Falling Behind
The class is about halfway through with an agenda of the following:
Sharpen four chisels
Sharpen a card scraper
Tune and Sharpen a Smooth Plane
Tune and Sharpen a block plane
S4S boards with hand tools
Cut Dovetails
Make dovetailed box with mortise and tenon handle.
So far we have finished our chisels and card scraper and worked a bit with the chisels. Our instructor has given demos on how to tune a plane as well.
Sharpening A Card Scraper
For the last two weeks Kristin and I have been sharpening our card scrapers. This was one of the things I have been interested in learning.
I started out with an old Two Cherries scraper that I had done unspeakable things to. Kristin bought a new Bahco.
We took two different paths to scraping. She spent lots of time lapping her scraper and I rushed through it (ten times). In the end I got a 19 out of 20 on my scraper and she got a 20.
Here is the basic process with photos
Step 1: Draw out the old hook.
Oil the burnisher and scraper. Set the scraper on the bench top and press down and diagonally across towards the edge a few times. Feel that any old hook has been compressed.
The idea here is that the hooks will now be pushed up by the burnisher in prep for jointing.
Step 2: Joint.
File with a single cut file set at 90 degrees. We chucked the file in our vise and pulled the scraper across it. Inspect the edges of the scraper for a nice even grind. (Some people stop at this step and use the scraper which now has a square edge.
Step 3: Lap
Using waterstones or other sharpening surface, lap the scraper. Kristin worked on hers for a long time (hours). I did as well. After jointing with the file there is a rough hook that needs to flattened. Move up through 4000 grit.
After the first sharpening this wont be a big deal. Notice that a wood block is being used to keep even pressure on the scraper.
Step 4: Hone edges
Holding the scraper at 90 degrees step through the grits to get a mirror finish on your scraper edges. This removes the rough surface left by file.
Now the scraper is approaching as square and polished as possible.
Step 5: Compress the scraper.
Chuck the scraper into the vise and oil both the scraper and the burnisher. Holding the burnisher to the scraper use moderate pressure to compress the edge.
Step 6: Draw the edge
Just like Step 1. This will draw the hook in preparation for turning it.
Step 7: Turn Hook
Chuck that scraper back into the vise. Now hold the burnisher at about 5 degrees down off normal. Use light to moderate pressure. Our Crown burnisher is round and requires more pressure than the Veritas Tri-Burnisher’s teardrop shape.
Video: Burnishing motion.
Using the scraper 
The most amazing thing for me is how light the downward pressure is when using a well sharpened scraper. When I used the file method only: You have to put quite a bit of sweat into using the scraper. This scraper brings effortless curls.
Scraper Video:
Walnut Shavings
Next time: Tuning a smooth plane.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
13 comments so far
r
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41 posts in 1422 days
#1 posted 1316 days ago
Great blog thanks for the info. This makes you appreciate a well tuned workshop.
-- u
Scott Bryan
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27262 posts in 1988 days
#2 posted 1316 days ago
Thanks, Giz. It certainly looks as if Kristin’s efforts paid off well. Her scraping technique looks almost effortless.
-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine
Todd A. Clippinger
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#3 posted 1316 days ago
Great entry Giz. You have a great advantage to learning how to sharpen the card scraper by someone teaching you personally.
You wil find yourself using the card scraper everyday that you work in the shop.
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://americancraftsmanworkshop.com
TraumaJacques
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433 posts in 1667 days
#4 posted 1315 days ago
Is she single because I would marry her …wait I am oh well ! nice shavings.
-- All bleeding will eventually stop.
gizmodyne
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1762 posts in 2256 days
#5 posted 1315 days ago
Thanks for the comments.
My wife Jacques. Sorry pal.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
Don Newton
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#6 posted 1315 days ago
Very well written and illustrated….....Thanks!
-- Don, Pittsburgh
a1Jim
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#7 posted 1315 days ago
Hey John
This is a great Blog on the sharpening of a scraper . fantastic illustration and video a great aid . I will include this blog on must see for my students.
-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/
AaronK
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1365 posts in 1631 days
#8 posted 1314 days ago
nice entry.
i have to ask though – why so long lapping the sides of the scraper?
DaleM
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#9 posted 1314 days ago
Great blog. I especially like the drawings of what the edge would look like for each step since my eyesight isn’t quite sharp enough to see that small of a burr.
-- Dale Manning, Carthage, NY
scottishrose
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110 posts in 1332 days
#10 posted 1314 days ago
John,
Where are you taking your class? Did you bring your own tools or were they provided? Is this a residential program or something you do on an evening or weekend? It sounds like a great program and I appreciate the emphisis on making the tools work for you instead of just getting a project to take home. This is infinitely more condusive to learning as you take home the skills that will last. The box will no doubt be a keepsake, but the skills will be a real keeper!
Sorry I havn’t had time to read the whole blog – I am new here and yes, as folks warned me with their welcomes this is an addictive site.
gizmodyne
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1762 posts in 2256 days
#11 posted 1313 days ago
Scottish Rose:
Cerritos Community College has a full woodworking aa degree. This is a weekend class, but due to budget constraints the classes are Mon- Friday for the upcoming semesters.
For the power tool classes the tools are provided. The hand tools class provides some sharpening supplies and a few of the less common planes for use. Otherwise this class requires purchases.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
Walnut_Weasel
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#12 posted 1311 days ago
Great job. Thank you very much for taking the time to put this information together!!
-- James - www.walnutweasel.wordpress.com
naterajj
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22 posts in 1277 days
#13 posted 1264 days ago
I am taking 101 on Sundays at Cerritos College :)
Do you learn to do this in 201 (Working with Handtools?)
I spent 2 days of my thanksgiving weekend hand sanding the inside of my box, which sent me looking for better ways to achieve the same results.
After looking at many videos and 2 separate tries to sharpen my scraper, I have managed to get small shavings from a bahco, but nothing like in your video and it leaves scratches like a coarse sandpaper (say 150 grit)
Would you say a scrapper sharpened like yours could completely replace hours of tedious sanding? :)
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