How to Sharpen a Card Scraper Again

Perfect Shavings every time. The best way to sharpen a card scraper IMO
Everyone has their own method for sharpening a card scraper. this is just the method I use. but that being said here are a few other common ways to sharpen a card scraper.
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[@CathieZimmerman]

When I first started getting interested in woodworking a few years ago - I subscribed to every channel I could. I watched hundreds of hours of content. These days, I’ve got to admit that you are one of the few that I keep coming back to. Thanks for great content!

[@WoodByWright]

Thanks Cathie. that really means a lot. I will try to keep it coming!

[@scottsimpey2965]

Wonderful video James. I have seen a couple different videos demonstrating how to sharpen a scraper but I haven’t had much luck. I plan to give it a go again tomorrow when I’m in my shop. Your method makes it look a lot simpler and you made it easier to understand what your looking for and how best to use the scraper. Thank you very much for this.

[@WoodByWright]

Nice. just test it on harder wood. that is easier then soft wood.

[@cornflake73]

I am pleased that you made this video. I didn't know how to sharpen my card scraper and you gave a great tutorial on that subject. Now to practice with it is my next project.

[@WoodByWright]

Have fun man. It is seriously fun when you get it right.

[@thomasarussellsr]

The semester is almost over, soon I can get back in the shop, mitigate the rust that happened while I was away, and get to making curls and shavings. Thanks fornshowi g us, again, how to sharpen a card scraper.

[@WoodByWright]

Play fun. Thanks man.

[@anthonysmart6262]

Great video. You've posted at just the right time for me as I have a lot of scraping to do and my scrapers are dull. Thanks.

[@WoodByWright]

Glad I could help!

[@FixingFurniture]

Thanks for a great video James. I use card scrapers to clean off glue for furniture repairs, and it's the best tool for the job. My card scaper technique has given me inconsistent results, so I'm going to try your technique... the step I'm missing is burnishing at 90 degrees before the 5 degree angle. Liked & Subscribed!

[@WoodByWright]

thanks man. let me know how it goes. they are a lot of fun when they work well.

[@justplanebob105]

Thank you. I bought one of your card scrapers some time back. Excellent explanation. I'm a believer in the KISS method. LOL

[@WoodByWright]

LOL yes. I believe in the same methods!

[@grimsoul0]

That's the best method to use for anything.

[@bpower6362]

Great video. A nicely sharpened card scraper is so fun to use. I struggled with sharpening my card scrapers at first. Watched many videos and still no luck. I finally seen how strazzafurniture does it. It is very similar to how you do it but somehow, the way he explained it, just clicked. Now..... beautiful. :) I may have to get myself a carbide rod though. That looks handy. :)

[@WoodByWright]

so true. there are so many ways to do it, but when you find the right way it just clicks!

[@MakeBrooklyn]

Great info! If you really hate sanding (I do!!) a card scraper is definitely your friend

[@charlesarnold4963]

Really good explanation and demonstration. How long will the sharp edge last or to put the question another way; how often does a scraper need to be resharpened? Also can you use a scraper to remove rubbish such as cement or plaster from wood to make it safe to plane or cut?

[@WoodByWright]

usually each edge lasts for around 12 minutes or so of work. but it depends on the hook you turn. if it is too big it can snap off. cement or plaster would destroy the hook. usually for that I use a junk chisel. the Card scraper is great for glues and epoxy's though.

[@charlesarnold4963]

Wood By Wright many thanks. I have been given several pieces of 2 by 8 and other sizes but they have some cement on them. I think i will try a wire wheel to get the worst off and then scrape with an old chisel.the timber is too good to trash.

[@walterrider9600]

thank you James . this has been driving me nuts ( short trip) i got a burnisher to use on my scrapers no luck so i tried an old piece of hss ( high speed steel ) cutting tool it would just cut into it

[@WoodByWright]

What do you mean cut into it. it should be a flat or rounded edge.

[@walterrider9600]

@@WoodByWright the hss tool bit is a 1"x 1" x 7" it is a 62 or great on the hardness scale ( rockwell ) .it is used to cut steel ... metals on a lath . it was something i had from my machinists days left in my box

[@JeepTherapy]

My wife got some crown brand for me for Xmas. Only used the rectangular one once. But hey. It works.

[@WoodByWright]

Those are good ones!

[@JeepTherapy]

Wood By Wright I know, but man they’re some hard steel. Good thing I’ve got a brandishing iron older than me!

[@nickkropat8857]

If you go to the junk yard, you can find door pistons or shock absorbers - the metal rods are usually VERY hard in those, and make great burnishers for super cheap (~ $1)

[@WoodByWright]

sounds like a good idea!

[@red58impala]

Thanks for the info. I need to change the lifts on my wife's car soon and I would have just tossed them. I'll just cut off the shafts/rod/piston (whatever you call it) and put them to use.

[@909sickle]

I have been struggling with card scrapers. After making several myself, which only got sub-par curls and left a surface worst than sandpaper, I ordered a set (the crown set, you show in this video). The factory burr removed more material from the wood than my homemade scrapers, but still left a worst than sandpaper surface. After some practice (and the use of microscope) I finally got some decent little curls and a better surface, but still not better than sandpaper and not as good as a hand plane. All card scrapers seem to remove more of the soft rings and less of the hard rings. So I get a raised grain effect the more I scrape. Maybe I just need to save up and get a carbide rod. I've been using a round portion of a file I polished (and before that, a screwdriver I polished). I only can use scrapers to clean up dipped spots that I can't get at with a plane. You make it look so easy. I sure hope I can figure out where I'm going wrong. I dream of a day when I don't need that nasty sandpaper.

[@WoodByWright]

I would ask what wood you are working with. it is is pine or poplar. something soft like that they are are really hard to get with. harder woods like maple and oak they do much better in.

[@909sickle]

@@WoodByWright Oh, wow. I've been working mostly with pine. I thought soft woods would be easier scrape, since they are often easier to plane. I have some walnut and random smaller hardwood pieces, I will compare results on that. Thanks a lot for replying.

[@richstone2627]

New to all this and found your video to be very informative. Thank you

[@WoodByWright]

My pleasure. Feel free to ask any time.

[@thedeloachsdoyoutube8377]

Thanks again for the awesome info!!

[@johnhupcey9442]

Yours is the third or fourth video I have watched, and having tried the various techniques in each I still cannot get decent burrs that cut cleanly. During the "burnishing at 90 degrees" step I really can't get a good mushroom (examining the edge with a loupe magnifier) so my curl over burrs don't work. I'm using a Taytools Carbide Cabinet Scraper Burnisher Rod HRC 92-944.

[@WoodByWright]

Feel free to send me an email. I'll be glad to talk through with you. Sometimes I find it depends on the card scraper if the steel is hard, you really got to push it down to make it move.

[@johnhupcey9442]

@@WoodByWright It seems I must have gotten it correct, but I was doing all my testing on a scrap of pine. I'm building a project now out of red oak and I needed to remove table saw burn marks and the scraper worked like a champ, generating curls and everything. 🙂

[@markgoddard2560]

Really useful. You must be the original card-sharp!!!! Can you do a demo for the veritas scraping plane? I still can’t get that blade how I want it. Thanks.

[@WoodByWright]

thanks man. I have a video on sharpening the Stanley 80 it is fairly similer. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j57On4WjaZKFebc

[@katzmosestools]

#wrightwalkerkatzmosesfeud?

[@WoodByWright]

LOL love it!

[@SeanFoushee]

I love using my card scraper, but I have oily skin and find that even after one use it can develop rust overnight. Do you use any solvents to clean the surfaces after you're done for the day? I've been using acetone, but was curious if you add anything to the surface of your scrapers or have a better way to maintain the steel.

[@WoodByWright]

I use pastewax on all my tools. I make my own with bees wax and 3 in 1 oil.

[@SeanFoushee]

Wood By Wright thanks, I found your video on making beeswax, I’ll give it a watch.

[@drawlele]

Ok so I know this video is like half a year old but yeah got questions. 1) in place of a diamond plate will sandpaper work - and if so what grit like 400+ or something a little more aggressive? 2) will the knife sharpener from a butcher's block knife set work; because my file while having a totally flat safe edge has burs along the side and not sure if that's good or bad but not willing to risk it yet. 3) how often should I re sharpen the edge? I'm finding that I can get a good bur and a nice curl but within 10-15 min it's just pushing dust. I'm very new to this I bought my card scraper because I really hate sanding off shellac and I knew it would remove it very quickly without burning up massive amounts of sandpaper (which can get costly) I think I might be doing something wrong, like very wrong.

[@WoodByWright]

1. I would use 800-1000 grit sand paper. it does not take much to take off the bur. put it on glass and that will work fine. 2. sure. a knife steel is usually hard enough for most of them. 3. I usually do not use a single edge for more the 5 minutes or so. that is why I do all for edges at once. hope that helps.

[@drawlele]

@@WoodByWright that actually helps a ton, I really did think that I was doing something wrong. Thank you

[@BradsWorkbench]

Can u use a nail punch as a burnisher? I think it’s hardened steel 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@WoodByWright]

Sure. most any smooth surface that is harder then the scraper will work. the harder it is the easier it is.

[@SteveC38]

Very nice James, thank you once again.

[@WoodByWright]

Pleasure. Thanks Steve

[@matandersonmusic]

newbie question: can a card scraper be used to finish the top of a nightstand or so even though the surface is wider than the card scraper? Better asked maybe?: in order to use the card scraper, must the scraper be wider than the piece you are scraping?

[@WoodByWright]

Good question. there is no problem with using it on wider boards. Just do it a piece of time like you would with a hand plan. Scraper is actually a really easy way of removing finish.

[@dondavis8260]

How are you suppose to sharpen a woodriver 80 cabnet scraper it has about a 1/4" thick steel plate with a bevel on it . Do you sharpen it like a iron or a card scraper?

[@WoodByWright]

There are a bunch of ways to sharpen it, but personally I do both. Put a sharp bevel on it then turn a bur on that edge. I have a video on sharpening a #80 if you want to see more

[@davidsgerson]

Hi James - quick question. What grit diamond stone do you use to prepare it before burnishing?

[@WoodByWright]

I generally use the Extra fine plate

[@davidsgerson]

Many thanks

[@ismaelgomez5649]

Great video! Thanks!!!

[@timcheatwood4550]

I sharpened my Wood by Wright card scraper while watching this video... Lol

[@WoodByWright]

LOL nice!

[@jlw35cudvm]

I may find one. I use a cheap hunk of metal plate. It rusts like a dream

[@tintansigloXXI]

Can I use a old drill bit as a burnisher???

[@WoodByWright]

Should be more then hard enough.

[@VirgilAllenMoore]

I like. Well done, sir.

[@WoodByWright]

Thanks Virgil!

[@hassanal-mosawi6049]

Thanks for sharing that

[@WoodByWright]

Thanks. my pleasure

[@ConfiscatedZyra]

i use my harbor freight chisels :) . finally put to good use

[@JohnMadeit]

Good info. Even managed to get a dad joke in 😆👍

[@WoodByWright]

LOL thanks man!

[@PinkPoo]

THANK YOUUUUUUUU 💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

[@cockamamy7582]

What's a card Scrappper? (See 0:13-0:16 ish). Just kidding. :) I'd actually love to see you demonstrate scraper planes, like a Stanley #112 or #12.

[@WoodByWright]

I see you found the fun of my Title cards! I have a video showing how to sharpen a #80 I use the same method for the 112 and others. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j57On4WjaZKFebc

[@javiers.8274]

😂 used the screwdriver, noticed it did not work. Five seconds later you said: „Don’t use the screwdriver, it’s not gonna work… “

[@scottturner2529]

Why flex the card when scraping? Seems like it makes the action of the tool restricted to a smaller area...looks hard on your hands too?

[@WoodByWright]

good question. the fact is that you can not push much more then 1" wide when holding the blade like that. that is why they make scraping planes so you can get a wider grip and cut wider sections. it may look hard on your hands but once you have it down it is fairly comfortable.

[@scottturner2529]

That makes sense. Thanks.

[@blakeumthun8128]

It looks like someone had too much coffee

[@WoodByWright]

LOL no that is just my normal!