Thread: Scrapers as tools

Scrapers are not rocket science! They are only sharp smooth objects. I have wrapped a piece of nicely shaped broken window glass with enough tape to protect my hand while I used it. It made a finish that did not need sanding! That was also an old method long used by carpenters and wood carvers to finish their projects. Heck, they find lots of "stone age" scrapers of agate and obsidian in archeological digs round the world, and in common use most places!

A scraper "scrapes" if flat honed to a angle less than 90º or it cuts a superfine chip if the edge is burred over to make a microscopic cutting edge. Its shape is to be determined by the job it does. It really is only a piece of metal with a burr rolled onto a polish-honed edge. I used to use a Swaty to do my final honing and a polished drill shank to roll the burr. The back of a utility throw away blade or even the edge or one half of a scissors makes a good scraper.

Here is a link to another thread and scrapers are used in Video#2 and #3
Techniques of Workin Tortoise Shell
Cheap, easy, dependable and low cost! What more can I ask?
~Richard
A handy link:
Sharpening a Cabinet Scraper

I am a big fan of scrapers, I have a multitude of them. They are useful tools.

Charlie

Same here, made a bunch of them from an old saw, sure beats sandpaper!

Slovly collecting my own selection

Very usefull tools for sure,but not only for wood etc.Some of the finest machine tools ever made had had scraped beds and v-ways,served a purpose (held oil)You will also see hand scraped water tables on the worlds finest double rifles and shotguns.
Was quite and art to do.

My favorite scraper for forming wood scales, is a utility knife blade.


I use them like a draw file. Works like a champ
Darl (Tarkus)

In Japan, a metal scraper is called a Sen. Haven't tried yet, but that is the way they cut the hollow on razors.

Originally Posted by skipnord

In Japan, a metal scraper is called a Sen. Haven't tried yet, but that is the way they cut the hollow on razors.

Some great info here: Re: Japanese Sen scraper tool?

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Japanese Sen scraper tool?...

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Very usefull tools for sure,but not only for wood etc.Some of the finest machine tools ever made had had scraped beds and v-ways,served a purpose (held oil)You will also see hand scraped water tables on the worlds finest double rifles and shotguns.
Was quite and art to do.

About 20 years back I had a few callouses that fit these scrapers well! The bench block was flat when checked against an inspection room rock with alcohol to print it.

Sometimes, hand work is very precision!
~Richard
PS, the scraper bevel angle was over 90º.

Thats fantastic Richard,have never seen it done but some of the old lathes I have had beautiful hand scraped patterns on the ways,almost a scalloped effect.
My Dad ran the armory at the navel shipyards in Bremerton wash. back in the day he had an old codger that would come in and do all the bridgeport tables every couple yrs
Wish I could have watched it being done.