I’ve been collecting and bookmarking scratch stock ideas for a while now and it never quite made it to the top of the list. I decided to give it a go last night and found them about as simple to make as a hand tool can be. The picture below is pretty self explanatory as to what’s what. Each stock is about 5.5” x 2.5” x 1.25”. I went about as cheap as possible with some construction grade pine. I made two as I read conflicting reviews on how to secure the irons and what hardware was more favorable. I did both and found both work without fuss. I prefer the wing nuts for simplicity, but the 1” screws hold it firm as well. A few details to notice. The long arm is rounded on the bottom so that it can rock and allow you to find the angle that is smoothest. I was lazy and used a round over bit and ran the bearing right into the handle. Functionally no issue, but lazy. The kerf was done on a band saw but I suppose s fine handsaw or the like would get it done.
The irons are the make or break factor on this one. I show two of several I made in the picture. The chamfer (larger one) iron was a scrap from a card scraper. It is positioned for an aggressive cut which isn’t a great idea, but lets the picture show it a bit better. The tiny beading iron was from a metal cutting jig saw blade. I find they are’t quite wide enough for many of the things you’ll want to shape. I like the card scraper, handsaw, reciprocating saw blade route more so for that reason. It’s very possible to make a profile on the other side of the iron as well to double the options without any more irons to keep around. Easy to shape these. A angle grinder or a cut off tool will get the bulk done. File it to shape and it’s ready.
-- Jeff, South Carolina
4 comments so far
dub560
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602 posts in 1080 days
#1 posted 549 days ago
Looks good..demo please
-- Life is enjoyable especially when you borrow from people
tom427cid
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299 posts in 637 days
#2 posted 549 days ago
Hi,
First tool I made was a scratch stock-still use it.
I might suggest that as time goes on that you use a close grained hardwood. It will stand up to a lot of use.
As well as the contact surface takes a nice polish-makes for smoother operation.
tom
-- "certified sawdust maker"
Dennisgrosen
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10854 posts in 1282 days
#3 posted 549 days ago
thanks for the info and sharing them :-)
I still have to make one but I think its a tool that deserve an renaissance in woodworking
and they will if people wuold see they can benefit from both powertools and handtools
take care
Dennis
USCJeff
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1041 posts in 2235 days
#4 posted 545 days ago
No doubt, Tom. The pine will do what pine does and not take any abuse without consequence. The inevitable dents in the wood will make a bumpy ride before too long. The better plan is to use (like you mentioned) a tight hard species. Hard Maple has been my go-to in most wooden tool making things I’ve done. Takes abuse and moves very little. I’ve had great one’s with Purple Heart as well. The local store ran into a ton of Purple Heart and sold it dirt cheap. Don’t care for Purple, but it’s one of the densest I’ve used.
-- Jeff, South Carolina
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