Safety Speed Cut Thermwood Corporation ECabinet Systems

Cabinetmaking

You are not logged in. [ Login ] Why log in
(NOTE: Login is not required to post)

sharpening a card scraper

11/23/15       
Dan Cook

Yeah, I know I should know this by now, but it has always eluded me. I flatten the edge on a diamond stone. When I raise the burr on the edge with the burnisher I get a burr, but it is not sharp. So instead of shavings I get sawdust. I have watched videos etc. but I must be missing something. what is the trick to get the burr to be sharp so it cuts instead of just riding on the surface.

11/23/15       #2: sharpening a card scraper ...
mike Member

Maybe your trying to hard to get the perfect edge. Maybe your actually or accidentally rounding the edge so when you feel the bur it is not sharp. I put mine in the vise flatten the edge with a fine file, just a few swipes will do it then i lay it flat on the bench and hit the face a few times then put it back in the vise and roll the bur. It's i quick test to see if you can get a sharp bur. You might even like it this way then later on refine to the way you were doing it before to get a better cut.

11/24/15       #3: sharpening a card scraper ...
Larry

Cabinet scrapers are great tools, too bad people seem to struggle with sharpening. First you need a good one, Sanvik? Put it in a vice with soft jaws (aluminum angle pc.)Take a sharp fine file and make a square edge. If you feel a bur, it is best to knock that off with a fine stone, flat to the face of the scraper. Take the scraper in one hand and with a smooth screw driver shaft, slide along the edge at about 5 to 10 degree angle with just slight pressure. Don't over do it or the edge will turn too far. One or two light passes per edge. Test on your thumb nail. Should make a nice curl. To use, most people will tilt the blade over too far and pull the edge off. You want to tilt the blade just slightly more than the angle you burnished to. Put a very slight bow in the blade with your thumbs. You can either push or pull. If you did it correctly you will get wide rolling curls that you can see through. If there are planer ripples tilt the blade at an angle to them.
All the fooling around to hone an edge is only worth it if you are trying to smooth a finish. IE take the orange peel out.
You can resharpen the edge several times by just laying the blade flat and burnishing the edge away from the edge. Then do the edge burnish again. Each time you do this it lasts less time. So, 3 times +_? Then it is back to the file.
Most common errors: poor file job, file should be sharp & almost parallel with the blade. Before you burnish, the edge has to be smooth and nearly a perfect 90 degrees. Most people put too much pressure and angle on when burnishing. That will roll the edge too much and make it weak along with requiring you to tilt the edge into the work at too much of an angle. Tilting the blade too much and putting too much curve into it while scraping. Too much angle ruins the hook. Too much curve makes hollow cuts and doesn't take advantage of the flattening capabilities of the blade. Less is more!

11/30/15       #4: sharpening a card scraper ...
Jim Lewis

A sharp scraper (that cuts well) rarely feels sharp. A shaper that feels sharp either won't cut or won't cut for long.

11/30/15       #5: sharpening a card scraper ...
Larry

"A shaper that feels sharp either won't cut or won't cut for long." Because it has too much hook! Go easy on that burnishing!

11/30/15       #6: sharpening a card scraper ...
Dan Cook

I got it! I was trying too hard and I think I was rolling on too steep of an angle causing to to roll over. After reading all your posts I went back and tried again and got it right the first time! Been scraping ever since...it worked like a charm. Thanks to all! I'm living proof you can still learn new things.


Post a Response
  • Notify me of responses to this thread
  • Subscribe to email updates on this Forum
  • To receive email notification of additions to this forum thread,
    enter your name and email address, and then click the
    "Keep Me Posted" button below.

    Please Note: If you have posted a message or response,
    do not submit this request ... you are already signed up
    to receive notification!

    Your Name:
    E-Mail Address:
    Enter the correct numbers into the field below:
     

    Date of your Birth:



    Return to top of page

    Buy & Sell Exchanges | Forums | Galleries | Site Map

    FORUM GUIDELINES: Please review the guidelines below before posting at WOODWEB's Interactive Message Boards (return to top)

  • WOODWEB is a professional industrial woodworking site. Hobbyist and homeowner woodworking questions are inappropriate.
  • Messages should be kept reasonably short and on topic, relating to the focus of the forum. Responses should relate to the original question.
  • A valid email return address must be included with each message.
  • Advertising is inappropriate. The only exceptions are the Classified Ads Exchange, Machinery Exchange, Lumber Exchange, and Job Opportunities and Services Exchange. When posting listings in these areas, review the posting instructions carefully.
  • Subject lines may be edited for length and clarity.
  • "Cross posting" is not permitted. Choose the best forum for your question, and post your question at one forum only.
  • Messages requesting private responses will be removed - Forums are designed to provide information and assistance for all of our visitors. Private response requests are appropriate at WOODWEB's Exchanges and Job Opportunities and Services.
  • Messages that accuse businesses or individuals of alleged negative actions or behavior are inappropriate since WOODWEB is unable to verify or substantiate the claims.
  • Posts with the intent of soliciting answers to surveys are not appropriate. Contact WOODWEB for more information on initiating a survey.
  • Excessive forum participation by an individual upsets the balance of a healthy forum atmosphere. Individuals who excessively post responses containing marginal content will be considered repeat forum abusers.
  • Responses that initiate or support inappropriate and off-topic discussion of general politics detract from the professional woodworking focus of WOODWEB, and will be removed.
  • Participants are encouraged to use their real name when posting. Intentionally using another persons name is prohibited, and posts of this nature will be removed at WOODWEB's discretion.
  • Comments, questions, or criticisms regarding Forum policies should be directed to WOODWEB's Systems Administrator
    (return to top).

    Carefully review your message before clicking on the "Send Message" button - you will not be able to revise the message once it has been sent.

    You will be notified of responses to the message(s) you posted via email. Be sure to enter your email address correctly.

    WOODWEB's forums are a highly regarded resource for professional woodworkers. Messages and responses that are crafted in a professional and civil manner strengthen this resource. Messages that do not reflect a professional tone reduce the value of our forums.

    Messages are inappropriate when their content: is deemed libelous in nature or is based on rumor, fails to meet basic standards of decorum, contains blatant advertising or inappropriate emphasis on self promotion (return to top).

    Libel:   Posts which defame an individual or organization, or employ a tone which can be viewed as malicious in nature. Words, pictures, or cartoons which expose a person or organization to public hatred, shame, disgrace, or ridicule, or induce an ill opinion of a person or organization, are libelous.

    Improper Decorum:   Posts which are profane, inciting, disrespectful or uncivil in tone, or maliciously worded. This also includes the venting of unsubstantiated opinions. Such messages do little to illuminate a given topic, and often have the opposite effect. Constructive criticism is acceptable (return to top).

    Advertising:   The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not an advertising venue. Companies participating in a Forum discussion should provide specific answers to posted questions. WOODWEB suggests that businesses include an appropriately crafted signature in order to identify their company. A well meaning post that seems to be on-topic but contains a product reference may do your business more harm than good in the Forum environment. Forum users may perceive your references to specific products as unsolicited advertising (spam) and consciously avoid your web site or services. A well-crafted signature is an appropriate way to advertise your services that will not offend potential customers. Signatures should be limited to 4-6 lines, and may contain information that identifies the type of business you're in, your URL and email address (return to top).

    Repeated Forum Abuse: Forum participants who repeatedly fail to follow WOODWEB's Forum Guidelines may encounter difficulty when attempting to post messages.

    There are often situations when the original message asks for opinions: "What is the best widget for my type of shop?". To a certain extent, the person posting the message is responsible for including specific questions within the message. An open ended question (like the one above) invites responses that may read as sales pitches. WOODWEB suggests that companies responding to such a question provide detailed and substantive replies rather than responses that read as a one-sided product promotion. It has been WOODWEB's experience that substantive responses are held in higher regard by our readers (return to top).

    The staff of WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at WOODWEB's Message Boards. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB's Message Boards after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages it deems inappropriate. (return to top)


  • Forum Posting Help
    Your Name The name you enter in this field will be the name that appears with your post or response (return to form).
    Your Website Personal or business website links must point to the author's website. Inappropriate links will be removed without notice, and at WOODWEB's sole discretion. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    E-Mail Address Your e-mail address will not be publicly viewable. Forum participants will be able to contact you using a contact link (included with your post) that is substituted for your actual address. You must include a valid email address in this field. (return to form)
    Subject Subject may be edited for length and clarity. Subject lines should provide an indication of the content of your post. (return to form)
    Thread Related Link and Image Guidelines Thread Related Links posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should point to locations that provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related Link that directs visitors to an area with inappropriate content will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Thread Related File Uploads Thread Related Files posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. Video Files: acceptable video formats are: .MOV .AVI .WMV .MPEG .MPG .MP4 (Image Upload Tips)   If you encounter any difficulty when uploading video files, E-mail WOODWEB for assistance. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related File that contains inappropriate content will be removed, and uploaded files that are not directly related to the message thread will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links, files, or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Limtech Industries, Inc. Lamello