Is this a worthwhile tool?

Of course, I forgot to include the link  *LINK*

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>


Here's the link.

And about their fancy burnisher *LINK*

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>I've got one of Andy Lincoln's carbide rods to put in a handle, and feel moderately physically competent. It seems like LV's variable burnishing jig is just a jig too far. Again, if anyone has experience with this, I'd be interested.


This jig here

And finally, the file holder *LINK*

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>And about this, for someone who owns two saw jointers already? It seems like the main advantage of this would be for 45 degree scraper blades.


jointer thingie

Re: Is this a worthwhile tool?

wilbur

>All you need for a card scraper is:

1. A way of making it flat and square. A mill bastard file and a waterstone is all you need for this step. It's really not that hard to flatten and square the edge of a scraper without a jig.

2. A burnisher of some sort to draw out and turn the burr. I've seen people use a screwdriver for this.

That's it.

Now, to be honest, even though I've just said that you don't need any of that stuff you listed to use a scraper, I did splurge for the Glen Drake File/Burnisher. But it's still cheaper than the other things you listed.

Re: Is this a worthwhile tool?

Jack Folse

>I bought a scraper holder that I have used maybe once. I also have an earlier version of the burnisher that I used for a few months when I first started using scrapers. I should sell them cheap. Don't make card scrapers more complicated than the simple tools they are.

Re: And about their fancy burnisher

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

>Bill

I have the LV Variable Burnisher. It is a good tool. However I much prefer the direct contact of using a traditional burnisher. Also, the LV is only suited to thin steel cards.

That carbide rod you have has the potential to become the best burnisher you will ever own and certainly ever need.

I recently made my own burnisher from a carbide rod. It is much narrower in diameter than my Crown, and I find that the narrowness offers a sense of delicateness, which aids in forming fine hooks. The Big Plus is the smooooothness of the polished carbide. It is just a different ball game.

Here is my new burnisher alongside the Crown I had been using ..

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: Is this a worthwhile tool?

Mike Schwing from Md.

>The burnisher is OK. It does work. After several years of use I still fear that one day I will drop my hand on the edge of the scraper as it finishes the trip down the edge and cut my hand in two. Hasn't happened, but I just can't get comfortable with the holder. Also, I never know whether I want a positive or negative degree setting, even after all of these years. Your post is coincidentally timed with my use of the burnisher as just last night I was sharpening my scrapers and in the middle put the LV burnisher tool down in favor of a HSS rod. I'd like to get a carbide rod burnisher and think once I do I'll abandon the LV burnisher. Just to be clear, the burnisher I'm talking about is pictured below.

I Have That and Andy's

Mike Fitterling

>Actually I HAD that. The LV burnishing thingy is I think the only LV tool I have not been pleased. I use Andy Lincoln's burnisher now only, actually I have two of them. I gave my LV away at a woodworking get-together a while back.

Re: Is this a worthwhile tool?

Warren in Lancaster, Pa

>When I was young I read that the finest surface preparation was to hand plane, then scrape, then sand. I used this schedule for several years, but as my planing improved I found that the scraping was actually degrading the surface I got from the plane, so I abandoned the scraper. Later I found the same thing with sanding- the surface was better before sanding. That was 1978.

I still have two scrapers. I use them for cleaning up small surfaces that are inacessable for a plane or a router plane. I also use them for scraping glue or other material that I don't want to plane. I used to dream about buying a fine burnisher for my scrapers, but I agree with others who have said it is not necessary.

Re: And finally, the file holder

Mike Fitterling

>Don't see why that wouldn't work OK. I made one that does the same thing by cutting a kerf along the side of a block of wood and inserting a file in the kerf. For the 45 I just hone it just like I would any plane iron.

I have not used the Veritas holder, but I find I use card scrapers with a holder 90 percent of the time. I have an old wood holder, but it is developing a crack. I may replace it with the LV model.

it works well

Mike Schwing from Md.

>The Veritas scraper holder works very well. Is it necessary? No. It works better if you put a backer or 2nd scraper in behind the one doing the cutting. When the bur dulls, you can tighten the adjustment screw a bit and get another bite out of the scraper.

Thanks all

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>My leanings are confirmed - just the simple cards.

One more thought...

Ted Owen, Pittsburgh

>the scraper holder keeps your thumbs from getting burned. But that's a problem only for larger scraping jobs.

Best, Ted

Cheap work-around

Neal in San Jose

>To keep your thumbs from getting hot, simply use one of those business card sized refrigerator magnets on the face of the scraper. If you can't get one for free, you aren't even trying!!!

I got one of Andy's

Jack Guzman from Maine

>I bought one of those carbide rods when Andy first started selling them. I put a mesquite handle on it and keep it in my scraper rack.I've never needed anything else.---Jack

One Final Comment

"RJ" Whelan

>Bill .... I am a dedicated scraper user of many years (45-50 at least). After burning my thumbs and fingers too many time to count I built a holder out of a scrap of hardwood with a flex aduster made from a thumb-screw.

I found the surface produced was ever-so-slightly less smooth than the one I produced with a hand held scraper. The only conclusion I could reach was that I was unconsciously modulating the amount of flex in response to the feedback from the scraping stroke/motion.

I now use refrigerator magnets as suggested by others.

Good luck ... rj

Thanks, Neal, great idea

Ted Owen, Pittsburgh

>