Shop Skills #3: Sharpening Card Scrapers - The Lost Scene...

Todd,
Loved the first video and now the lost scene video. I can only repeat what others have already said, but thank you so much for being so giving, of your time, to help your fellow woodworkers. I know I, like many others, do really appreciate your efforts and helpful information.

-- "You get what you inspect, not what you expect"

You just wanted to leave that out so you could get everyone to up your post count.. T know you Todd.

Good job ny the way.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Todd, Good job. Thank you!

When does the Blooper reel come out?

-- David, South Windsor, CT "I love the smell of sawdust in the morning"

LOL Brad_N

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

Todd -

That was amazing to watch the finish flying off that scraper!

David

-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com

I thought that this scene was pretty important to get in there.

It can be easy to miss a scene during editing.

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

Todd I enjoyed this…one of the problems common in teaching or sharing is that a convenient or appropriate time for questions never presents itself. While watching your video I had the impression that questions would not only be encouraged, but genuinely welcomed. Well done Todd, very well done. You know one of the first hurdles faced in woodworking, or rather thier skills….is being able to recognize a 90 degree angle. I would enjoy your take on how this “talent” could be realized. It is a simple concept, but it has a huge impact on virtually every aspect of this craft as we move forward, from chopping a mortise, cutting dovetails, fitting a joint..or to sharpening our card scrapers….once again, thank you

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

Harold – Finding 90 is the crux of many woodworking skills.

As with anything it takes practice.

I found it interesting to watch myself in the video because I realized how skilled I have become at using the card scraper. It was like watching someone else that knew what they were doing.

It is an easy tool to operate really, but I always went to the right angle in the video and was peeling off beautiful shavings of wood.

I did comment in the video that finding the working angle would be intuitive once you practice it.

I am certain that it is impossible for me to achieve a perfect 90 degree position without a jig, but I am getting it close enough because it works and works very well.

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

Oh man. Burnisher sales are dropping as we speak…....... ;)

Great excerpt!

-- For free video tutorials and other cool woodworking stuff, check out http://www.TheWoodWhisperer.com

Nice video, Todd. I will put my card scrapers to better use because of this video.

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

Well done Todd.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Todd, you have just relieved the burden of sharpening scrapers for a bunch of guys. I love to use the scraper but I have always hated the sharpening \ burnishing part. Thank you for a new way to do things.
Later,
Doug in AZ.

-- If you need craft books - please visit our small business at http://www.wittywife.com

Todd,
I tried your technique on my new fangeled bench with a piece of maple that I had roughed from a 20” planer that was traveling too fast and put about 8,000 mill marks in it Took the marks right off. It is nice because you can do it fast and with my new bench, I can have everything clamped up right at my finger tips. Here’s a pic. Thanks Todd

-- Do we do this for purpose or passion?

Thanks for the feedback and especially the photo!

It is great to see that it worked for you.

The speed combined with the results are what I love about this method.

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

a belated “thanks” and “well done”

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

That was 2 great videos Todd.Before LJ’s I hadn’t even heard of a card scraper. Thank you so much for opening my eyes to such a simple and effective tool.

-- Dustygirl..Hastings,Ontario.. How much wood can 1 gal chuck if 1 gal can't cut wood?

Todd, I had in fact read in a recently acquired book on guitar making that a scraper could be just filed before use, but didn’t smooth as good a the regular method. I was eager to try it out. I use my scrapers a lot, but have always used the “long method” to sharpen. Seeing your video was a revelation. Thank you so much for taking all the time to make this video so we can get even more enjoyment out of woodworking.

-- Mike, American in Norway

well this is an older post but i just found it, hopefully i can get an answer here.

ive tried the technique you show with no luck at all. my question is what type of file should i be using? i tried it with a file with crosscut lines as i dont have a single cut file. would that make a difference?

You can only use a single cut mill file. It cannot have the crosscut or crosshatch pattern in it.

Is that what you are using?

I have good result on a 10 mill and 12 mill single cut bastard file.

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

yeah its a crosscut style. i will get me a single cut fill and try it again. thanks!

That will solve the problem!

They do not cost much

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

hey todd finally got around to getting a new file with similar results. would the quality of card scraper make a difference on what kind of shavings it produces? im using one i got from woodcraft, its a lynx brand by e garlick and sons. says its made in england so i thought they would be good. they are supposed to measure 0.8mm thick. should i try a different brand?

Mike- There are two challenges to using a card scraper; 1. sharpening and 2. properly using.
I seriously doubt that the card scraper itself is the issue. If you have a single cut file then it comes down to sharpening or scraping technique.

Sharpening the scraper is actually pretty easy. But if you do not think that you are holding it at a proper 90° to the file, it is easy enough to make a jig. However, a perfect 90° is not necessary because I can guarantee that I do not maintain a perfect 90° to the file and I get a sharp scraper.

When you check to see if it is sharp, pull your fingers across the face of the card and across the edge. When you do this, you will feel the burr on the edge. You will feel this on both sides and it is what does the cutting. Sharpening methods that use the burnisher refine this burr, but I get great results without refining it and it cuts very well as the video shows.

The next thing is using the card scraper. In helping others with card scrapers, I find that often this is where they are having the real difficulty. Sharpening with the file is easy, I even showed my wife and her friend how to do it so they could refinish a piece of outdoor furniture. They were sharpening and scraping on their own within a few minutes.

Start out holding the card scraper at a right angle to the board and only take it down about 20° to get the proper scraping angle. This will actually get you close, but you will need to play with that angle a little bit and lower or raise it to find the proper working angle. One hint – a higher angle works better than a lower angle.

A little bow or camber helps, but is not specifically necessary because I can pull the card scraper with one hand and get good shavings.

I hope this extra information helps.

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

hi todd, thanks for all the advice. i believe i am sharpening the scraper properly as i do feel the burr after sharpening so i think you may be right about my technique. i have to admit i may be holding the scraper at too much of an angle. i will experiment more with the angle and let you know how it goes. thanks again

I look forward to seeing how it works out.

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

Todd, you’re really good…

I like the way you use the KISS method / approach!

Thank you.

-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Alta Loma, CA USA - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?ppuser=1389&cat=500"

I just found this, and it has made my scrapers so much better! I just glued up 4 maple boards (going to be a raised panel door), and after planing down the joints I took the card scraper to it and it is baby bottom smooth. These doors will be painted, so I may hit them with a little 220 before painting, but honestly I think I could paint them as-is. In the future though, I will probably be wearing gloves when sharpening… I slipped once and took a pretty good gouge out of my right palm on one of the scrapers corners >_<