Sharpening a Cabinet Scraper

It's a simple process but one that should not be overlooked.  The goal is to file the scraper edge perfectly square and then use a stone to really polish it.  This makes it possible to burnish the edge to get a nice hook that will pull beatifull curls from you osage or other wood.

The tools.  A scraper, mill bastard file, Arkansas whetstone, and a high-speed drill bit to use as a burnisher.


Start by locking your scraper in a vise with an inch or less protruding from the top.  Use the file to get the top nice and flat all the way across.  Do your best not to allow the file to wiggle and ound off the corners of the scraper edge.

Then do the flat portions to get the edge really nice and square.  Do both sides.

Then repeat using the whetstone.  A good one with no dishing.

Same thing on the sides.  After this you burnish but my camera battery died so I'll have to show that later.
It shouldn't take you much more than 15 minutes to do and the effort is well worth it.