This helped me so much just now. Followed all of the steps and it came out perfect. It even allowed me to sharpen my curved cabinet scrapers. Thanks Marc!
Very helpful, thank you. I was such a newbie that I did not even know whether or not a scraper should be sharpened. However, I have been learning about wood turning, and I know they use the burr on a scraper to turn with. Fortunately, Google directed me to your video!
Thank you so much for this tutorial. I had been burring about 30 strokes each direction before - this method makes my card much sharper and needs much less angle and pressure to scrape with. And it's much faster to do.
Thanks for sharing your expertise Marc. There are many very talented people sharing some great videos on you tube, but I personally think you have the best presentation and communication skills. Your videos are very professional and my favorite from a watch-ability standpoint. Also you have the coolest t-shirts. Keep it up man, I'm a fan!
When you do woodworking videos, you generally don't let the fact that other people cover a topic stop you from doing a video on it. If that were the case, none of us would ever make videos since most of this stuff has been covered by other people at some point or another. It's all about sharing your personal perspective. That said, this video was made in 2007 and pre-dates Matthias' video by about 6 years. But I'm sure his viewers love getting his perspective on the technique.
I have to agree, it should it not matter at all if other people have covered a topic already. In fact, if I am looking at a new process, or trying to improve on one that I already use, I will always look for multiple videos on the same subject to get more than one perspective on the topic.
i think this video is very informative and definitely helped me out a lot....i bought my first card scraper from the Rockler store in my area. they didnt tell me anything about sharpening it.so thanks for the tips.. and 8 miins for a video is def not waaay too long. thats avg..i tend to NOT watch the shorter run time vids for lack of info and know how..but thats just me. once again thanks marc
files like hacksaws are made to cut on the push stroke, when you slide it back on the work it dulls the file. if you slightly pick up on the back stroke you will avoid dulling your file. Otherwise great video thanks for posting.
yes when i was a lad and just starting out as a carpenter and joiner we used glass cut in a slight convex curve all the time to shape things like stair hand rails
An added note ... I have used a carbide planer blade from my 13 " delta planer . Works great . Although not as practical as the card scraper ...it does work very well on narrow stock such as a table leg .
Tried it, and it works like a charm! Thanks! I see you have a scraper in a spiral shape laying around there, can you please give us a few pointers on sharpening that tool too? I have used this one a lot on scraping the shape into a guitar top I've build, but not a clue how to get it back to it's sharp and glorious starting situation :)
I’m starting to get super frustrated with my scraper. I bought a set that came pre-sharpened and a set k sharpened myself using this video and I still can’t get shavings!!! I get a smooth surface when I use it but I only can ever get dust! ive tried on all kinds of wood from hardwood to pine just to learn!
the native Americans used obsidian shards to scrape wood and did wonderful work, obsidian and glass are very much the same, if you want to learn to knap obsidian there is no reason you can't use it (do a computer search on making arrow heads) But steal holds an edge longer is more consistent and won't break if you drop it. not to mention that a card scraper is one of the least expensive tools around.
"Matthias Wandel already did a video on this by the way:" What a bazaar comment. It is perfectly acceptable to demonstrate a technique over again, and it most likely wasn't done the same way as presented here. Heck, I even have a card scraper video on my channel (also done a different way). Should I take it down?
Thickness really only impacts how much flex the card has. I like to keep a heavy burr on the thicker scrapers and a lighter burr on the thinner ones. But honestly, any card scraper will do the job.
No luck with this method. Must be me. Frustrated because I have to use one to complete my next project. I can't seem to get a lip of metal to turn down into a burr. My honing process flattens the metal but doesn't produce that bulge or lip. Can anyone offer any tips?
You can buy a scraper plane online that will do the trick for you.Check out Lee Valley's Veritas scraper plane. Very nice. Or you can build your own, I have a neat book from Popular Woodworking titled "The Best Jigs & Fixtures for your Woodshop." There are some nice plans for a scraper plane I've been wanting to try out.
A friendly suggestion: I'd like your videos a lot more if they were shorter. Way shorter. In this case, I 'run time' could have been cut in half if you'd eliminated the myriad comments re qualifications, special cases, and alternate approaches. Just stick to the basics of your particular method. Step 1, Step 2, etc. I hope this comment is helpful. Good luck with your channel!
7 years later...and you are a legend!
This helped me so much just now. Followed all of the steps and it came out perfect. It even allowed me to sharpen my curved cabinet scrapers. Thanks Marc!
I've seen a few videos on card sharpening. I like yours best. Simple holders for the file and use of the block. Thank you
much gratitude
this video
show me
some steps I wasn't doing...
Very helpful, thank you. I was such a newbie that I did not even know whether or not a scraper should be sharpened. However, I have been learning about wood turning, and I know they use the burr on a scraper to turn with. Fortunately, Google directed me to your video!
Thank you so much for this tutorial. I had been burring about 30 strokes each direction before - this method makes my card much sharper and needs much less angle and pressure to scrape with. And it's much faster to do.
Just did this, worked like a champ. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing your expertise Marc. There are many very talented people sharing some great videos on you tube, but I personally think you have the best presentation and communication skills. Your videos are very professional and my favorite from a watch-ability standpoint. Also you have the coolest t-shirts. Keep it up man, I'm a fan!
Thanks for the tip on burnishing the flat side of the scraper
When you do woodworking videos, you generally don't let the fact that other people cover a topic stop you from doing a video on it. If that were the case, none of us would ever make videos since most of this stuff has been covered by other people at some point or another. It's all about sharing your personal perspective. That said, this video was made in 2007 and pre-dates Matthias' video by about 6 years. But I'm sure his viewers love getting his perspective on the technique.
I have to agree, it should it not matter at all if other people have covered a topic already. In fact, if I am looking at a new process, or trying to improve on one that I already use, I will always look for multiple videos on the same subject to get more than one perspective on the topic.
i think this video is very informative and definitely helped me out a lot....i bought my first card scraper from the Rockler store in my area. they didnt tell me anything about sharpening it.so thanks for the tips.. and 8 miins for a video is def not waaay too long. thats avg..i tend to NOT watch the shorter run time vids for lack of info and know how..but thats just me. once again thanks marc
Good, basic video that is straight to the point.
files like hacksaws are made to cut on the push stroke, when you slide it back on the work it dulls the file. if you slightly pick up on the back stroke you will avoid dulling your file. Otherwise great video thanks for posting.
Some clever ideas. Suggestion: you could use the edge of your sharpening stone to avoid damaging the main flat surfaces ;) Starts @1:50
yes when i was a lad and just starting out as a carpenter and joiner we used glass cut in a slight convex curve all the time to shape things like stair hand rails
An added note ...
I have used a carbide planer blade from my 13 " delta planer .
Works great .
Although not as practical as the card scraper ...it does work very well on narrow stock such as a table leg .
Thanks very much Grant!
Tried it, and it works like a charm! Thanks! I see you have a scraper in a spiral shape laying around there, can you please give us a few pointers on sharpening that tool too? I have used this one a lot on scraping the shape into a guitar top I've build, but not a clue how to get it back to it's sharp and glorious starting situation :)
Great tips,thanks for posting!
Great job, per usual.
Good info.
Thanks Mark
Is it? Thanks! But dang, we really need to get all of our videos posted on RUclips. We passed the 200 mark a long time ago. :)
I’m starting to get super frustrated with my scraper. I bought a set that came pre-sharpened and a set k sharpened myself using this video and I still can’t get shavings!!! I get a smooth surface when I use it but I only can ever get dust! ive tried on all kinds of wood from hardwood to pine just to learn!
the native Americans used obsidian shards to scrape wood and did wonderful work, obsidian and glass are very much the same, if you want to learn to knap obsidian there is no reason you can't use it (do a computer search on making arrow heads) But steal holds an edge longer is more consistent and won't break if you drop it. not to mention that a card scraper is one of the least expensive tools around.
I still use the same technique today.
Great stuff, thanks for the tip!!
Thanks for the great info, now I know how to do it :)
"Matthias Wandel already did a video on this by the way:"
What a bazaar comment. It is perfectly acceptable to demonstrate a technique over again, and it most likely wasn't done the same way as presented here. Heck, I even have a card scraper video on my channel (also done a different way). Should I take it down?
Thickness really only impacts how much flex the card has. I like to keep a heavy burr on the thicker scrapers and a lighter burr on the thinner ones. But honestly, any card scraper will do the job.
What brand of card scraper should I get? I don't know what makes a good one and what makes a cheap one.
are you still using the same burnishing technique, and burnisher, or have you found a better way to burnish the edge?
I'd like to learn to use a card scrapper, is there a specific kind or thickness of scrapper i should buy. How do i choose the right scraper?
What an amazingly prescient T-shirt. Did you hold this video back on purpose? :)
No luck with this method. Must be me. Frustrated because I have to use one to complete my next project. I can't seem to get a lip of metal to turn down into a burr. My honing process flattens the metal but doesn't produce that bulge or lip. Can anyone offer any tips?
I've heard you can use broken glass edge to get the same effect as a card scraper. Anyone have any experience with this? Will it stay sharper longer?
You said you still use this technique. How about William Ng's and what he comments about files?
You can buy a scraper plane online that will do the trick for you.Check out Lee Valley's Veritas scraper plane. Very nice.
Or you can build your own, I have a neat book from Popular Woodworking titled "The Best Jigs & Fixtures for your Woodshop." There are some nice plans for a scraper plane I've been wanting to try out.
The card scraper I bought in 2007 has never been sharpened. . . . until today.
I had to check. My card scraper video predates Wandels by a year. Go tell him to take his down.
I have tried this many times and all I ever scrape is dust. Maybe I need some honing oil . ?
oil is recommended when putting metal to metal. Could make a big difference.
N-eye-ce thanks.
Works but kills my thumbs, arthritis. I need a holder of some kind.
guess its back to Rockler for a burnisher..lol
I'm pretty sure Mathias is a robot....
Please don't ever wear that shirt again. Haha just kidding. Matthias Wandel already did a video on this by the way.
I have zero interest in doing that. Any chance I can just buy the sharpened blade from you? Lol
haha well it was over 6 years ago. :)
I got dust. :/
better late then never
Marc,
the simpsons did it
Dude, you shot this entire video with something stuck to your chin.
A friendly suggestion: I'd like your videos a lot more if they were shorter. Way shorter. In this case, I 'run time' could have been cut in half if you'd eliminated the myriad comments re qualifications, special cases, and alternate approaches. Just stick to the basics of your particular method. Step 1, Step 2, etc. I hope this comment is helpful. Good luck with your channel!