Cabinet Scraper

[Blackberry]

Forgive me if it's be discussed before but I'm a big fan of the cabinet scraper and I wondered how many Festool owners used cabinet scrapers.  We are all concerned with dust collection and fine tools... but too often the cabinet scraper is (in my opinion) overlooked.

 

[jacko9]

Hello, yes I use a card scraper a lot especially for tough grain woods.  A lot of beautiful black walnut has tight integral knots with great color and patterns that respond well to a well set up scraper.  I have a German made cast iron cabinet scraper and some Japanese wood cabinet scrapers but, the plain old Swedish Card Scraper works wonders.

Jack

 

[nclemmons]

I use them a lot - far better control than sanding or planing.  Take a little practice to sharpen and use, but well worth it.
Particularly useful for challenging grain patterns as well as cleaning up joints into corners where you can't easily sand or delicately use a chisel.

I use Lie Nielsen scrapers personally.

neil

 

[panelchat]

Scrapers are great, I'm always using mine for something or other, mostly for the lowly task of trimming edgetape..
It certainly has occurred to me that you basically get no airborne dust, a novel thing amid all this effort against sawdust/respiratory health.

 

[Old School Carpenter]

I use them a lot also. I have a few at my bench, and a few more in my handtool box in the finish truck. I wouldn't want to be without them.

Mike

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I'm a fan too.  I hold Festool sanders in high regard, but a scraper removes material much faster.  Great for smoothing curves.  And that same gentle scraper that smoothes gentle curves is a beast when scraping off paint or hardened glue.

I does take time to develop the knack for sharpening, but once you got it, sharpening a scraper is fast and easy.

 

[flair woodworks]

I wouldn't want to be without mine.  I have a half dozen rectangular scrapers and three curved ones.

 

[JPF Woodworking]

My vote for the cabinet scraper as the most under-rated tool in my arsenal. Sanding, no matter what kind of sander, is always a bit of a drag but using a cabinet scraper as one step in the finishing process not only saves on the amount of sanding but totally eliminates any machine markings with ease. When I have the opportunity to build a more traditional piece of furniture I always rely on my cabinet scraper and never use any power sanding equipment.

As a footnote, I noticed that Lee Valley has introduced a replacement blade for the old Stanley Cabinet Scraper. I probably will order a couple just to have them on hand. I didn't realize that these blades are getting a hard to find.

Best regards,

John

 

[rdesigns]

I use a card scraper on almost every project.

They're fast.
They leave a perfect finish on almost any wood or grain--no need to keep changing grits as with sanders.
Leave no swirls or "pigtails"
Quiet.
Cheap
Reach into corners
Easy to shapen after you master the simple techniques
Easy to see and judge your progress as you work

Another invaluable tool of the same type is a simple 1-1/2" wide stiff-bladed putty knife. But don't try to turn a burr on its edge--just file the edges square to the blade faces, and then polish the edge and faces on a fine stone or 600-grit wet-or-dry abrasive paper. You use it by holding the handle normally and pushing it along. Try it; you'll be amazed at how well it works.

P.S. for Brits:  It's not called a putty knife over there as Dean Social once noted, but I forgot the term he used.

 

[TinyTiger]

Once I learned to sharpen them properly, I started using them a lot.  I do like the ability to level joints without creating divots from uneven sanding.  It's quicker than sanding at times (for me).

 

[semenza]

Hi, Russ

Welcome to the FOG!  [smile]

Cabinet scrapers... something I have been meaning to look into.  [scratch chin]

Seth

 

[TinyTiger]

Thanks Seth!  It's great to hear from you.

By the way - I noticed you're from the Finger Lakes Region.  That's where I grew up.  I was south of Ithaca, and my family is still in the Elmira/Corning Area.  Where are you located?

 

[Cort]

A card scraper and a block plane are invaluable tools.

Check out this video from the Wood Whisperer for a video from William Ng showing how he sharpens a card scraper.