Sharpening Curved Scrapers
Q. I'm struggling to get a good cutting edge on my concave card scraper. Any tips?
A. Here's the inside scoop on those inside curves. It's a lot easier to get good results if you concentrate on creating a hook on one side only. Here's how it works: Start by creating a slight bevel on the edge (Photo 1). Then remove the wire edge (Photo 2). Finally, use your burnisher to roll the cutting hook (Photo 3).
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PHOTO 1:
File a slight bevel on the curve. With the scraper held in a vise, push a chainsaw file at a slight angle until you feel a continuous wire edge on the high side of the bevel.
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PHOTO 2:
Remove the wire edge with
a super-fine diamond paddle. Because you have created a beveled edge, the wire edge will only form on the high side of the bevel.
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PHOTO 3:
Use a burnisher to roll the edge and create the cutting hook. Hold the burnisher almost flat and use firm pressure to form the cutting hook. A drop or two of light machine oil helps.
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Sources
Woodcraft, (800) 225-1153, www.woodcraft.com, Crown Round Scraper Burnisher, #14256, $19
Diamond Homing Stick, #O8S15, $6. Hardware store, Chainsaw file, $3.