Woodturning: Sharpen and Burnish a Negative Rake Scraper

In This Video I attempt the impossible and try to sharpen my negative rake scraper with a steel rod!. Ok, that's not entirely true, although it's not too far from the truth. First let's start with the cover photo. It's total click bait. No one in their right mind would ever put a scraper in a chuck on a lathe. Well, except for me when I took this picture. After the photo I promptly removed the scraper and put it back where it belongs. So, what's the deal anyway? Why a steel Rod? It's actually called a burnishing rod. I had it left over from my days of yesteryear when I did flat wood working (Thats woodworking with boards in case you didn't already know). The burnishing rod is used to improve the cutting burr on the scraper. How? Well, I'm not going to tell you. You're going to have to watch the video. After all, that's why I made the video anyway, right? What other tidbits will you find? Just a few, I did get some pretty cool macro photos of the sharpened round nosed scraper. I was actually impressed. I also create a shaving that's about a mile long. I'm not sure but I think it set a new world record. I guess that's a bit of an exaggeration. But it was pretty darned long for what I was doing. Once again, I was impressed. Other than that, you'll have to watch the video. Actually you should watch it twice just in case you missed something. Or maybe put it on repeat when you're going to bed so the information gets drilled into your subconscious mind...
Ok, KZbin is all done making sure my content doesn't break any rules or something so I'm gonna finish up here. Watch the entire video, press the like button, subscribe, share, leave a comment... do it now!!
Useful Links. If you visit any of these links please tell them I sent you. No one at the AAW knows who I am (hahaha). The people at First State Woodturners know me so please join the club. Mention that I sent you and you can join for the year for only $25 (or maybe $30 if they raised the dues). Stuart Batty probably has no clue who I am but I did meet him a few times at a few symposia (yes, that's the proper plural for Symposium. Really it is, don't believe me? Look it up. I bet you thought it was Symposiums)
Vicki Jordan knows me so if you do talk with her please order lots of tools. I do NOT get a cut. Vicki is just an awesome person, tell her I said Hi
American Association of Woodturners
www.woodturner.org/
First State Woodturners
firststatewoodturners.org/
Stuart Batty Tools
stuartbattytools.com/
John Jordan Tools
www.johnjordanwoodturning.com...

[@carrollanderson7358]

Best vid I have seen on negative rake scraper, thank so much 😊

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

Wow! Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you found the info useful

[@mcooper320]

This video was spot on for what I was looking for. I recently bought a d way negative rake scraper and I was struggling to put a bur on it with a diamond card. I own a Lee Valley burnishing rod so I'm looking forward to giving it a try.

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

I'm glad you found the info useful. After you get a chance to try it out, let me know how it works for you. Thanks for watching!

[@alyoung2569]

Really great video. Covered all the pertinent areas for me.

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching!

[@dennislestanguet9581]

In my former life I was a meat cutter, we would steel our knives not to sharpen but to straighten the edge. Of course the sharper your tools are the result is better. I use that same thinking now 50 years later when working with wood. Thanks for explaining the burr on a scraper, and to everyone who gets that nice knife set with that steel that comes with it you will not sharpen your knives you need grind some metal then hone them. 🥩🔪 And a sharp tool / knife are always the safest.

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

A sharp tool is definitely safer than a dull one. Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching!

[@DacaTimberworks.]

Excellent work, great info and presentation! You nailed the audio and video, i notice this because im struggling in that department😅. Looks like i have a new channel to binge watch.

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

Thanks. Maybe I should do a video on making a video? Camera and audio setup is much simpler than you'd think

[@DacaTimberworks.]

@ScottsMiniWoodshop sure, I know I'd watch it. I always like when guys go through and do layouts of their shop or work area. No one ever does one of their audio/Video setups.

[@walonguy111]

Scott, nice video, very informative. Great job.

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching!

[@tonysmith3143]

Awesome video,thanks for sharing.

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

Thanks for watching!

[@copiahdad]

Great video! I’ve already reground my round nose scraper into a negative rake and it works great. Curious about that skew you used to cut dovetail tenons. Is that a 1/2” skew and is that the angle it came with or did you have to regrind to match the angle of your dovetail jaws?

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

Great to hear the negative rake is working for you. Thanks for the feedback. The skew is a, 1/2 inch. I started using the angle it was originally ground to. But over time the angle has changed somewhat. Not much. It's really not super critical as long as it's close to the angle for your Jaws (give or take).

[@LaverneLovatt]

very interesting. Real time for the scraping would have made it better

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

It's always a challenge to balance real time video with a video that's too long. Thanks for the comment. Maybe I'll do a follow up showing it in actual time.

[@jimbalz3017]

gonna try this

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

It may take a few tries to get the pressure right when burnishing. Once you have the feel for it, it's super fast and easy

[@joehimes9898]

Subscribed.

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

Awesome! Thanks

[@drandrewclarke]

hi, new to this and found video very helpful. A question. Does not the burnishing rod need to be made of a stronger material than the edge? ie carbide against HSS?

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

Great question. If what you're using as a burnishing tool is too soft it probably won't work as expected. I'd say your burnishing rod should be at least as hard or harder than what you're trying to burnish. I had a commercially made burnishing tool I bought many years ago for burnishing card scrapers and it works for me. I have turner friends who use the rounded back of a spindle or bowl gouge. Some people make their own burnishing tool using the smooth shank of an old drill bit. Do you need a carbide rod to burnish HSS? In my experience, no. But if I were making a burnishing tool and had some round carbide bar stock handy, I'd use it. Thanks for watching!!

[@drandrewclarke]

@@ScottsMiniWoodshop thanks. I've just bought a used carbide drill bit from eBay as per Mike Peace's video on DIY burnisher. I've seen expert turners on yt even use the shaft of a screw driver.

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

If it works, it works. If it works and it's inexpensive, even better @@drandrewclarke

[@fredbrookes7968]

The proof of the pudding is in the eating

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

Thanks for watching