Is it easy to learn to use cabinet scrapers?

F

Flashman

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Joined
Nov 27, 2012
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....bearing in mind I'm a painter, not a woodworker so not used to working with bare wood.
I'd use them to get a nice surface on table tops etc per-varnish.
Are they as easy to use vertically?
Also, do you get what you pay for? Should I buy the best I can get?
I'm thinking of getting an assortment from Axminster with a Clifton burnisher.
Paul
 
You will need a file and a vice to hold the scraper steady.  I suspect others may disagree, but I don't see a lot of difference in the different brands.  If you will be scraping curved surfaces, get a curved scrapper as well as a rectangular one.

There are lots of videos on the net on how to sharpen, pick one that looks good to you and keep trying until it clicks.  Also, try hold the scraper at different angles until you find the "sweet spot." 

If you plan to use the scraper on site, buy a few and sharpen them before you go, hard to predict how long they will stay sharp.
 
Scraper plane with the largest base you can find is useful---especially when working with figured woods (sometimes the ONLY way to work on highly figured woods).

Some people mod their older cabinet scrapers/planes by screwing them into a larger custom base.

Have to have extremely sharp blade, also have to have some practice with setting the anlge in the plane.

Card scrapers are OK but hard to get a really flat surface if you don't have a scraper plane...I only use card scraper for touch ups...
 
You don't tend to use them vertically because they are designed to be bent and it's easier to bend them on the long side of the scraper. It's useful to have a couple of different thicknesses of scrapers. The burnisher is very important, and yes, I think you you need a file, and of course waterstones or whatever medium you use to sharpen your tools.

There are several youtube videos available on using a card scraper. I think Chris Tribe did a good one.
 
Flashman said:
Another thought...
Do I need a file as well to prep the scraper?
Click to expand...

Call me crazy if you will, but I struggled with scrapers until I found the Woodsmith Shop Scraper Kit.  It includes a scraper, sharpening file, burnishing pin, and extruded aluminum jig that will allow you to sharpen 90 AND 45-degree bevels easily and with repeatability.  You can use them on hand-held card scrapers and the Stanley #80 scrapers.  It makes sharpening so dead easy, even I ( with 10 thumbs and 0 patience) can do it quickly and get right back to work.  [tongue]  Now it's easy to learn and use them.

I've seen them available at both the Woodsmith Shop Store and Woodcraft.  I hope this helps!
 
Two of the best tips on sharpening I've seen (and since used) are to not angle the burnisher very much when turning the burr--just about 2 degrees is enough, and the other thing is not to put much pressure on the burnisher--about 8 or 10 ounces is enough. I was way overdoing both of these steps.

Since you intend to use scrapers in connection with your finishing work, another really effectivet use of the scraper is to level and smooth the finish between coats of laquer, varnish, poly, etc. You just very lightly drag the scraper over the surface, and it will shave off any roughness. Much more pleasant than sanding, and it creates almost no dust.
 
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