Card Scrapers... Hook or not

[Brian Hale]

Do you put a hook on your card scrapers or just use them with clean square edges. I seem to have better results without a hook but maybe i just need more practice :confused:

Brian :)

[Randy Meijer]

I've never used a scraper; but I read a lot. In fact, I'm reading another book right now on surface prep and from what I see, the hook is the guy that actually does the work.....maybe you need some more practice; but let's see what the experts have to say.

[Chris Barton]

Hi Brian,

I always put a hook on mine.

[Alan Turner]

I use a hook, but the amount of the hook depends upon why I am using it. More for glue removal, less for fine work.

[John Timberlake]

Always put a hook on mine. Sometimes it works better than others, but it is getting more consistent with practice. If I don't get a nice flat edge first, I can end up with knicks that create gooves. Also, use a small amount of oil to lubricate while creating the hook.

[Mark Singer]

I use a hook . After the edge is filed and honed with a stone....I first burnish flat to the surface and then roll the hook over a small amount. You want it to grab in the natural position of holding... I have several and vary the amount of hook...you can feel it by touching and it is easy to tell the aggressive from the fine hooks

[James Owen]

Do you put a hook on your card scrapers or just use them with clean square edges. I seem to have better results without a hook but maybe i just need more practice :confused:

Brian :)

Brian,

Hook.

I had a similar problem with getting a consistent hook and acceptable results, until I started filing and then polishing the edge on a water stone (any type of stone would work) and then flattening both faces adjacent the hook edge on the stone (about a quarter inch is all it really needs). After the filing and stone work, I used a burnisher to roll the hook. After starting to use this procedure, I got a good consistent hook nearly every time, which showed in the results on the wood.

If you haven't used this method to prepare your scraper yet, you might give it a try and see if it helps.

James

[Bruce Branson]

I never use a hook on finish scrapers.They are the last tool to touch the wood.Hand planes take care of it to that point.

[Michael Fross]

I use a hook, but a very fine one. But then again, I never really use it to take off much material, just clean up small areas.

Michael

[Dennis McDonaugh]

I put a hook on the hand-held scrapers filed at 90 degrees and no hook on scraper plane blades filed at 45 degrees.

[Derek Cohen]

After jointing and smoothing the edges, I turn a hook on all 8 edges. Hooks are between 5 - 10 degrees, with the amount of pressure dependent on the size if the hook I want. Mostly one wants a very small hook for smoothing.

<I>Joint the edge</I>
<center> <div><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Sharpening/Holderwithfile.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> <br /></center>

<I>Clean up with a diamond stone before smoothing on waterstones</I>
<center> <div><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Sharpening/Honingwithstone.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> <br /></center>

<I>Draw the edge (about 5 degrees)</I>
<center> <div><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Sharpening/Drawingtheedge.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> <br /></center>

<I>Turn the hook (5-10 degrees)</I>
<center> <div><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Sharpening/Turningtheburr.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> <br /></center>

<center> <div><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Woodworking/Scrapingthelegs.jpg " border="0" alt="" /> <br /></center>

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Ben Hobbs]

I put a hook on my scrapers. I used to get the hook angle right about half the time. Then I started using a Veritas variable burnisher. Since then I always had the right hook angle. Ben

[Brian Hale]

Great stuff guys, Thanks!!

Derek, thanks for the pictures! It's always helpful to see how others Do The Deed ;)

I suspect my trouble is not getting the edges sharpened with a clean enough surface, which is something easy enough to fix. However, i get some nice curly shavings without a hook and it seems to hold that edge for quite a long time so I'm wondering if a hook is that beneficial. :confused:

Brian :)

[Jim Young]

I use a hook. Without it the scraper seems very dull to me and I end up just pushing down harder.