Tell me what I am doing wrong here. I recently purchased a set of scrapers (from Woodcrafter, you basic three scraper set for around 15 bucks). I simply cannot get what I feel is an acceptable "edge" on them. I have studied all the internet "how to's" on sharpening a scraper. Got the files the stone and the knife steel. I can feel the bur on the edge... but it doesnt seem to "cut" worth a crap. I get "dust" (and not much of it) vs a thin "shaving".
I have tried every angle to hold the scraper... and even at its "sweetest" I still get poor results.
Could it be that the "cheap" scrapers just wont "cut it" no matter what I do? Or am I doing something wrong here???
Sharpening process:
1. vice clamp and use file to flatten the edge with a cpl medium passes
2. hone by holding face flat on stone and taking a cpl passes
3. roll on bur with knife steel (burnisher) by holding at slight angle and making cpl passes using medium to hard pressure.
Is using a jig to make sure you are absolutely parrallel with the edge face a MUST ? I see folks doing it without the jig... but could that be my problem?
I'm certainly no expert on scrapers, but it seems like you have your steps reversed and are actually taking off the burr when you hit the face with the stone after filing a burr.
My process is as simple as can be and for all I know I am doing it totally wrong, but I get good results. I take a mill file and take a couple swipes at the faces. Then I put the scraper in my vice and hit the edge of the scraper a bunch of times with the same mill file. Finally, a take a screwdriver and burnish both edges at a 30deg(ish) angle 3 or 4 times. Probably takes less than a minute for each side of the scraper.
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I use them all the time, and I do use a stone on them
Here's my steps.
1. use a mill file to file off the work hardened material
2. stone it smooth on the sides and edge (and I don't really use anything more than a 1000 grit stone, and it don't take much)
3. burnish. Don't over burnish. It takes far less than you'd think.
Oh and a set of 2 LN scrapers runs about $10.. so $15 sets of 3 should be decent quality if the price is any indication.
I use them all the time, and I do use a stone on them
Here's my steps.
1. use a mill file to file off the work hardened material
2. stone it smooth on the sides and edge (and I don't really use anything more than a 1000 grit stone, and it don't take much)
3. burnish. Don't over burnish. It takes far less than you'd think.
Oh and a set of 2 LN scrapers runs about $10.. so $15 sets of 3 should be decent quality if the price is any indication.
Well, seems we are following the same steps Mike... maybe I am over burnishing... its a "feel" thing as you move the tool over the scraper for sure... maybe my feel is not tuned in yet and I am turning too much of a hook on the bur...
Well, seems we are following the same steps Mike... maybe I am over burnishing... its a "feel" thing as you move the tool over the scraper for sure... maybe my feel is not tuned in yet and I am turning too much of a hook on the bur...
Don't feel bad - I'm struggling too. But I think you could be onto something. If you roll it over too far, it won't cut.
I've tried it maybe a dozen times and have gotten curls only two out'a the last three attempts.
I'm not familiar with RJ's suggestion of cutting a bevel before burnishing the hook.
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