It’s funny how if you pay close attention to all the different videos about a particular topic, you can spot the “one” person who knows what they are doing. They don’t have a lot of rhetoric, they don’t try to sell you something, they don’t rely on fancy gadgets. Straightforward knowledge, practical details put together in a way you can understand. The card scraper is the tool I have loved to hate/hated to love over the years. Always saw the usefulness, just couldn’t get it consistently sharp. I will now. Instant subscription and a hearty thank you
Thank you. I have had the best of intentions of doing more videos and having the time to respond to the high level of engagement these videos generate. We are making some big changes in our business model to allow for more educational videos and writing. If you enjoy learning about woodworking, you might enjoy our new educational newsletter. You can sign up here. www.lessons.boggsbench.com
My God, this is like a Catholic arriving at the Vatican, and being taught theology by the Pope himself. (Here's a 64 year old cabinet maker and restorer who's eyes and ears are gaping wide). This is pure enlightenment. God bless. Greetings from France.
Awesome! Thanks. I love the hand washing tip. I'm a painter, and I know a similar tip for cleaning an oil based coating. I use cheap cooking oil, lol. It breaks down the paint on your skin to wipe off with paper towels and then soap and water cleans the oil off. Beats using thinners! Especially on your face and hair ))
Some people are less picky with their technique, it still works, but the reflection with yours is superior. I've used that tape trick a few times before it's great. I even use card scrapers for way more things than I should, anywhere I can replace sandpaper is a good place for a scraper.
Thank you. I have had the best of intentions of doing more videos and having the time to respond to the high level of engagement these videos generate. We are making some big changes in our business model to allow for more educational videos and writing. If you enjoy learning about woodworking, you might enjoy our new educational newsletter. You can sign up here. www.lessons.boggsbench.com
Thank you Brian! As you note in your comments, there are many different videos addressing this topic and a variety of different ways of achieving the end goal. While that can help us to find a way that works for each of us, it can also be confusing ;) I'm trying to get this sharpening technique right and it's just not happening for me - yet. I can get what seems to be a good clean smooth edge and then use the burnisher to produce a burr - but when I take it to the wood, I get dust, or some very minimal shavings. Nothing like the beautiful shavings you are producing. It seems to me, as I experiment, that the better results are coming from the smaller burrs on the edge. Part of the problem in this process is that it is very clearly a "feel" situation, where visual demonstration simply cannot provide some of the most critical information, like the size/feel of the burr, or the amount of pressure being applied to the burnisher. In my efforts, it seems that the "weight of the arms" sort of pressure simply does not produce any burr at all and more force is needed. Yet, you're one of many recommending to use moderate, even light, pressure, which clearly says that it is working for you and the others teaching that approach. I get that I am doing something wrong - but I haven't figured out yet what it is ;)
Can you up date this video to talk a little about shaper thickness, or your preference and why. Also can you show how you fix shaped scrapers? Interes in your approach. Note you can use a marker in the edge to see the secondary edge. Loop is good also. I have a mag swing lamp with 2 loops attach to do as you suggest when I hone. Goid vids as you demonstrate, nothing beat experience, but your demo and discussion is a great starting place for anyone! 👍👍👍 Steven Columbus Michigan Steven Columbus Michigan
Thank you. I have had the best of intentions of doing more videos and having the time to respond to the high level of engagement these videos generate. We are making some big changes in our business model to allow for more educational videos and writing. If you enjoy learning about woodworking, you might enjoy our new educational newsletter. You can sign up here. www.lessons.boggsbench.com
That sharpening approach must create a much stronger cutting edge than the method I have been using to this point. The explanation was super clear...this makes sense.
I found this video to be very instructive. I have been using scrapers for years and had not explored many of the techniques you described. Thank you. Keep them coming.
One of the best video on sharping a scraper. Great video! 2 things, why 3 in 1 oil, cant stand it, use a parrifin based turbine oil. No oder and a better oil. Flipping a diamond 'plate's, use a two position holder for each side after rinsing stone of after each use. I like your suggestion on using oil on hand to clean. Do prior also. I also a simple sharping and honing station not on th he bench is the best place to eliminate carbon contamination. Having a sink next to this station is ideal. These are all personal preference but learns over time! Great vid 👍👍👍 Steven Columbus Michigan
Thanks, I think I've been applying too much pressure when creating the bur. That shaving from the bubinga was spectacular. Look forward to trying your suggestions. Lots of other tips in here to try too. Good value! Thanks for the video. Cheers, David.
I've learned a lot owning a card scraper for 2 weeks now. I don't see the need to ever burnish an edge!! I will purchase a stone to hone a perfect 90 degree angle, but I only need it after using sanding sealer and 220 sanding. I pull the card to get (the dreaded micro fine dust) That leaves me with a beautiful, perfect smooth surface to apply my topcoat! Super easy!!!!! Amazing
Very well explained video with some great additional techniques. Using the edge of the support block to guide the burnisher means you have an accurate repeatable angle. That’s good information I’ve never seen before. The guidance on pressure is also very helpful.
Thanks for this excellent teaching on sharpening card scrapers! I too have watched many and you have pointed out numerous tips that I've never seen before - mainly how delicate you form the cutting edge! Great stuff. What grit is the diamond stone you are using?
Excellent video! I have been using way too much force. Great tip about filing away the first 32nd of an inch. I bought a card you could actually crudely scrap with it was to badly rolled when it was stamped out. I hope you get way more subscribers. Clearly you are a highly skilled artisan!
Really appreciate this video! Thank you. Also responding here after the fact to ask for recommendation of stock material to make a set of about a dozen card scrapers (for a group of students who are making canoe paddles). Someone below mentioned 4140... anther guy I spoke with suggested 1095. Hoping for something fairly affordable and available.
Hi Brian, it's been a pleasure to watch this video, even though I never used your technique to sharpen, it is the closest to what I have developed and yet a little better.
Great video. Can I ask what the two grits of the diamond stone are? Would it be possible to have a video that addresses sharpening gooseneck scrapers? Thanks
All steps involved are simple if followed correctly. This scraper preparation is only easy if one “follows the drill”. You can’ttake a wrong turn and expect to get home……
I use my file without a holder, so I can use the whole file. That makes it last longer and it´ll last even longer if you resharpen it by letting it sit in some vinegar over night, for a day or even two days depending on the acidity of your vinegar, the room temperature and how dull your file is. The acid eat away a bit of the steel. That way you get sharp teeth again. This works a couple of times untill the teeth of the file are no longer usable.
I have used both, and it does seem that oil helped the cutting more than soap. I vacillate between the two, but I don't recommend Vaseline. :) FYI, I have had the best of intentions of doing more videos and having the time to respond to the high level of engagement these videos generate. We are making some big changes in our business model to allow for more educational videos and writing. If you enjoy learning about woodworking, you might enjoy our new educational newsletter. You can sign up here. www.lessons.boggsbench.com
I am glad I came upon your channel. Your teaching style is very clear and explained very well. I learned a lot! I have seen people make card scrapers out of old, dull saw blades. What are your thoughts on this - is the metal too hard to achieve good results?
Hi Brian - thanks so much !!!. When you put the scraper in the block with 1/32" showing and started burnishing (12:43 - 13:03), I couldn't tell whether you rolled the edges outward or whether you rolled them inwards as in the beginning steps?
Very good. I've been over this a thousand times and I think there is something missing in my (our, possibly) understanding. Tell me, if you can, how this was done a century ago, or more. I think I know.... they used a 'bastard file', wooden block guide and any hard steel they could find (spine of a fine). Stradivarius did just fine without a flat diamond. Discuss.
As many ways to dress a card scraper as there are woodworkers, it seems! This was well done. Learned some new things. Thanks Brian. --Wm. Francis Brown Traditional woodworking & carving classes: www.MaineCoastWorkshop.com
Was that "55 Rockwell is soft and weak" a boo boo? 55 C Rock in 4140 is pushing 4X the ha strength of mild steel. Your high buck D2 and A2 Chisels are only y 55 to 62 HRC, ???? That's well within "File Hard" territory.
