I need to get a good scraper. I have never held one or seen one in real life so I know bubkis. I was looking at the "Mystic" from 3 Rivers but am always leary of some claims. So what is a good one that will give years of service.
Thanks
Any of them will work. I use my draw knife as a scraper sometimes. I've also heard of guys using fillet knives. I bought a British made set of cabinet scrapers that has three different ones in it. I use the plain rectangle one the most. I'm not sure the the particular brand of scraper is as important as knowing how to keep it sharp so that it removes nice long ribbons.
I can scrap bretty well with my hunting Knife but I don't want to work my edge alot like that on my Knife. I am pretty shapening savy so I figure with some research I should be OK with that. Psychmonky where did you pick up your scrapers from?
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My best scraper is one I made from a circular saw blade. I cut out a rectangle and made some good burrs on it. I have used it on more than a dozen bows without touching it up. I can use light pressure to do fine work or I can use some more force to get some big curls pealing up. I do have a nice store bought card scraper but I never use it because the home made one works better.
I use a Bahco scraper the most. Have a few others but they seem to get little use.
The absolute best scraper I use is a four inch blade from a Hitachi electric hand planner. Can use light pressure for less removal or heavy and remove a lot of wood. I also use a credit card size wallet bottle opener for smaller stuff and cleanup...Just flatten one side with a belt sander and it works great too.
I'll have to try one from a circular saw blade sometime. I have a Mystic Scraper and like it a lot; the rounded ends are pretty handy, but I mostly use the long edges. Any of them should last for a long time and work well if sharpened right.
I have a Mystic too and I like it a lot.
The best thing about a circular saw blade scraper is that its free. I grabbed a blade that a contractor had thrown away when they were working on our house.
I have a Mystic and a set of three of spring steel scrapers I bought. I use the spring steel ones the most.
How you guys sharpening the mystic? I never have been able to get that thing working right. Would love too though. The spring steel scrapers can hot on the old thumb when you are really in the zone. I've burnt big blisters on my thumbs with it. The mystic don't that and I love the stiffness of it. I just can't get it to cut as good as the other ones.
Thanks
JY
My best scrapers are also the ones that I have made from worn out saw blades. I cut em to size with a grinder and the grinder will leave a natural bur on the edge that lasts a long time. If I feel like it isnt taking good ribbons off I just get the grinder out and take another 1/8" off the edge.
Any good steel will make a good scraper. Don't spend a bunch of money, just find an old saw blade and you can have a lifetime of scrapers.
Get a Sandvik/Bahco scraper for less than $10 from a woodworking store. It will last forever. You can use a grinder to round each corner to a different radius and it will do everything you want.
Briarjumper,
For sharpening the Mystic, I just filed one side flat, polished it a bit on a stone, and used a burnisher to roll the edge. I didn't mess with the round ends too much; for the amount I use them, they seem to work OK from the factory.
10-4 Tim. I just can't seem to get it to do as good as the cabinet scrapers.