Scrapers are arguably the most simple tool used in woodworking. Typically made of thin carbon steel like that used to make hand saws, they're sharpened by creating a hook or burr on their edge. These tools work exceptionally well at smoothing even the most difficult-to-work woods and they've earned their place in the heart of many woodworkers for their incredible versatility. In this blog, we explore their uses and show you how to get the most from our exclusive 5-Pc. Cabinet Scraper Package.Cabinet Scrapers perform many common tasks in the woodshop; from scraping away dried glue to smoothing highly figured wood that refuses to be worked by any other means. Scrapers can be a real workhorse once you master sharpening them. While not difficult, creating the perfect "burr" does take a little finesse and the right tools. We've put together this 5-Pc. Scraper Set that includes the three most common scrapers and also gives you the tools you'll need to sharpen them. Let's take an up-close look at this set and I will show you how to use it to get great results.
This Infinity Exclusive 5 piece Scraper set includes 3 scrapers. Each has a different shape so that you can use them to smooth or refine flat, concave, and convex surfaces.
The Infinity 5-Pc. Cabinet Scraper Set also includes everything you need to sharpen your scrapers, we also include a file and a burnisher. But rather than including a traditional file, we choose a very high quality diamond file. The diamond file is used to remove an old burr and sharpen the edge of the scraper to allow a new burr to be created. We found the M-Power Diamond Cross file (101-476) ideal for this task because it is dual grit. The 300 grit side make short work of removing an old burr and the 600 grit side is ideal for sharpening the scraper edge and preparing it for burnishing.
The Narex Burnisher (101-863) is a polished and hardened steel rod with a comfortable handle. It is used to rub or burnish the edge of the scraper and it also creates and turns the burr that makes the scraper cut.
Sharpening a scraper is a simple process and can be done quickly. First, we need to make sure that the edges of the scraper have no burrs or other damage. To do this I first rub the flat faces of the scraper with the file. Then I turn the scraper on edge and file the edge 90° to the faces of the scraper until I see a nice square edge with no dull spots.
Once the full edge is bright and square, I grab the burnisher and rub the flat faces just as I did with the file. This helps to draw the burr up along the edge of the scraper. Light pressure is all that is needed. Once again I stand the scraper on edge and rub the edge with the burnisher for a few strokes using light pressure. Pressure is key. Most new to scrapers use too much pressure. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being "no pressure" and 10 being "bearing down", we are looking for a 3.
Using light pressure, make 5 to 10 strokes holding the burnisher square to the edge, then tilt the scraper roughly 10° and make another 5 to 10 strokes with the same light pressure. Tilt the burnisher 10° in the opposite direction and again make a few strokes. You now have a scraper that has 2 sharpened edges ready to work. The burr itself will be very small and almost unnoticeable to the touch.
A properly sharpened scraper will make fine shavings that almost float away. A scraper that only produces dust is either dull or has a damaged burr. Using too much pressure when creating your burr will either create too large of a burr that dulls quickly or grabs the wood causing chatter and a rough surface. Excessive pressure can also break or tear the burr causing it to simply break off when put to wood. A small burr created with light pressure will make finer shavings and last longer. I know it may sound counterintuitive, but it works.
Cabinet scrapers are held by the thumb and two or three fingers on each hand. The thumbs press the back of the scraper creating a bit of a bow in the scraper and then the scraper is pushed across the surface of the wood with a forward tilt of roughly 10° to 30° depending on how much you turned the burr. This grip allows the user to adjust how wide of a shaving is created, you can also move your pressure from side to side using the entire width of the edge of the scraper, especially handy as one portion of the edge begins to dull. The bow acts to tension the scraper and keeps the edge from skating, it also produces that beautiful slightly irregular surface. When using a scraper like a gooseneck there is less need to bow the scraper because you are only using a small portion of the cutting edge and the scraper should be stiff enough to handle the pressure. This also frees you up to work in a push or pull motion depending on the given task.
As with any other quality cutting tools made from high carbon steel, these scrapers require a bit of maintenance to prevent rusting. We recommend wiping your card scrapers clean and applying a light coat of oil before storing in a safe, dry place. Properly stored and maintained, you'll get years of use from our 5-Pc Cabinet Scraper Set.