Replies

1. 
   Pippins | Dec 04, 2009 05:40am | #1

   a123, the grinder will raise a sufficient burr on turning scrapers. Try scraping after a fresh sharpening. Some people will use one of the carbide burnishers available but I have never used one.

   Steve  

1. 
   art_brazee | Dec 04, 2009 05:35pm | #4

   Thanks, I guess some of the issue is that I don't sharpen on a wheel so I don't automatically raise a burr.

2. 
   Napie | Dec 04, 2009 06:43am | #2

   I never raise a burr on a turning scraper, just use it straight from the grinder. I never ever use anything else on my turning tools, everything is right off the 60 grit wheel. Lots of scraper work on these boxes.

   
   

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   Edited 12/3/2009 10:44 pm ET by Napie

   
1. 
   art_brazee | Dec 04, 2009 05:37pm | #5

   I like your boxes and I've started to make the same. I really enjoy making these things.I assume you also raise a burr with the 60 grit.

1. 
   Napie | Dec 04, 2009 06:38pm | #7

   The ONLY thing I use is the 60 grit wheel.  You stated you did not grind on a wheel, how do sharpen your turning tools?  Rememeber you sharpen A LOT when turning so getting good at freehand grinding sure makes for a better time at the lathe.  I have said this many times: the motor skills required to handle the tool to the wood are the same as required to freehand grind.

1. 
   art_brazee | Dec 04, 2009 07:02pm | #8

   I use a sander/grinder from Leigh Valley. It's an outstanding sharpening tool for the lathe. I get very repeatable results in seconds. I don't spend much time sharpening and the tools are very sharp. I put a new edge on skews and gouges in about 10 seconds, but I don't raise a burr on my lathe tools. Thus, my scrapers just don't cut well. I don't have room to add another sharpening system and really think the system I have is outstanding. That's why I asked the question and I appreciate the help. I suspected that other woodworkers were getting a burr just by their sharpening method. That appears to be the case. If anyone burnishes their scrapers I suspect that they're putting a greater angle on the scraper. I've seen that some turners put almost no angle on scrapers and many around 5 degrees or so. Some more. I'm not sure as to how much to put on if I have to raise a burr.

3. 
   jako17 | Dec 04, 2009 12:00pm | #3

   The only scraper burnisher for lathe tools that I have seen is the L-V one. A particularly useless tool that was returned thanks to their return policy.I found that it is quite unnecessary to bunish lathe scrapers.In fact if you grind towards the cutting edge you will draw a slight burr

1. 
   art_brazee | Dec 04, 2009 05:42pm | #6

   I think I need to try because I don't raise a burr. You obviously have with some tool, but didn't like it. I see that Leigh Valley has a carbide one. Was yours something like that. About the only thing I know at this time is I'm not getting very good scraper results.

1. 
   jako17 | Dec 04, 2009 09:58pm | #9

    Read my  previous post   L-V   = Lee Valley.Secondly you sharpen most lathe tools on a grinder.I suggest reading some books on turning by Raffan or Conover to learn about the subject 

1. 
   Maxwell | Dec 06, 2009 10:37pm | #10

   In some past issue of FWW, Mr. Conover (I think!?!) suggested that it's VERY hard to raise a burr on HSS tools. His suggestion was the L-V burnisher. My experience (just a hobby-guy, but with LOTS of hours) is my older carbon-steel tools burr very nicely on my slow-speed 120 grit grinder, but I get just the hint of a burr on larger HSS scrapers with the same set-up.
   I'm only just now getting the idea that it IS the burr that does the scraper magic. I get good results with my smaller end-grain boxes and carbon tools, but I don't wanna spring $40 for the dedicated L-V item, if I can avoid it. Can someone here offer an alternate burr-making solution on 1" and larger HSS scrapers?

1. 
   jako17 | Dec 07, 2009 03:41am | #11

    Turning is very subjective.I tried the LV burnisher and the design allows you to put the kind of pressure needed to burr HSS.I found that it just wasn't worthwhile messing around with it.I have found that my scrapers cut well straight off the grinder using a 120 pink wheel .The burr just wasn't needed and slows up the process.With long grain boxes I always try to minimise the scraping as I prefer to use gouges and skews.However there are many situations that a scraper is the only solution.

2. 
   art_brazee | Dec 07, 2009 07:22pm | #12

   I too got the impression that the burr on the scraper is the most effective use of the tool; however, it's not an easy edge to achieve on large HHS scrapers. It looks like the LV tool hasn't worked for anyone either. I wonder if those who have used the LV tool are accustomed to raising a burr on a card scraper?

4. 
   philip | Dec 07, 2009 11:25pm | #13

   a, you are going to find it difficult to raise a burr on HSS with anything but a carbide rod or a steel which is harder than the HSS tool.
   Also, I feel it is entirely unnecessary to use burrs for lathe scraper tools. I use scraper tools a lot and merely sharpen them on the outboard disc sander on my lathe-so no need to stop and go turn on a bench grinder. I usually touch up both sides of the tool- a few seconds at most. When the tool needs re-shaping I will use either a bench grinder or a belt grinder for heavy duty stuff.
   I suggest you grind your scraper tools with a bit more of an angle than one sees commonly used . Try it and see.
   Turning of any sort is one of those activities in woodworking which benefits from unbroken concentration so I think it is useful to get away from time consuming "extra" sharpening stages-such as adding burrs etc, especially to hardened HSS.

   Philip Marcou