Make A Scraper Vise
Watch the video on cabinet scrapers and the Accu-Burr here:
A Scraper Vise is a wood block that clamps a scraper and makes it easier to file, polish and burnish. A Scraper Vise is simple to build and will simplify sharpening and improve the performance of your cabinet scraper.
Anatomy of a scraper vise
A scraper vise consists of 2 pieces of wood held together by 1/4-20 carriage bolts and wing nuts.
Clamping a scraper in the vise allows filing and honing at a perfect 90 degrees. It can also hold the scraper to allow a more consistent hook to be produced.
How to make it:
Cut 2 pieces of 3/4" thick, closed grain hardwood to 2" x 7-3/4"
Attach both pieces together with double sided tape
Mark both pieces so it can be reassembled in the same order
Mark drilling holes centered widthwise and 5/8" in from each end
Drill 1/4" holes through both pieces at each marked location.
Disassemble the pieces.
Enlarge the holes on one piece to 17/64". This will allow one jaw to slide and make opening the vise possible.
Insert 1/4" x 2" long carriage bolts through one half. Ensure the head of the bolt is in the half with the 1/4" hole. Pound the heads in with a hammer.
Attach the other jaw.
Plane both long edges square and smooth. The vise is ready to use.
How to use it:
Insert a scraper in the vice and clamp down the wingnuts with the scraper just proud of the vise (no more than 1/64"). This will ensure the edge cannot be filed or polished out of square.
File both scraper edges with a single cut file until fresh steel is exposed along the entire edge.
Next, flip the vise over and place it on a diamond stone or lapping film stuck to glass and hone the edge until there is a consistent polish along the entire edge. Start honing at 320 grit and finish at 600 grit.
Remove the scraper from the vise, lay the scraper flat on the bench, place the burnisher flat on the edge and push the burnisher along the edge making sure to keep it parallel with the scraper edge. This step draws steel from the edge that will be used to create a hook.
Place the scraper back in the vise with the scraper proud of the vise 1/8"
Run the burnisher along the edge, keeping the burnisher perpendicular to the scraper.
Next, turn the hook by running the burnisher along the edge, tilting the burnisher until it is in contact with the edge of the corner of the vise. Tilt the burnisher front to back as you turn the hook so you are drawing the steel out as you push the burnisher along the edge.
Supplies:
Hardware Kit for Cabinet Scraper Vise | 1/4" Brad Point Drill Bit | 17/64" Twist Drill Bit |
Accu-Burr Dual-Side Burnisher | Cabinet Scrapers and Burnishers |
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