Brian VanVreede Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 So the card scraper was officially my first hand tool. I got the set from Lee Valley that came with like 6 different thickness, a file and the holder that let's you flatten your edge at a repeatable 90degrees, the variable burnisher, and a stupid holder that doesn't work. I love the variable burnisher because it allows you to dial in on the perfect bur. Now I've seen people flatten the 2 edges and put a bur over all for edges by using a file. I only work with 1bur on a card scrapper at a time and heres why. The first reason is for comfort, I'm really using alot of force in my hands to flex the metal, so if I have a sharp bur on all 4 edges that means my fingers are getting sliced open. You won't really feel it, you'll just see tons of giant paper cut looking things! The second reason I don't is plane and simple... It's a waste of time! Because you flex the scraper while in use that metal will inevitably wear out in the middle of the scraper creating an "arched effect" on a surface that is supposed to be flat. When this happens, the bur that you created on the other side is gone! Is putting a bur on all 4 edges of the card scraper a waste of time?? This wood worker thinks so! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jfitz Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 For me - I prepared all 4 sides of my scrapers, but I'm still fairly new to it so I only burnish one or two edges. I don't do a lot of scraping so it doesn't really matter to me. However, if you are doing a lot of scraping, I think sharpening all *8* edges (4 sides, front and back) could actually save time so you could use all the edges before having to touch them all up again. It's probably all a matter of preference and also technique. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmykx250 Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 I agree. Sharpen all 4 sides! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 I hone both sides of the card scraper flat, work the the two longer edges until they are both honed and then put a burr on all four corners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckkisser Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 if nothing more do one side and one end so you can get into smaller areas with the smaller end. dont have a scraper yet but that is what i plan to do as a minimum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian VanVreede Posted December 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 Vic, do you feel as if you get the same quality of shavings from all 4 edges or really just one edge of each side? It's take about 30 seconds using the lee valley jigs to flatten and then reburish the edge. So I feel it's just much more efficient for me to go back to flatten and reburish and use a good clean sharp edge instead of fussing with a bur that is no longer there or damaged from hitting the piece on my backstroke. But.... I was also doing some super heavy duty scraping on end grain bubinga and maple butcher block counter top. Need a clean bur to scrape end grain! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmason Posted December 15, 2011 Report Share Posted December 15, 2011 I sharpen both faces on opposite sides of my scrapers. I like to flip them over when one side gets too warm for my fingers. I like having both faces sharp so I can pick it up and go to work w/o having to worry about which side has the burr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nateswoodworks Posted December 15, 2011 Report Share Posted December 15, 2011 Brian, you may want to try honing the scraper on stones, I have found that it makes a huge difference in how long you go between having to re-tune your scraper. Some feel it's not worth the time but you won't know till try. I only sharpen the long edges, I trie a few times with the short sides but ithe burr never held up like the long edges. I would assume it is because, like wood, metal has a "grain" direction. I have a scraper that I cut pieces off for scratch stock and I grab that when I need a smaller scraper. Just my 2 cents. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian VanVreede Posted December 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2011 Nate, what grit stone? I have Shapton 500,2000, and 8000 grit stones. Then after you flatten the edges on the stone what are you using to roll that bur? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted December 15, 2011 Report Share Posted December 15, 2011 Im to cheap to buy a burnisher. Any drill bit big enough to get a grip in works fine. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joraft Posted December 15, 2011 Report Share Posted December 15, 2011 Here's a video on scraper sharpening with William Ng. The video was shot by some guy who calls himself The WoodWhisperer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckkisser Posted December 15, 2011 Report Share Posted December 15, 2011 Here's a video on scraper sharpening with William Ng. The video was shot by some guy who calls himself The WoodWhisperer. who is he? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian VanVreede Posted December 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 Ok, so I had I some time to do some more scraping today ( finishing up 5 end grain cutting boards) and Nate, using my stones instead of using the file made such a HUGE difference in how long the bur lasted on my scraper. Something else I noticed in using the stones is how after I rolled the bur I could barely even feel it. So my new technique will be to flatten both long ends with the stones but only roll one bur at a time! I love the card scraper. So simple, yet so versatile! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted December 18, 2011 Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 I do get 4 good edges. I use them as a final step, if possible. I kind of hate sanding. I don't do a very big burr and it seems to not be as fragile. I just go for really sharp. Vic, do you feel as if you get the same quality of shavings from all 4 edges or really just one edge of each side? It's take about 30 seconds using the lee valley jigs to flatten and then reburish the edge. So I feel it's just much more efficient for me to go back to flatten and reburish and use a good clean sharp edge instead of fussing with a bur that is no longer there or damaged from hitting the piece on my backstroke. But.... I was also doing some super heavy duty scraping on end grain bubinga and maple butcher block counter top. Need a clean bur to scrape end grain! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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