Preparing a Cabinet Scraper

Step1: flatten both sides of a the card. I use a well worn 600 grit Eze-lap diamond stone. This is 10 years old and now the equivalent of about 3000 grit.

Step 2: use a magic marker along one edge (texta to us Aussies) to ensure you get it all.

Step 3: Once both sides are done (I do all 4), it is time to square the edge on the diamond stone. Use the magic marker again.

Step 4: This is the point where many think that they have done enough. They run the card over the wood (here, softish quarter grain Tasmanian Oak). Nothing but dust ...

Step 5: Use a proper burnisher. Not a screwdriver shaft - too soft to do a damn thing. I use a carbide rod. A smooth carbide rod does not require lubrication. All else benefit from a drop of oil.

Step 6: Draw out the steel. This is one of the vital ingredients. You want to pull the steel outwards with the burnisher. You will not create a proper hook without doing so. About 5 strokes from the left and 5 from the right.

Step 7: Turn the hook at about 5 degrees. Do the 5 and 5 again ...

Step 8: This is another crucial omitted step - do it again but at closer to 10 degrees.

Step 9: Now take your shavings!

BONUS: I made the following out of the end of a 3/16" thick O1 plane blade. It must be flat (as above).

Take it to the grinder (mine uses a 180 grit CBN wheel) and create a hollow around the edge.

And you are done ...

This is the most amazing tool for shaping or rapid removal of waste. It does not provide as smooth a finish as the first scraper, but it works so much faster.

Regards from Perth

Derek

October 2015