Hand scraped finish

[B.Habermehl]

I’m glad this wasn’t a carved rifle. I’m presently working on a schimmel. I was going for a somewhat rustic finish. What I got was crude by my standards. I’m blaming the relatively soft piece of maple. While it’s apart I’m going to give it a bit of a sanding and refinish job. Plus the fact that I’m in the throws of learning to use Waterlox finish. Learning is half the fun in this game. BJH

[Daniel Coats]

Try burnishing with a smooth piece of deer antler and see if you like it better.

[B.Habermehl]

Did that, I’m thinking my scrapers weren’t sharp enough, still, way too much fuzz. Ive done hand scraped finishes before, and was satisfied. I was going for workman like this time, as this was a representation of a inexpensive piece of the period. I’m sure part of the problem was that I made no attempt at wiskering. Was going for rustic, wound up with rough. Live and learn. BJH

[rich pierce]

Send me a PM with your address and I’ll send you some microscope slides for scraping. Take a small block of wood and saw a slot in it to leave 3/8” of slide exposed. Perfect ground 90 degree edges.

[DavidC]

Rich, could you elaborate more on what you mentioned? I've never used scrapers but have been looking at getting some.

[rich pierce]

Rich, could you elaborate more on what you mentioned? I've never used scrapers but have been looking at getting some.

[B.Habermehl]

Rich, thank you kindly. PM on the way. BJH

[heinz]

BJH, are you turning a burr edge on your scraper.  That is critical for getting a smooth finish

[Mark Elliott]

BJH, are you turning a burr edge on your scraper.  That is critical for getting a smooth finish

I don't use a burr edge on all my scrapers and I get good results.   Case in point,  I do most of my scraping with utility knife blades that have been flattened (90 degree) on a Fine diamond stone.  I get very good results from these on wood and horn.  I have to resharpen frequently.   I use them at a 45 degree to the curl to minimize ripple in fancy stock.   There is some really wild figure that I just have to use sandpaper on, but it is rare. 

[mountainman]

BJH, are you turning a burr edge on your scraper.  That is critical for getting a smooth finish

I don't use a burr edge on all my scrapers and I get good results.   Case in point,  I do most of my scraping with utility knife blades that have been flattened (90 degree) on a Fine diamond stone.  I get very good results from these on wood and horn.  I have to resharpen frequently.   I use them at a 45 degree to the curl to minimize ripple in fancy stock.   There is some really wild figure that I just have to use sandpaper on, but it is rare.

I agree 💯👍 I have tried the burred edge, but I make out better just like Mark said.

[rich pierce]

Jim Kibler had a good video on how he sets up scrapers with a burr edge. I also agree a good 90 degree without a burr also works.

[Daryl]

I used a burred edge on my bows, but do not have more than a cursory experience scraping a stock.
With the burred edge, I got a perfect curl, but that was on plain maple, some red oak and hickory.

[smallpatch]

I find there are some pieces of wood that just won’t scrape. Usually, they are just too soft, and turn fuzzy. Sometimes, you got to give up and go to sandpaper.
Good hard wood will take a finer finish from a scraper than sand paper……. No whiskering needed.
I too use the knife blades with a 90deg edge.