie,
I'll bet you also recycle old axe heads into carving tools doncha! Just kidding with y'all. I tried several times to make scrapers from recycled materials and yes, they basically worked.
My problem is that I've a bit of one o dem ritis boys in me wrists and after 40+ years of working with computers there's a bit o carpal tunnel that bugs me to beat jeeesuus! Plus, the damn things get HOT!
Yeah I know, excuses, excuses. The way I look at it is if I can spend a few dollars that will get me tools so I can work wood, then that works for me. Everyone has their own ways o gettin there, and that's the fun part o this hobby for me.
How're them nice bowls coming along? Do ya rough 'em out wid ya teeth!?
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Fingernails, but you gotta wait till they grow back so it slows the process down a bit.
I have use scrapers all the time. Much more than any of the planes I have which are few. Even a single-edge razor blade or utility knife blade make a great scraper if you don't cut your fingers. Hard to get blood stains out of the 'stick'...I'm a bit 'crude' sometimes and even a dull scraper works OK! OK, so they should give shavings but even when providing dust things usually work out well enough (on most woods.. Not all though.)Now, if somebody can show be a good way to 'properly' sharpen those french curved ones I'll stand up and cheer for them and may even drink a toast of my favorite brew to them!
Hi Will,
show be a good way to 'properly' sharpen those french curved ones
Yup, that's another challenge when I get there. I spent a good part of yesterday slicing cherry burls. The figure is mind boggling! I'll get some pics later this week. I sliced several pieces that are a little better than ½" thick to make a box outa them.
That should be a good test of them scrapers. Haven't had a chance to get to them yet as the wifes honey do list contains several birdhouses first. Got a good run on 8 of them rascals yesterday.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
The figure is mind boggling! My wife was like that!
Bob, there's a sharpener video in FWW.com somewhere. Our own tms, who hangs out more at WWA now, did an excellent shapening article there, click here for access.
Thanks forestgirl,
That's one I hadn't seen yet! I'll check it out as soon I can. Hope all is well with you out there on the left coast.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
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