Scraper Video

Good video. I’d like to add my methods for using a card scraper, but I’ve got no methods. As I get deeper into woodworking I’m finding all sorts of hand tools that are quite interesting. The problem for me is figuring out the application for each tool. When do you use a scraper? When do you use a plane? And what kind? So much to learn, so little time.

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

Great video! Had not considered a card scraper until now. Thanks for sharing.
God bless

-- Gene, a Christian in Virginia

Blake,
That’s a nice video on a subject that is very subjective. While scrapers are the simplest tool, they can be the most difficult to use effectively. My first thought is that you could have burnished a hook on one scraper and used it first then finished up with the one with out a hook. The more agressive hook would have more quickly removed the finish and then a quick once over would have put the finish on it. I use a scraper when I need it, usually to clean off a glue line before I switch to a smooth plane. I feel that a smooth plane will give a superior finish over a scraper. However for a lot of my work(cabinets,etc.) the finish precludes the need and a ROS is quicker and more cost effective. Three coats of poly and you can’t tell whether it was scraped, planed or sanded. We have to be careful that we don’t get caught up in the process and forget that the end product is the goal. You are doing good things, Blake, keep ‘em coming. Thanks.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

Great video, well done! Enjoyed the music, too.

-- Coffee is best with a fine layer of sawdust on top. -- http://www.north40custom.com

Blake – excellent. Just a few steps to smooth. That’s great. I liked the video, the music and the fact that you gave the Mrs. a plug. That’s a good thing! Look forward to your next video.

-- Betsy - GO BUCKS!

Blake, great video. As Thos. said, scraper use is pretty subjective. That’s the nice thing about this woodworking thing. There are many ways to skin a cat. Thanks for showing the sharpening process and commenting on the 4 surfaces you have to work with. That’s valuable information for anyone considering using a scraper. You made good use of one on that project. Keep the vids coming!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

I was under the impression that you had to put a hook on the scraper. I’ll have to try this out. Again I learned something. Thanks.

-- Dominic, Trinity, Florida...Lets be safe out there.

Cute Blake! Could have used your advise when I redid the breadboard edge of my desk. I also see that LN sells a handle that protects your fingers from the friction heat. Think I’ll have to add a set to my Christmas wish list!

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

A very informative video, Thanks!

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

I’ve been going to get one. Now I’ll mover it up on my wish list.

-- Bruce from Central New York

The video wont play for me…what am i doing wrong?????//

-- Brad,--"The way to eat an eliphant is one bite at a time"

Try it now.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com

Finally able to view the video. I’m not sure why you chose not to burnish the scraper, seems like it would require a lot less effort if the edge had the hook?

-- Brad,--"The way to eat an eliphant is one bite at a time"

Good to see some instuctional videos. I typically have an aggressive hook on one of the long edges and a less angled hook on the opposite edge. I use a simple wooden holder I bought that holds and bends the scraper slightly. Saves some stress on the hands and helps force better technique. I use it most when removing finish versus surface prep. Enjoyed it.

-- Jeff, South Carolina

Very nice….always wanted to try using a scraper..you took allot of the mystery out of it!

-- Women love me.....trees fear me

Great video Blake. I love to use a scraper for removing mill marks on the edges of boards instead of running them through the jointer, or removing the glue line on panels. I do burnish a hook on mine, but I spent a lot of time over the years learning to get the hook just. Now it’s just second nature. I have always put a hook on the scraper. The next time I sharpen them I’ll try your way, and see how thing come out. Thank you for sharing.

-- Greg Mitchell--Lowell, AR--gdamitchell@sbcglobal.net

That was really a great video, Blake. You have talent….....please do more~!

-- Forget the health food, I need all the preservatives I can get !

Man do I envy your video skills. I have to figure out how to get video in myself. I use a card scraper all the time and I leave the file in the vise and draw the card across the file. I have been wanting to figure out video so that I can show people how simple card scraper and chisel sharpening can be.

Thanks again for sharing.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

That was a lot of fun Blake! Keep ‘em coming! I have a feeling you’ll be doing more?!

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Lee Jesberger had a tip that makes scraping easier, and doesn’t cost as much as a handle, although you still have to provide the bending that creates the camber for aggressive scraping. He uses a magnetic business card to reduce the heat created while scraping. Works like a champ…and it’s cheap, fast and easy (like one of Niki’s jigs).

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

great tips
great video (informative, entertaining, and not too slow/fast….) Well done.
I, too, want more videos from you!

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Great video and perfect timing – I got my first card scraper from Rockler today. Now, I’m confused – to i put a hook on it, or not put the hook? So many techniques and so little brain.

Do you scraper gurus recommend scrapping just prior to putting a finish on a project? For example I am just about ready to wrap up a box, made with Tiger Maple. Should I sand? Use hand or ROS? Should I use the scrapper after sanding – or should I use a plane? This is some confusing stuff. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

Try ‘em all , Bill, and then “Suit yourself.” LOL

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

Yeah, Bill. You have lots of choices there for sure. Thos.’s suggestion of trying them all is really good advice. As far as a small box? I’d put the power sander away and see which you like between a smoothing plane and a scraper. As for which one you’ll like better? I love to go into the shop, pull out a plane and a cut-off from the pile, and dimension it, flatten it, smooth it and basically widdle it away. Take some scrap, put a hook on one edge of your card and not on the other…then play with it…see what you like. Sorry…long winded way of agreeing with Thos.Angle.

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

The video was great, very well done. I just have one question, I gotta know where you got those socks, and coooooool shoes? I’m sorry I couldn’t pass that up. My wife laughs at me when I wear my dockers and socks. It’s all about comfort. Again cool video very helpful.

-- Kirk H. -- http://www.kjwoodworking.com

Excellent video. Love the music! You make it look easy and what a job it did on removing that finish. Thanks!

-- Jesus is Lord!

Great video Blake. I. too, used scrapers for the first time. I refinished a chair using them. It sure does make a nice finish. I got my set from Woodworkers Depot. $13.95 for 3 shapes

So that is what that piece of metal is for. Interesting . . . very interesting.

-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them

Great Job. I’m going to start using a scraper more often. Thank you.

-- Making sawdust is what I do best

Excellent Blake, If you have any of the old pull type saw blades left over, the make excellent cabinet scraper stock. The cool thing about the age we live in is that we have access to literaly countless generations even ages, of knowledge. I do use abrasives on almost every project, but I know of no other way to carefully and quickly shape a piece. I work with alot of complex curved pieces and the scaper allows my to fine tune the shape, a 256th of an inch at a time. I then use abrasives to blend the tiny facets that are left. Great video
take care, harold

-- If knowledge is not shared, it is forgotten.

WAY TO GO !!!! I will buy a set at my new Reno Woodcraft. I have never used one before…thank you my young learned friend. You sexy man…watch out Brad Pitt!

-- Odie, Confucius say, "He who laughs at one's self is BUTT of joke".

That was a verry intresting instruction video. Keep doing these things.

Great video….very informative. Who would have thought….Think of the hours I have spent sanding.

-- Brian's Table Top Toys http://home.mountaincable.net/~bgraham/

I have always used mine with the hook. I’ll have to try it without. I do not put a hook on the blade of my stanley #80.

-- Maplewood, MN

Im sorry folks . . . but I have to ask . . . what the heck is a burnished hook.

I thought it was some football play devised by the 49ers ?!

-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them

When you “burnish” the edge of the scraper you are using a piece of hardened steel rod to roll over the edge of the scraper. You press hard and run the burnisher over the scraper’s edge at just the right angle. It creates an almost microscopic “hook” along the scraper’s edge. You can barely see it but you can feel it… and that edge will more aggressively shave the surface of the wood.

Even the biggest shavings from a scraper are still MUCH finer than shavings from the “average” hand plane.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com

And you can make your own lathe tools from the dulled files.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

ahhhhh … i see

-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them

Very cool video! I alway put a hook on mine. I find that as they wear, I get the smooth finish you describe.

Nice music!

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

Great video and instruction, I had never even heard of scapers. Thanks!

-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX

My scraper arrived in the mail yesterday. I tried it out last night… and now, where’s the first place I head this morning? To the video to remind myself how to sharpen it!! Thank you :)

So when is your next “creative outlet” video going to arrive? what topic will you address next?

oh does it matter what “grit” (don’t know the term) the file is?

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

As far as I know just a standard file will get you going. Look into some of the other podcasts and literature on the net for rolling the edge or “burnishing” and some of the other ways of using a scraper. For certain applications you may need a finer edge. Also, for fine work, honing on a wet stone may be necessary.

I’m not sure when or what the next video will be but if something inspires me you will see more video. It’s tough since I don’t actually have a video camera! But thanks for the interest.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com

Nice work Blake. While we are on this topic. Anyone have any good ideas for using a card scraper on small projects. I build a lot of boxes with figured woods and haven’t hade much luck in scraping. I have difficulty in hold the work. Take a look at my latest project post and you’ll see the sizes I am talking about.

-- Check out my blog and podcast "The Renaissance Woodworker" at www.rogersfinewoodworking.com/blog

great video you’ve convinced me to get that card scraper set at Rockler.

Shannon,

Try a mini-scraper…

Gentle use of a razor blade (with one reinforced edge of course) works wonders. The president of our WWGuild, Mark Laub, has a video about inlay techniques on FWW.com that has a brief example of this.

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

Great video, I’ll have to try it without the “hook.” Thanks!

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)

Very nice video Blake. I just received my scrapers from Lee Valley, tried em’ and they work GREAT!!!!

Excellent. The credits were a nice touch. I honestly hadn’t tried using one without burninshing a hook, but you are right that with a hook they can sometimes get away from you.

-- Doug, woodworking in Alabama