Some people may be interested in this scraper I got from a power hacksaw blade.
The blade was 1000mm long and 3mm thick. I cut about 120mm off one end as you see in the pic, using a cutting disk in a small angle grinder.
Didn’t exactly go through it like butter, but din’t take too long either and more importantly there was not a lot of heat. The disc got smaller.
Then ground the teeth off on my very mean belt grinder, and used a 220grit belt to linish the faces and the edges.
Final step was to polish the edges on a disc grinder whish ensured that they were flat.Diamond plate would also do.
Obviously too hard to use a burnisher-But it takes good shavings on hardwoods and semi soft like you see in the picture AND it seems to go forever, so I am pleased.
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Philip Marcou
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Replies
"Obviously too hard to use a burnisher"
Hi Philip,
I believe you have proved, once again, that at heart, woodworkers are essentially problem solvers.
I'm curious: what happened when you tried to turn a burr using a burnisher?
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
I have a similar scraper, I do not turn a burr. No need to as the old hacksaw blade is 1/8" thick. Just drawfile and scrape. Thin scrapers are better drawfiled, honed, and a burr put on.Very little bow is needed to make it work. I mainly used it years ago to scrape down hardwood stair treads. The old treads had dips in them, the scraper blended the dips if they were heavy, or eliminated them if they were thinner than a 1/16".I use a regular card scraper for furniture, the hacksaw blade is too aggresive for that.
mike
Thanks, Mike!
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
Jazz,
I didn't even try, as I don't have a carbide burnisher and it works well as it is. I actually don't know if carbide would turn a burr, or indeed if that steel will take a burr.Will try it if and when I get a carbide burnisher.
I am wandering how this metal would work as a plane blade- but cutting the slot and hole would be a pain-I don't have the urge to do that at the moment.Philip Marcou
Hi Philip,
There have been times when, without a burnisher at my disposal, I've improvised with a valve stem from an automobile engine, a screwdriver shaft, or even the shank of a drill bit.
In truth, my test as to whether or not a card scraper has been properly shaped and sharpened, and is ready to have the burr rolled, is whether or not it produces nice fluffy shavings without a burr; the burr just makes the scraper cut a little more aggressively. For delicate scraping, as on veneers, I keep a well-tuned scraper that has no burr, precisely because it cuts cleanly, but isn't too aggressive.
Have fun with your new shop-made tool,-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
I've got a few blades identical to that one. I have to admit that I never even considered them for scraper material.
How much elbow grease involved in that pile of shavings? Seems that it would be awkward to use, at first.
You the man.
Dustin,
Where are you finding the space for "quite a few " blades? I hope you noticed the size of that turkey: 1000mm(just under3 feet)<G>
Elbow grease? In comparison to the usual card scrapers, like Sandvik etc, far less, very little effort and not necessary to flex.(I doubt if even a gorilla could flex that stuff). When I tried it on some Wenge it did not heat up either. But the main feature as far as I am concerned is that I am still wandering when it is going to need sharpening.
When the urge strikes I think I will make some smaller ones, and expriment with grinding a 45* bevel-as for Stanley #80 scraper.Philip Marcou
Where are you finding the space for "quite a few " blades?
First of all, I said "a few". Mainly they are laying on the ground, used to level my assembly bench. I only have 2 that are full length, when they are break it's usually in three pieces.
I get them from the metal fabrication shop next to mine. They use the power hack saw instead of a chop saw, much less heat, and no distortion. They have one large around 3', and one about 2'.
If you are interested I can probably acquire some more.
Edited 8/13/2005 8:52 am ET by dustinf
If carefull about not heating them, they also make reasonable irons for wooden planes. They will burr if ground at less than 90.
I've heard of lot a people making them out of old hand saws.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
PlaneWood
Yes that is the traditional source- but these are always wanting sharpening and or ticketing, which is boring. That "hacksaw" steel is different-that's why I think I've fallen in love with it .Philip Marcou
I have a nice low angle plane.. I use my card scrapers if it sort of stopps on my cut...
I'm not sure why I have all my planes.. Card scrapers are better.. But take a bit more UpKeep!
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