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#1 ·
The family portrait...

Scraper shaves my way
making a bunch of scraper shaves

Lately I have been making quite a few new handles for old hammers and axes, and the finish has been made with a card scraper.
This tool, the scraper starts to show its face to me more and more - when a large burr it can produce shavings, and with a fine burr it can make dust. But most of all it brings a finish that you can never get with sandpaper, it brings out the life of the wood.

So when I lately saw several people here on LJ making scraper shaves from an article in a magazine called ShopNotes I had to try this and this is where my journey begins few days ago, and I'm still on the go. (ShopNotes No112 July-August 2010).

Karsons go on it was the drop that made me think I can do this http://lumberjocks.com/projects/43977#comment-971231 so thank you Karson.

I read the article and went to the workshop full of inspiration and started on the project, following no plan, no measures and no idea of anything but the goal!
This might not be the cleverest way to approach this, but I'm on a journey of learning and here I did learn some lessons.


First step was to find some wood.
Recycle!
So an old table leg was chosen, made of beautiful mahogany, perhaps a little soft for the purpose, but they might end up beautiful this way, and I will give them a harder throat then. The wood I choose for the throat was really hard, I think it is a white Oak since it smells a little pee when cut.


You can see I put up several options for the throats, but I like the idea of white with the mahogany.


A bunch of brass bolts knobs from my favorite store in Paris (BHV).
I have bought two sizes, then we will see.


Cutting up the table leg to make it in to useable wood.


Planning it one side.


Then this side is used against the fence to cut it in even thickness.


Now I draw a straight curve on one side .


And decide to let me inspire by the old English spoke shaves for the shape.
Only I want to reverse the shape to give a good strong grip, and then play with the shaping as I go along


Four pieces ready.


Cutting that straight curve on one side.


On my computer I have made some patterns that fit my taste, these are printed and I tape them on the wood.
Here is a link for my patterns in PDF format.
http://www.felding.net/image/pic/scrapershaves/shavepattern.pdf


Then cut after the pattern.


Like so.
Why do I get so much burn there?


Four of them - this is going to be fun.


Now I tape the front pattern to them.


And cut.


Here we are.


Time for a good espresso and some tobacco.
While I drink this I decide I will make four more, but these in 60 percent scale… Don't drink coffee.
So I find a piece of a garden parasol I saved from trash, some fine dark hardwood.


More scrapers coming up!


Better way to tape.


Cut.


So.


So so…


Four small scrapers body ready.


The family portrait.

This is where we stop for now, with this wonderful family portrait leaving us with plenty of imagination.

I hope this could inspire others to make their own scraper shaves, I'm having a wonderful time here,

Best thoughts,
MaFe
 
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#3 ·
I just thought I'd check LJs at lunchtime and I see you've been busy again. The scraper shave family are looking mighty fine Mads. I can already tell that by the end of this masterclass you will have me wanting to make a set for myself. I can't wait for the next installment.

Take care,

Andy
 
#5 ·
Mads,

Now you definitely have my attention. We need to get you a good video camera so you can post these things as videos. You are an excellent teacher and I love your blogs, but it would really be cool to see you in action via video.

Doc
 
#8 ·
Looks like you are still busy having fun in the shop, Mafe. I like this new family you have started, since I do
not even have one spokeshave, I guess I will have to take your approach and just do it and find out what
the result is. Thank you for sharing your workshop and your amazing sense of inventiveness and humor
with us.
 
#12 ·
thank´s Mads I just got home and checked My mails with a mug of chocolate beside me :)
before turning directly in to bed after 17 hours on the road ….not funny
and just had to see what you had come up with this time :)
another fantastic picturetoturial on something thats looking real good sofare
but you are way out of your usual leauge here this is massproduction not oneoff
as we are used to see from your creative mind :)

take care
Dennis
 
#13 ·
Hello LJ's,
Hi Dennis, good with chocolate, good with a bed. No, no mass production - not two are the same, but it's a Mads production!
Ian, then you has no excuse… I will be happy to see some in your future also.
Dez, yes I smile as I build.
Kent, ;-)
Gus, I believe Veritas has a spoke shave build set. But you can start with these this is great fun. Since I bought some spoke shaves I must admit I love to use them, they provide you with a kind of freedom to use the wood as clay (does that make any sense…). Humor? I'm dead serious!
Dan, I'm happy to get you hooked! And to have you around, you know the mail.
saddletramp, tooltorial - I love that one - it's a real MaFe! ;-)
Doc, you make me laugh - no way no video here! You will have to do with the tutorials. I talk too much so to build a project like this would take a week on recording. I used to teach constructing architects, so perhaps this is where I learned - thank you.
David, happy to get you out of bed, and always happy to see your face.
Andy, I'm happy to have you on the boat, this is a project where you have plenty of use for all kind of skills, and a chance to do all with hand tools (maybe not eight…), so I can highly recommend you to go for it. Just do not use one of your wonderful vintage saws.
Thomas, no oven plates here the email is too thick… yes the parasol piece is wonderful, but the deepness in the color of that mahogany is amazing, I can't wait give it oil.
Thank you all, to know you are hooked makes me even more hooked,
Mads
 
#14 ·
Wow Mads,
I nearly missed all this
I've been in the shop solid til late.

Doing Scraping of Beech tops :)

jamie
 
#16 ·
Great tutorial Mads. As you can see, I'm still catching up. I'm so glad you made these from old furniture because it reminded me that I just happen to have a lot of Beech (Bøk) furniture parts that I cut up from some chairs a long time ago and it is perfect for this project. Thanks for posting this.
 
#18 ·
Mads , I can't thank you enough I severed 4 tendons in my left hand and just used my scraper on a picture frame I made. The pressure on my thumb has had me in pain for three weeks. i can grip a handle with out pain until I saw your blog I thought I would never be able to use a scraper again. thank you,Thank You! You just had a hugh effect on my woodworking. Thanks Billp
 
#20 ·
Billp, I am so happy to read this, sorry I did not see your commet before today, it is really a wonderful outcome of my blog. How can I be more happy, I know all about pain from the body and the need of tools that can help us.

bilbaggins, yes do so, it is a wonderful little project where you cahallange different skills.

Best thoughts,
Mads
 
#21 ·
I will be making a series of wooden swords for my kids soon and have looked at buying some shaves but they can get expensive. On my prototype it was really difficult to shape the blades with saw and sander so I starting thing about these little gadgets. I think I may have just enough time to make me a couple of these and still get the swords done for Christmas. Thanks for sharing your experiences here.
 
#22 ·
Mads, you have to have the greatest collection of planes and shaves in the world. Nice tutorial on how to make them. I love it that you are so willing to share how you make these tools. A genuine Mads Tooltorial!! You should have a TV show. I think it would be a hit everywhere!!
I'll look for the Rest of the Story!!!!!!!!!!!!!..................Jim
 
#23 ·
Jim, No TV here! I'm retired - lol. I think invention grows when we share, so for me to not share would be like to go to a dark room and hope for light to arrive.

Joey, yes that sounds like a real win win, dady gets new tools and the loved once new swords!

Best thoughts,
Mads
 
#24 ·
Shape up the body

Scraper shaves my way
Shape up the body


With my favorite Supersander I now get the chance to shape the handles, this is my favorite part.
I choose to go a little more organic than they usually look, this for two reasons; I like it and find it beautiful, and second I find these organic shapes wonderful for the hands to use.
I guess it could be called bone shaped.


After the details with smaller sander wheels.


Flattening the sole.


Also the small soles.


And here we are next step.
My God that was a clever way to say this…


An old saw blade or just a crappy one like this Stanley crap can be used for scrapers.


I had an extra scraper in the 0.8 mm thickness and since I do find these too heavy for hand use, I decided to slaughter it.


Marking up for scrapers using a square and a hard point metal marker.


Cutting halfway through with a Dremmel tool.


Then breaking the rest.


Easy like this!
Isn't life just wonderful?


Sanding of the sharp edges.


And shaping the first scraper.


And for the 45 degree straight I sand it freehand.
All the scrapers need to have a 45 degree edge also the circular.
When you mount them in the scraper shaves you turn the blade so the bevel is pointing away from you, and the flat side are in your direction (If you like I draw the shave against you when you use it).


Wupti!!!


Here you see the 45 degree bevel on all of them.


I draw a circle on my worktable and fitted the sanding to it.


So time to shape the sole.
This is for the chamfer version.
I find the center and mark half the scraper thickness with a dot. Then make 45 degree lines that cross the point.
Like this we get a 90 degree meeting.


For the circular I used the scraper as layout to draw from.
Clever guy I am… lol.


Here the big one.


Big guys.


Small guys.
This makes me wonder if tools are he or she… Boats in my country are usually female, but tools…


Now I cut out for the blade holder.
But I advise you to do this first, even before you start shaping, only because you will have better support then when you do it.


Like so!


You get the picture?


I found out I had an extra blade from a Stanley 80 so I fitted this in the straight one, this is really wonderful thick.


Small once are cut also now.

Here is a link for my patterns in PDF format.
http://www.felding.net/image/pic/scrapershaves/shavepattern.pdf
Dont say I make it hard for you guys…

Here a link for a really simple scraper shave:
http://www.woodworkersinstitute.com/print.asp?p=1526

This is where we stop for today, let's see if tomorrow bring another post.

I hope this could inspire others to make their own scraper shaves, I'm still having a wonderful time here,

Best thoughts,
MaFe
 
#42 ·
When the going gets tough

Scraper shaves my way
when the going gets tough…

Part three of the tour!

Even you disturb me Swirt! Yes you! I just got the 'Motel of the mysteries' and I love this book!


Have you ever wondered how an archeologist figures out what the artifacts he or she discovers are, and how they were used those many centuries ago? David Macaulay has written an explanation that will inform all of us. He imagines that in 4022, a mediocre amateur archeologist fell into a sink hole while he was running behind in the 116th Cross-Continental North American Catastrophe Marathon. (The country of Usa with its people called Yanks had long since disappeared). Howard Carson realized that he had landed in front of a North American burial site. He knew it was tomb because of the sacred seal, which he had read about in a recent article of National Geographic. The seal was obviously placed on the door to protect the tomb and read "Do Not Disturb." Howard and his companion Harriet were beside themselves with excitement; they assembled a team and began digging. Over the following years many volunteers came to help excavate the Motel of the Mysteries. After the Great Sign was discovered the site became a showplace and pilgrims would come to see the lighting and listen to the music and read "Toot'n'C'mon Motel- Salesmen Welcome- Remote TV".


So here they are the little once now with the mouth cut.


Time to cut some wood for the mouth.
I choose light color as contrast.
Think it is white oak, it smells a little pee when cut (why do I love wood).


Adjust the thickness so it fits the mouth minus the blade thickness.


Then cut them in length.


And I also needed to adjust the height since mine are all different…


Another family photo.


Big boys!


Here you can get an impression of the size of the small once.


Finding the right spot for the brass screws.
(Actually I placed them too much to the side… That was really human!).


Marking for the mouth to be cut.
Make sure it gets a good grip on the blade to avoid chatter.


XXZZGGGTJKJKJKJLKLMNJHGDAMDAMDAMDAMDAGDRRYTYTFGHKJNJNJ
I used force to get the mouth piece out of the shave, and it broke!!!


No reason to cry!
I choose to fix it.
Epoxy my friend!


Pre drill a hole and add a brass screw.
I promise you it will never break at this spot again, this is stronger than before.


Screw it up - and screw it in!


Cut the head of, not your own if you make the same mistake as I did…


Now just a sexy twist.


Back to the project.
Marking up the throat with a cutting gauge.


Find the right bits…
Yes I do have nice order in this.


Drilling with counter sink so the screws will be level with the surface after.


First test mount!
Looking good.


But out of focus on the camera…


The beasty bunch!

Last stop for today, see you soon.

_I hope this could inspire others to make their own scraper shaves, even I did …. up I still like this project.

Best thoughts,
MaFe
 
#43 ·
you sure know how to teach

quit a gift my friend

we all thank you

and the wife's will too
as soon as they get
all the new things we make for them

with these new wonderful tools
you bring to us
 
#61 ·
Open the mouth...

Scraper shaves my way
open the mouth…

Part four of the tour!

Even the title sounds scary; do not fear this has nothing to do with dentists!


So here we are it really starts to look like tools.
And wouuu do I love that!


I had a bad surprise again due to my lack of planning…
The irons were too wide on the little shaves.
But this is not a problem, just a grinding task.


So back to the disc sander.


Remember to dip all the time, so you do not burn it.
(If you burn the steel it los it hardness).


Now all irons are fitted, and it's time to taste some good tobacco.


Open the mouth is not only the word of the dentist!
Draw a line app 3 mm in from each side, this will be where the mouth opening will be.
In this way the blade will be held by the mouth piece.


Now draw the line on the inside of the mouth.


And make a line app half the thickness of the mouth piece from line to line on the top of it.
This is what you see in the shade here (sorry).
On the bottom you will need no line since the cut will be tilted so it makes a wedge shape starting at app 3 mm and ending at zero for the two circular and the chamfer types. For the straight one 3 mm on top and ending app at 1 mm.
If this sounds complex look down six photos where you see the mouth finished.


Cut with a knife the lines, in this way you don't get tear out when you saw.


Now saw the cut, stay on the inside of the knife cuts.


It is fantastic yes?
Two cuts!


Now cut the line between the cuts with your marking knife or awl.
Pa I think about you each time I do, thank you for this wonderful knife.


Then cut out the 'wedge' with a dead sharp chisel.
I use a old English chisel that I like, and that I have rebuild to the purpose with a short handle so it's resting in my hand. While I do so I dream of the Ashley Iles chisels.


Here we are!
Mouth open.


Back in business.


Look at that.


And here you see the mouth is still closed at the bottom, but this will chance when we cut the function into the scraper shave later, do not worry.


Here with the straight blade.
And yes it is shavings you see - it works!


Here the mouth opened, I think I opened it a little too much, just a little so fine.


To cut the shape into the body I use the blades as a drawing guide in this way it should fit if I cut right.


Like so.


Transferee the lines to the sole so you have guides when shaping.


And yes on the back.


You get the picture?


For the chamfer I made a line in the center of the front.
Then a dot at the middle of this line.


Now 45 degree angle to each side from the line you make a line.


And transferee them to the sole.


And the back!


Ok I will show you a shave, since I know all love this!
Here with the straight shave.


Back to the chamfer.
With the marking knife cut the lines.


Now saw on the inside of the line holding the saw 45 degrees sideways.


And the other side - quite logically yes?


And we have a chamfer sole.
You can see why we did not need to open the mouth at the sole here, this happens when we cut into the plane body.

I will try and make one more blog today since I have the photo .

_I hope you are still having fun even I'm slow… But most of all that I keep you hooked and full of inspiration here.

Best thoughts,
MaFe
 
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