Old hand saw blade for scrapers?

[Chris Evrard]

I want to make some scrapers that are square on one end and half round on the other.

I bought some rectangular cabinet scrapers a few years back, but dangit I can't fine 'em.

I do have an old hand saw someone painted up as an "art" piece. I was thinking of cutting that saw blade up for scrapers.

I'm sure several of you have tried it. How'd it work? Were you able to raise an edge with a burnishing steel?

Thanks,

CE

[Hungry Horse]

I have had better luck using old circular saw blades. They are thicker, which makes them more rigid. Any yard sale could probably get you a pile if them for a couple of bucks. The hand saw blades are good for frizzen faces.

  Hungry Horse

[Tim Crosby]

 I use them al the time, they are a little thick in some cases. Being able to flex a scraper makes a difference in some cases. I do not raise a burr but polish all 6 sides on an extra fine Diamond stone.
 Band saw blades also work well.

  Tim C.

[Chris Evrard]

Thanks guys. I'm going to try a few​ and see how they do.

Best

CE

[mark esterly]

steel strapping makes fine scrapers also.   it will take a rolled edge decent and has nice spring to it.  the 1 1/4 wide is usually .029 thick.

[Chris Evrard]

Worked out really well. I am pretty tickled. I visited the shop of Tim Williams on Thursday and traced two of his scrapers. They have been recreated in this saw blade material. After a bit of polishing I raised a pretty good burr on them and they scrape great.

I think I could benefit from a "real" burnisher as I was just using a hardened nail set. I hate to pay $30 for one. Would a hardened rod of 01 or 1095 do the trick? I have a bunch of drill rod in the shop.

[WestBranchSusquehanna]

Instead of putting out any money for a burnisher, try using a large Phillips screwdriver shaft.  Usually, they are round and work fine.

[Ray Settanta]

A hardened rod should work well. I've even used an old screwdriver shank a time or two.

[dogcatcher]

From Paul Sellers blog.   https://paulsellers.com/2015/02/scraper-burnishers-that-work/

I never like the idea of people feeling they must have a special tools when there are often many options. So, you don’t need a custom made burnisher to consolidate the edge to a scraper and turn it to form the hook you need for scraping awkward grain. In reality, almost any steel edge works just fine. I agree there is nothing wrong with owning a special burnisher, I own several myself, but it wasn’t until I came to the US did I buy one. Before then and even today, I often reach for a bevel-edged chisel or the back of a gouge and get back to the work in hand.
Last week I took four tools and sharpened for corners to a card scraper. The results were the same, as far as I could tell anyway. All four ‘burnishers’ worked just fine. In a matter of seconds I consolidated the steel and turned four new and keen edges. I used my own home made burnisher made from some O1, 3/8″ steel round, a manufactured burnisher, a nail punch and bevel-edged chisel. They each produced a viable cutting edge quickly and easily. And actually, no one feels any better in the process than the other. 

[Chris Evrard]

From Paul Sellers blog.   https://paulsellers.com/2015/02/scraper-burnishers-that-work/

I never like the idea of people feeling they must have a special tools when there are often many options. So, you don’t need a custom made burnisher to consolidate the edge to a scraper and turn it to form the hook you need for scraping awkward grain. In reality, almost any steel edge works just fine. I agree there is nothing wrong with owning a special burnisher, I own several myself, but it wasn’t until I came to the US did I buy one. Before then and even today, I often reach for a bevel-edged chisel or the back of a gouge and get back to the work in hand.
Last week I took four tools and sharpened for corners to a card scraper. The results were the same, as far as I could tell anyway. All four ‘burnishers’ worked just fine. In a matter of seconds I consolidated the steel and turned four new and keen edges. I used my own home made burnisher made from some O1, 3/8″ steel round, a manufactured burnisher, a nail punch and bevel-edged chisel. They each produced a viable cutting edge quickly and easily. And actually, no one feels any better in the process than the other. 

So my nail set is a "real" burnisher after all!

Cool, I'll harden up a piece of drill rod and make a handle.

Thanks guys,

[WadePatton]

...

So my nail set is a "real" burnisher after all!

Cool, I'll harden up a piece of drill rod and make a handle.

Thanks guys,

If Paul Sellers says so, and it has to do with woodworking, I agree fully. 

A kitchen steel or the next handy hard roundish steel thingie works for me. 


ALSO note that the hook/burr must be properly done.  The square edge will "scrape" but that's not the cutting action we're looking for here.  I spent way too much time scraping without a burr, It's much better with!

[g2608671@verizon.net]

Scrapers are so handy and more effective than sandpaper.  I have made scrapers from all sorts of metal objects and some of my favorites were made from old putty knives.  They can be ground into almost any shape and keep a  good rolled edge.  Take off the handles and use that portion for additional rolled edge surfaces. 

[Ray Settanta]

When I was a teen, I used to work for my uncle who was a Master cabinetmaker. We also used putty knives in different sizes for scraping- Red Devil brand. We also used an old screwdriver shank for burnishing.

[Hank*in*WV]

I often use the shank of a drill bit.

[smallpatch]

What ever you use,  it needs to be smooth and shiny. We're trying to burnish a hook, not grind it.  Don't need teeth on our scrapers. 

[jerrywh]

Back when I used scrappers the best job I ever did was with broken glass.  I have scrappers but seldom ever use them anymore. There are some places in some stocks where they are very convenient.  If a person is looking for that primitive look they are great.  Most people do not know how to use them though. The bur is not necessary but I think they work better with a bur raised on them.