How to Sharpen a Card Scraper

Fine Woodworking art director Michael Pekovich shares his technique for sharpening a card scraper, and warns against the two most common mistakes made when carrying out the process.

[@TCoupe60]

Great vid! I basically needed a lighter touch all around - lighter on the honing, lighter on the scraping. The tool does all the work for me now. What a relief! Thank you!

[@ehengle]

Finally, I "know" how to put a proper edge on a scraper. Thanks so much!!!

[@DanYHKim2]

An old issue of FWW had an article on this. It had a nice drawing to show in an exaggerated way, the steel burr drawn off the edge followed by it's being rolled over to 90⁰ of the blade.

[@ramaroodle]

Oh. Now I get it. It's not the whole edge you're turning. It's the left and right side of the flat edge. Edit: FANTASTIC!!!! After 3 years I finally have a really well sharpened card!!! Subscribed and liked!!

[@chm1701]

The best video by far. Definitely saving this one in my sharpening playlist.

[@trooper1228]

Out of all the videos I have watched trying to figure out how to do this, by far this is the best! Thank you!

[@frontporchswingin1359]

Agreed, outstanding tutorial. Thank you sir, your tips great. 👍👍

[@igor-zb9vd]

thanks for the video. i was using scraper for a long time, but now it works better. it is so easy to push it with the small hook and it takes amazing shavings.

[@jeffharmed1616]

Thanks for sharing. This is the best method I have seen thus far, thanks. I guess a curved block of wood will work for the curved scrapers.

[@mymatemartin]

Excellent video. Really well presented.

[@glenngulley1375]

Outstanding video, mike is one of the best at teaching different technics. Definitely enjoy all his videos as well as his work

[@HeavyOpera1]

Holy cow! This worked so well. THANK YOU!

[@FranksDIY]

Great tips Thank you.

[@JedidiahShultzIrishCraftsman]

So helpful!!! Thank you very much for sharing and I will definitely be putting it to good use!!😊

[@hippychippie1]

Very clear explanation Thank you

[@ecaff9515]

Excellent video and process thank you for sharing

[@timpearson7437]

Great instructions . Thanks

[@thetotalfunction7736]

Very nice explained, thank you!)

[@GregorShapiro]

Your block of wood with the saw kerf has to be FLAT, SQUARE, PARALLEL, and the saw kerf PERPENDICULAR to the faces.

[@MyVinylRips]

This was excellent

[@vsemprivet]

thank you for this masterclass! one question: can I use a ceramic burnisher, the kind of chefs use to fine-tuning the edge of a knife?

[@andabien3]

Excellent video. Many thanks. Does the block hold the card tightly, loosely, somewhere in between?

[@brianhackett9649]

OMG, I just found the only video on KZbin with no dislikes! Congrats! What's the best way to make that kerf in the jig? I have a benchtop bandsaw that never cuts a straight line and I'm not sure if my Silky flush cut saw is rigid enough to make a straight cut that long.

[@justgivemethetruth]

I just got a diamond scraper like you have there ... not much luck with my card scraper hooks though. What is that you are spray on the diamond stone? Water?

[@petermccuskey1832]

Thank you.

[@Charlie-dm5ug]

Mike, At about 5:04 you say to put the scraper in the block, protruding "about an eighth of an inch", but at 5:12 it looks like the scraper protrudes more like three-eighths to a half an inch... Am I picking Nits here? It seems to me like a significant difference...

[@orcasea59]

Is this process different if the scraper is going to be used in cabinet scraper tool?

[@terry2346]

Process is the same regardless

[@DanYHKim2]

Does any consideration need to be made for heat generated by scraping? The thin flat blade has no mass to absorb and dissipate heat. Maybe the whole idea is that conditioning the hook is fast enough that you generally have a fresh hook to work with. After all, there are *four* edges available on the blade before it needs more work.

[@bricotico6498]

what can I use if I don't have a burnisher

[@FineWoodworking]

A drill bit works very nicely.

[@bricotico6498]

FineWoodworking thank you very much

[@brianrachellemc9409]

A scraper should be set in tension as i was taught. As shown theedge will break in use!

[@mihailos5492]

What do you mean by “set in tension?”

[@darhoo6470]

300 likes after my stoke!

[@Z-Ack]

Card scraper.. huh. I always called that my big ass razor blade.. even made a big ass razor blade holder/handle that looks like the old hand helds with the button that you push to adjust blade stickout.. never used it as a plainer though.. mostly flat surface crap remover.. good to know that ive been looking like a dumbass using the thing wrong all these years though. Thankee.. card scraper.. that same thing as cabinet scraper or am i missing the bucket again here?

[@makenchips]

Really nice vid on this subject, but I have some issues with yout shaop hygiene. 1. Flipping your diamond plate in the same place. Possible contamination, and should be washed off prior to flipping. 2. Your gauge holding block is carbon contaminated and you setting it and hold it everwhere???? Leaving carbon grim on every thing???? 3. When you made the hoding block put 600 or 800 glued to bottom to aid in your flatting the card on diamond plates. Rinse block off after use. 4. Build a work station or tray to use so you dont comtaninate your bench or vice jaws. 5. Keep your hand cleaned if carbonized you have to clean then before you touch things in your shop! Other than that good video!