Wee bit OT; cabinet scrapers

[tom deinek]

Using a cabinet scraper on a horn.

Can anybody tell me how to sharpen the scraper? I assume general filing then burnishing?

tia

 

[T.C.Albert]

I sharpen mine basically like you say... by jointing the edges...that is by lightly filing or stoning the edge flat at 90 degrees...(easy on a square scraper, not so easy on a curved one)
Then I clamp the scraper in padded vice jaws and draw burnish the edge by pulling (as I exert downward preassure) in one direction only
(twards myself)with a steel rod, that pulls in the hooked scraper edge needed...but I've never had much luck with a cabinet scraper on a rough horn...despite the pros and cons, I routinely use broken window glass after rough smoothing the horn with files.
T.C.Albert

 

[Old Salt]

The only difference I make is I file the edge of the scrapper at @ 45 degree angle, then roll the edge over with the round shaft of a big screw driver.

If I'm working on a horn and want to cut a narrow trough I will file the end of a round pocket knife at @ 45 degrees then roll the edge over.

I'll do the same thing with the end of a flat bladed screw driver if I want to scrape the bottom or sides of a barrel channel while building a gun.

Scrapers are a very useful tool on my work bench.

Old Salt

 

[omarick1948]

Most NEW wood scrapers come already sharp and ready to use!...They take a little practice to get used too, but when you finally get the "FEEL", you wll throw sand paper out the window.!

When working on a horn and before you get out the scraper....rasp and file out 90% of the rough area's on the horn. Remember, the scraper is used for fine smoothing of your surface...not for full-scale heavy draw planing down purpose's, unless you want to spend a long time on your horn!

I never draw file a scraper...I just burnish the edge with a polished burishing tool...I've seen many good scrapers ruined because someone thought you had to draw file the edge.....Proper burnishing rolls a "Bur" over on the edge of the scraper..This Bur shaves or scrapes the horn material, the same as if you were doing wood. Heavy hand pressure takes alot of horn curl and little pressue will give you a near mirror final finish....Remember also, that you dont want a knife edge on your scraper, but a 90 degree square edge!

As with anything....Patience and pactice is the key!

Rick

 

[Elnathan]

From someone with limited experience in scrapers, but who has been reading everything he can get his hands on:

Scrapers are prepared differently depending on what you intend to do with them. For coarse work, filing them to a 45 degree angle and then rolling the edge works fine. You can also stone the edge before rolling. I haven't tried this, but I suspect it gives a smoother cut while removing the same amount of material. For shaping however, a filed edge is fine and works quite well.

For finishing work, you want a square edge, and you want to go over it with a fine whetstone to polish the edge. Then roll the edge with your burnisher.

Incidently, there is a fellow who uses glass microscope slides to scrape with and swears by them.

 

[omarick1948]

From someone with limited experience in scrapers, but who has been reading everything he can get his hands on:

Scrapers are prepared differently depending on what you intend to do with them. For coarse work, filing them to a 45 degree angle and then rolling the edge works fine. You can also stone the edge before rolling. I haven't tried this, but I suspect it gives a smoother cut while removing the same amount of material. For shaping however, a filed edge is fine and works quite well.

For finishing work, you want a square edge, and you want to go over it with a fine whetstone to polish the edge. Then roll the edge with your burnisher.

Incidently, there is a fellow who uses glass microscope slides to scrape with and swears by them.

Not to start an argument, but first hand experience working with an old experienced furniture maker back in my youth was more valuable to me than reading about "how to" instructions or books.

I was lucky and good reading and research material is the next best thing to actually doing it. "SCRAPERS ARE PREPARED DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU INTEND TO DO WITH THEM" is true to some extent, but here we are talking about horn.

Glass does make a decent scraper, as does several other materials. I sometimes like the blade of a Utility Knife for some horn scraping work.

I guess it's just a matter of what a fella like's and think's WORKS BEST FOR HIM at the work bench!

Rick :thumbsup:

 

[Elnathan]

Okay, then. I, personally, I have found that an edge filed at 45 degrees works great on horn.