Birch plywood finishing

[Scottmoose]

Terry Cain achieved this finish on birch ply. Machine sanded on a ruddy great stroke sander with 150 grit, laquer finish. Frighteningly good. I feel about an inch high whenever I see his woodwork.

[Aengus]

poobah said

Some of the tools required for scrapers have simple subs... a steel for your kitchen knives will serve as a burnisher, as well as a round screwdriver blade.

Screwdrivers may be too soft; the standard recommendation is the back of a chisel handle.

Vikash, Gcollier's recommendation of Lee Valley was a good one, since they have the stuff in sets as you asked. Have a look here:

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...at=1,310,41069

[edit]

[Scottmoose]

There's Glory for you.

Nice set that. I might even indulge in it myself.

[pinkmouse]

Scraper holders are for wussies.

Vikash, get yourself a scraper, post it to me and I'll sort it for you. I would send you one of mine, but you get very attached to the feel of your own, and I'd be worried about losing it.

[edjosh23]

Funniest thing, I just finished reading the thread, while simultaniously searching through the website of a hardware store no more than 3 miles from my house and found this article about scrapers. I'll likely pick up a scraper in the next week or two, to help me finish my pair of Frugel-Horns. Thanks for the suggestion PM.

Thanks,

Josh

[Vikash]

Excellent article. I'm confident enough to give it a go now.

This 4 scraper set inc burnisher seems pretty good @ £22.11: http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-A...pers-20437.htm

Is this the right type of file? (What is a b4stard file exactly?): http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-V...iles-22597.htm

Simple jig: http://www.brendlers.net/oldtools/sc...r.htm#Squaring

If I was to go for only one scraper, which thickness would you say is best for my current task?

PS What have you started PM...

[pinkmouse]

Originally posted by Vikash
Is this the right type of file? (What is a b4stard file exactly?)

Yes. I'd go for the longer one, they're easier to control. Files used to come in three grades, coarse, second cut, and finish. The b*stard file is between the coarse and second cut. My old teacher told me it was because the finer files clog too quickly on softer metals, so an intermediate file was required.

If I was to go for only one scraper, which thickness would you say is best for my current task?

I'd get both the .6 and .8, one will feel right in your hands, the other won't.

PS What have you started PM...

Using a scraper is a real pleasure, in fact, it can almost become spiritual. Those that have will know...

[poobah]

You don't want a double-cut file... Single cut is the ticket. Google "draw" filing.

[pinkmouse]

I'd disagree, but not seriously.

[poobah]

Well... stupid me... I assumed that "double cut" means the same thing on your side of the pond...

Here (where files were invented by a German immigrant, Deiter Filemacher), single cut means one procession of teeth, all at the the same angle, down one face of the tool. The tool of choice for sharpening or smoothing. A double cut would be preferred for faster, albeit rougher, stock removal.