How smooth should scraped curly maple be?

[McJames]

I got my Kibler Woodsrunner kit last Friday, and finished the first assembly yesterday, then took it all apart. I’m trying to finish the stock now. I have almost no experience with woodworking/finishing, but I’m trying to go for a PC look, so I tried scraping the stock with a piece of broken wine bottle, which produced small curls. The result is fairly smooth, but I can definitely feel some degree of texture, especially in the areas where the grain goes multiple directions. Is this okay? I want it to look good, but I don’t necessarily want it to look like glass. Thank you!

[McJames]

russian image hosting

This is what it looks like with the light reflecting at an angle, if that helps.

[Ats5331]

Never scraped with glass before, but just buy a set of scrapers from a woodworking supplier. You'll learn to feel the grain changes throughout the stock. I took a while to believe people who claimed that it finished better than sandpaper, but it definitely has a better look and feel.

Having not held the stock in my hands, hard to tell if it's scraped enough. But I would scrape until it's very very smooth. Then do some whiskering and that's where it gets super fun

[Daryl]

Years ago at Dixon's Gun Maker's Fair, I met Allen Martin who was scraping a stock with a metal scraper  or maybe it was a tine from a pair of sizzors, I don't remember.
I did have some experience scraping bow limbs for tillering, which was kind of an instant success deal. Scraping Al's stock was no different. It's an easy thing to accomplish. Shart learning curve. I certainly agree with using a properly sharpened scraper, though. It's easier to get a more accomplished finish.

[steven baker]

I have got a 6 inch stainless steel ruler. Small, very flexible and scrapes maple timber like peeling a apple, hope this helps,
Take care Steven.

[foxm2015]

Wood that has curl has hard areas and soft areas that will become apparent when scraping.  This is because there will be more material removed from the soft areas when scraping parallel to the grain direction.  This can be smoothed by scraping at an angle to the grain (example 45 degrees).  You can continue using a piece of glass as you are now, but will continue to get the results that you are, with more pronounced "ripples" if scraping parallel to the grain.   It would be best to purchase or make a cabinet scraper per previous posts.   This is the correct tool for the job and will allow you to get the proper leverage to perform the work.  A scraper is made / sharpened by selecting / making a piece of sheet steel to shape, clamping in a vise vertically, taking a piece of steel rod and pressing down very hard on the top edge of the steel, and running it along the entire edge of the steel under as much pressure as you can develop.   This will create the bur that cut the stock material.  Be very careful when pressing down and running the steel rod across the steel edge.  Cut hazard.   Would also suggest that you obtain some practice shaped pieces of maple to experiment with and develop understanding on how the scrapers perform then move on to the stock.  You need to develop the experience base to "read" what direction you need to angle the scraper to remove wood effectively from the stock.  Wood texture after scraping is to your preference.   Keep in mind that you may want to sell or trade the piece in the future.  Surface finish will affect the sale price.

All the best on your project.  You can do it.   Go slow and keep asking questions.   You've got this!

[rich pierce]

I’ve never mastered using broken glass as a scraper. I use microscope slides sunk into a slot in a small piece of wood, with about a quarter inch of the slide exposed. Microscope slides can be found cheap on eBay.

But I use steel scrapers most of the time because there are only a couple flat areas on a longrifle stock. If using any flat scraper on a rounded area it will take hundreds of strokes and not really help keep things round.

[Jim Kibler]

Curly wood doesn't have hard and soft spots, just different grain orientations.  I would scrape with a thin card scraper or even a carpet razor blade.  When scraping if you have white looking areas on the stock, this is an indication you are cutting against the grain.

Jim

[Clowdis]

Slightly off topic here, but I remember my grandfather making a new hickory handle for the sledge hammer he used with wedges to split wood. After shaping with a drawknife he broke one of grandma's canning jars to scrape the wood with. I still remember the nice curls of hickory coming off that handle. I still remember grandma not being too pleased about him breaking one of her jars too.

[AZshot]

Jim and all, I have a fancy walnut stocked SMR on order with you.  Do you find Walnut a good wood for scraping too?  I was going to, but it's my first build, and had about decided just to use files and sandpaper. 

[rich pierce]

I think it’s best to practice everything before deploying it on a build. Inletting, shaping, carving, engraving, staining, finishing. It may take a bit to learn how to get a hooked edge on a scraper and use it effectively. It seems most likely that builders in the flintlock period used scrapers on fancy walnut. I’m thinking of European guns here.

[Stoner creek]

After seeing several examples of dye and stain applications I’m looking for a color similar to what Dave has on that lap desk. I saw one example on another site that used a NGR fruit wood dye that really got my attention.

[bluenoser]

Not all scrapers have rolled hooks and too much hook can be counter productive.  The wood will tell you which works best.

[whetrock]

For years I used a piece of steel cut out of an old handsaw blade. If you happen to have an old saw you don't mind cutting up, and a little time, you can get a lot of scrapers out of a saw, and you can make them into any shapes you want. But I'll also say that I've found a four-piece set of shaped cabinet scrapers to be a good investment. They come ready made in very useful shapes. Around 19.00 plus shipping. Cheaper than most old handsaws!
Search for:
"Garlick saw company shaped cabinet scraper set"

[smallpatch]

As Jim said…. A thinner blade gives a finer finish.
For shaping a thick scraper does a good job, for fine finish, I’ll end up with carpet knife blades with flattened edges.