Thread: Cabinet scraper or scraper plane?

I have a homebrew scraper plane, and I have used it once.

That time, just made life easy it did. I had to clean up some angry red oak, and it just did it. No mess, no fuss.

But it's kind of a one-hit wonder. It will only scrape flat things, and larger ones at that. I honestly thing a cabinet scraper
would be more useful overall.

But that's just me.

BTW, if you go for the plane, I'd go for an LV. Mine is a woody copy, and it's very nice to use with all the features...

Hi Ray,

I use card [hand-held] scrapers most. But there are woods I work with that both the #80 type and the scraper plane are invaluable to me and get a lot of use.

The LV scraper plane is the best of the lot because you can use the thin blade it its best advantage of introducing a bow to it for localized scraping or the thick blade for larger, flat areas.

Take care, Mike

I'm with MikeW - card scrapers are my mainstay after I've gone as ar as I can with smoothers, just to clean up those few recalcitrant spots. But I have a #80, which at times is worth it's weight in gold. Have often thought about a longer version like the 112, but would use it so rarely, and there are other tools I'd rather acquire with any spare $$s, first. The 80 is capable of pretty fine work with the blade well-sharpened, and if dealing with any sizeable area, my pinkies sure appreciate it!

Cheers,

Originally Posted by MikeW

The LV scraper plane is the best of the lot

Sorry to be ignorant but what does LV stand for??

Lee Valley, maker of Veritas tools in Canada, Ray.


Cheers................Sean

Originally Posted by old_picker

Sorry to be ignorant but what does LV stand for??

Sorry Ray--don't ya just hate all the acronyms in life and the people who throw 'em around?

But not all was lost thanks to Sean.

If you are new to the whole scrapers thing, I suggest beginning with the card scrapers. Learn to sharpen and turn the hook for effective cutting.

Phil Lowe shows how here:
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/w00007.asp?

Another good article:
http://www.woodzone.com/articles/scrapers/
And another:
http://www.brendlers.net/oldtools/scraping/scraper.htm

Take care, Mike

There is also a scraper holder so you don't get hot fingers, never used one and endure the heat and have a break every so often until things cool off a bit.

Currently using a card scraper but I think the steel is a bit heavy.
I am going to buy a set from c/tec plus a LV or kunz cabinet scraper.

thanks fr the guidance

Originally Posted by Iain

There is also a scraper holder so you don't get hot fingers, never used one and endure the heat and have a break every so often until things cool off a bit.

Some folks swear by those holders, but they look so cumbersome to me. The beauty of a card scraper is you can pick it up and clean up small areas quickly and easily - right up to corners, etc. I confess I haven't done more than pick one up and decide I didn't need it, so I'll leave it to those who've actually used them to comment further. For larger areas, where I know my little fingers are going to suffer badly, the #80 comes into its own.

Anyway - real men don't mind the burnt fingers - we relish the pain!

Cheers,

Hi Ray,

I have both the Lee Valley card holder and the cabinet scraper (and a scraper plane to boot ). I'd suggest going for the card holder first ( http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...=1,310&p=32669) - the LV one - and see how you go. LV are a whole world apart in quality than Kunz IMO.

You migh also want to consider the an LV burnisher (either the http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...310,41070&ap=1 or the http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...310,41070&ap=1)

Gidday

For me a card scraper is the go ...................... once you know how to set them up you won't stop reaching for one.

I reckon there the best tool in the shop!!!

You can leave all the talk about burn't fingers n thumbs behind by learning to pull the scraper towards you get into the habbit of doing this early believe me its hard if you learn't how to use one by pushing.

REgards Lou

Best cabinet scraper I've got was originally a scraper blade for one of those floor scrapers. Really thick steel. Once I squared, polished and put a regular hook on it, it works far better than my thin, bendy card scrapers. The edge stays on longer and I seem to get a wider scrape, as whilst it does bend, not much compared to the others. Still get lovely thin shavings.

The thin, bendy ones are now confined to tight corners and concave/vex surfaces.

Never owned a scraper plane tho, maybe it should go on the list?

You can buy the rubber thumb protectors that bank tellers used to use for counting notes, at most stationers. Good for preventing blisters on your thumbs.

Toughen up Alex, get some callouses mate.