Card scraper or Stanley #80 cabinet scraper

Both. the #80 makes a nice holder for a card scraper on end. I mostly use a card scraper by hand but when you need a mount the #80 does well.

The #80 is a nice tool but for general purposes, get a card scraper (and maybe some shaped scrapers as well) and you will have a whole new ease of surfacing.

Be sure to read up on turning the burr on the scraper. Just about any hardened steel will do. I usually grab a screwdriver or something and use the shaft.

-- Woodworking shouldn't cost a fortune: http://lowbudgetwoodworker.blogspot.com/

Both, they are both very useful. You can use the card scraper for everything you can do with the cabinet scraper but not as quickly and easily. I like the control the Stanley gives me. I am not an expert at using a card scraper so maybe some one who is has a differing opinion. I will look forward to the replies.

-- Mel

I order the tooling for our CNC router at work (all top quality solid carbide Onsrud stuff) so all the burned or broken bits get turned into me for disposition. So I have a small box of broken bits with smooth solid carbide shafts and was thinking of mounting one in an old wooden screw diver handle for use as a burnisher.

Does anyone think this will work well?

I can probably find one with a 2” long smooth section, but that would be 1/2” dia.

I also have several broken 1/4” and 3/8” bits, but they have shorter shanks.

Thoughts?

-- Matt, Pine is fine, but Oak's no joke!

I let a NIB Stanley #80 with two new blades with a $35 buy it now get away from me on e-bay yesterday.

:^(

-- Matt, Pine is fine, but Oak's no joke!

You want both. Card scraper is way more versatile but unless
you are part gorilla, your thumbs will get tired long before
you’re done scraping.

Card scrapers are sold in different thicknesses and believe me
you want to have some choices. The thick ones are great
but you’ll get tired faster.

The card scraper holders are alright but they slow you down
a lot. The cutting geometry on a card scraper is different
from a #80 and the burrs get dull faster in the center
where all the action is. When you hold it with your thumbs
you flip, flip, flip until the edges are used up. Then you
grab another scraper or “pick up” the edge of the one
you are using if you can and if you know how to.

The common wisdom is to joint the edges with a file,
but I usually just use a diamond stone and hone the faces
too…. which you wouldn’t do with a file. If I want a
fine cut I go to a 1200 or even 6000 grit waterstone
and sometimes don’t raise a burr for a finish scrape.

I use razor blades too. I buy them by the 100 pack and
you can dub off the corners with a grinder and then
they don’t dig in. Get the single-edge ones. They dull
fast but they are excellent in a pinch for little patches
of interlocked grain, finish flaws and more.

P.S. yes I know Gorillas lack opposable thumbs.

i love scrappers but havent got the sharping of them down yet but getting there a lot of time i use glass i had a old picture that broke save some of the broken glass and had read on here of some of them using glass the straight edge part and it works very good good enough that i have used it more than once .

-- Jesus Is Alright with me

I’m agree with both. I am not a big #80 fan, but it works ok. I find a scraper plane to be more valuable if a card scraper doesn’t cut it.

-- There is nothing like the sound of a well tuned hand plane. - http://timetestedtools.wordpress.com (timetestedtools at hotmail dot c0m)

There’s a lot of video on youtube about scrapers. Askwoodman is pretty good. I found a Stanley #80 at the flea, it’s a good tool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylmCfOH4k0Q

-- It must be jelly baby, cause jam don't shake like that...

thanks for the replies… I’ve found a lot of good stuff on the net about turning the burr and I can tell it’s one of those “experiential things” that requires practice to get the hang of it.

the pricey burnishing rods appear to have solid carbide bars… and that’s why I immediately thought of using a broken router bit shanke.

How long does a burnishing bar need to be in order to be effective and easy to use?

-- Matt, Pine is fine, but Oak's no joke!

The bits should work fine. You could get by with a tool that is barely wider than the scraper thickness. More gives you more room to play with.

-- Woodworking shouldn't cost a fortune: http://lowbudgetwoodworker.blogspot.com/

I just got my #80 up and running. seems a little safer than what I used to use as a scraper…...a freshly cut piece of glass. So far, it seems to work

For a Burnisher, i used a big, old Phillips screwdriver shaft. Wood handle gave a good steady grip. I said an OLD one. Better steel in the shaft…..

-- A Planer? I'M the planer, this is what I use