stewart-macdonald scrapers

[peter havriluk]

Pricy and they look 'interesting' to sharpen. But they're thick...I know little about scrapers. Anyone have any experience with these and whether they represent worthwhile value? I am a bit wary of the source, in among reasonable but expensive tools are some things that look seriously overengineered to me. Left-handed screwdrivers, figuratively speaking.

Thanks!

[John Link]

I think you are talking about the very thick ones. I have a couple and like them for tight work.

[ken cierp]

The Carruth scrapers are very good --- work great but sharpening is an acquired skill. That said you can surely live without one.

[peter havriluk]

I'd be very happy to live with a thirty-dollar scraper if it did a job nothing else did. Sounds to me like Ken's saved me thirty bucks.

[Kevin in California]

Peter one of the best small scrapers you will find are utility knife blades. I use them all the time, buy one of those 100 packs, you can throw them away as they dull, or sharpen them with a file and turn a burr. I use them right out of the pack, awesome for scraping down your Bindings and purlings, rosettes back inlay strips, etc. Give them a try, you will gladly give up your next born son to me as thanks. :)

[peter havriluk]

Kevin, hidden in plain view - - - I only have two packages of 100 blades, missing a few from each. One package is even resident in my guitar bench drawer. Never thought to use them as scrapers, although I use hobby knives and single-edged razor blades as scrapers. Can't say why I didn't make the association.

Many thanks!

[Trever]

2"-3" bandsaw blades work great. Find a local mill that uses them. They will usually give you a damaged one for free. Grind the teeth down level, create burr and burnish; your G2G.