Thread: Hand scraper heat

Probably a little aggressive for what I’m after now I read through again

What about using a cabinet scraper?

Yep that’s what I’m using at the moment

Originally Posted by delbs

Thought this could be a possibility if I need a change of rotating through scrapers.

Veritas Pullshave - Lee Valley Tools

Cheers
Nathan

Other than that you would need to find one used or warm up the time machine, since it's no longer in production/not available new, yes.

It's really intended for scooping out hollows, though - note the curved blade. It was Lee Valley's rethinking of the traditional travisher.

+1 for the #80 cabinet scraper.
I've used mine a lot even for things like bringing down epoxy filled holes and voids.

Originally Posted by delbs

Yep that’s what I’m using at the moment

What you are using are generally known as "card" scrapers, delbs, what justonething is talking about is something like this.

It's a very handy tool to have if you can find one in good condition at a sensible price (I think I paid $12 for mine, but that was a few years ago! ). I tend to only use mine for rough stuff these days, but they are capable of quite fine work if carefully set up. I suspect it would clog quickly on shellac, but they are great for ripping off old hard paint with a coarse set & a big burr, but liable to damage the surface a bit when used like that.

I've not used the Veritas version, but it should be a bit better than the #80 because they extended the toe a bit. A nasty little habit of the 80 is to tip over the edge at the end of the stroke unless you remain vigilant, the result can be a large chunk ripped off the edge & an unhappy user. Veritas claim theirs solves that little problem...
Cheers,

Originally Posted by IanW

What you are using are generally known as "card" scrapers, delbs, what justonething is talking about is something like this.

It's a very handy tool to have if you can find one in good condition at a sensible price (I think I paid $12 for mine, but that was a few years ago! ). I tend to only use mine for rough stuff these days, but they are capable of quite fine work if carefully set up. I suspect it would clog quickly on shellac, but they are great for ripping off old hard paint with a coarse set & a big burr, but liable to damage the surface a bit when used like that.

I've not used the Veritas version, but it should be a bit better than the #80 because they extended the toe a bit. A nasty little habit of the 80 is to tip over the edge at the end of the stroke unless you remain vigilant, the result can be a large chunk ripped off the edge & an unhappy user. Veritas claim theirs solves that little problem...
Cheers,

Ahh of course!, Thanks Ian and Justonething i missed this one, caveat of using this forum on my phone whilst doing kids activities details are missed.

They are significantly more expensive from ebay these days but likely would be an effective tool for this task so ill keep an eye out.

Thanks for the heads up on this one.

cheers,
Nathan

So Ive just had my HNT spokeshave order arrive, Ive put the blade in bevel up to act as a scraper and does a really good job. Fine shavings are ejected pretty well shellac and timber and brass sole will last forever so think Ive found my weapon of choice to put in some solid hours to scraping this cabinet back

Thanks for the discussion!

Cheers,
Nathan

Whatever works
IanW was right I was referring to Veritas Cabinet Scraper | Carbatec.
Veritas has given us some hints on how to tune it finely, based on the setting of the "Hook"
For fine scraping, no hook setting. It has worked well for me.

I have both a Skarsten scraper and Stanley #80 scraper. I wouldn’t use either on white cedar. The Skarsten will definitely gouge the timber and the #80 is likely to do so unless properly setup. In fact, I haven’t used my #80 for over 20 years. It’s one of my few tool purchase regrets.

If you’re having success with the card scraper, why not try the suggested fridge magnet trick to protect your thumbs from the heat? It’s free and it works a treat.

If I might hijack this thread for a wee moment....

I was practicing some FP and had the dreaded left-mouse-unmoving-for-split-second and encountered this blemish that didn't dissolve/polish away....

Is scraping down the preferred way to treat these blemishes to restart the patch?

IMG_20220326_170049.jpgIMG_20220326_165946.jpg

This is just me fooling around with some scrap merbau.

A very sharp card scraper with a fine hook is what I use for removing blobs or bits of lint etc, that occasionally evade the post-rub inspection. Just use it one-handed & drag it carefully over the offending object. You'll get a bit of dulling of the surface but that will disappear on the next rub. Fine steel wool (0000, the stuff without oil or detergent in it) is also very good for tidying up when things don't go quite right.

It may be a trick of the light, WP, but the polish looks very thick in your pics, like a painted surface - how many rub-overs has it had??

Cheers,

Addendum: I took another look and I think it's just the surface being uneven. Did you use a grain-filler on the Merbau? Some coarse-grained woods (like red cedar) can be grain-filled with polish if you are patient & practised enough, but I suspect Merbau would be quite difficult to get a glass finish on without being filled.....

Originally Posted by IanW

Sissies!

Actually, it does seem logical, & I have tried using gloves myself way back, but it takes too much feel & control away from the scraper for me. The cooked thumb problem is easily solved by using a couple of scrapers, but the constant pressure on my arthritic thumbs soon makes them ache intolerably, which is why I made the wooden holder above. It's a bit like wearing gloves in that the scraper is less controllable, you can't just add a bit more flex to shift a small stubborn spot, for e.g., but it saved the day for me.

I mostly use scrapers on small areas for short bursts, which my thumbs will grudgingly tolerate. If there is any significant area & prolonged scraping involved, the #80 or the big Veritas scraping plane come out (I can be a sissy too).

Cheers,

Thanks Ian I've gone soft since I turned 50. I wear gloves when doing a lot of scraping, or in winter when it is very cold in the shed.

I have a Veritas Cabinet Scraper which I never use, I have a Veritas Scraper Holder which I never use. I always go back to the humble card scraper. It works so much better than anything else.