Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

Thanks,

s

On Tue, 1 Dec 2009 21:02:22 -0600, sam wrote:

Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

Thanks,

s


An old piston rod makes a nice burnisher.

On Tue, 1 Dec 2009 21:02:22 -0600, sam wrote:

Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

Thanks,

s


An old piston rod makes a nice burnisher.

"sam" wrote in message
...
Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

Thanks,

Round shaft of a screwdriver works if it is smooth.

"sam" wrote in message
...
Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

Thanks,

Round shaft of a screwdriver works if it is smooth.

In article , Phisherman wrote:
On Tue, 1 Dec 2009 21:02:22 -0600, sam wrote:

Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

An old piston rod makes a nice burnisher.

I think you mean a push rod... a piston rod would be a little unwieldy.

In article , Phisherman wrote:
On Tue, 1 Dec 2009 21:02:22 -0600, sam wrote:

Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

An old piston rod makes a nice burnisher.

I think you mean a push rod... a piston rod would be a little unwieldy.

In article , sam wrote:
Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

I went to a local engine-rebuilding shop and bought a few old push rods for a
dollar apiece. Chucked one in the drill press and polished it with
successively finer grits of sandpaper, ending at about 800 or 1000. I've been
burnishing my scrapers with that for seven or eight years now. Works just
fine, and beats heck out of spending $30.

In article , sam wrote:
Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

I went to a local engine-rebuilding shop and bought a few old push rods for a
dollar apiece. Chucked one in the drill press and polished it with
successively finer grits of sandpaper, ending at about 800 or 1000. I've been
burnishing my scrapers with that for seven or eight years now. Works just
fine, and beats heck out of spending $30.

"Doug Miller" wrote in message
...
In article , Phisherman
wrote:
On Tue, 1 Dec 2009 21:02:22 -0600, sam wrote:

Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

An old piston rod makes a nice burnisher.

I think you mean a push rod... a piston rod would be a little unwieldy.

You're supposed to take it out of the engine?

"Doug Miller" wrote in message
...
In article , Phisherman
wrote:
On Tue, 1 Dec 2009 21:02:22 -0600, sam wrote:

Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

An old piston rod makes a nice burnisher.

I think you mean a push rod... a piston rod would be a little unwieldy.

You're supposed to take it out of the engine?

"Phisherman" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 1 Dec 2009 21:02:22 -0600, sam wrote:

Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

Thanks,

s


An old piston rod makes a nice burnisher.


I am thinkin you may mean push rod rather than connecting rod.

"Phisherman" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 1 Dec 2009 21:02:22 -0600, sam wrote:

Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

Thanks,

s


An old piston rod makes a nice burnisher.


I am thinkin you may mean push rod rather than connecting rod.

"Doug Miller" wrote in message
...
In article , sam
wrote:
Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

I went to a local engine-rebuilding shop and bought a few old push rods
for a
dollar apiece. Chucked one in the drill press and polished it with
successively finer grits of sandpaper, ending at about 800 or 1000. I've
been
burnishing my scrapers with that for seven or eight years now. Works just
fine, and beats heck out of spending $30.


Tough call... ??? 5$ for the rod and then 2 hrs to polish, I guess if
those 2 hrs are worth less than $12.50 each...

"Doug Miller" wrote in message
...
In article , sam
wrote:
Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

I went to a local engine-rebuilding shop and bought a few old push rods
for a
dollar apiece. Chucked one in the drill press and polished it with
successively finer grits of sandpaper, ending at about 800 or 1000. I've
been
burnishing my scrapers with that for seven or eight years now. Works just
fine, and beats heck out of spending $30.


Tough call... ??? 5$ for the rod and then 2 hrs to polish, I guess if
those 2 hrs are worth less than $12.50 each...

Dave Balderstone wrote:
Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

You can use the shank of a screwdriver, but:


I heard high carbon steel drill bits work, too.


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com

---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

Dave Balderstone wrote:
Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

You can use the shank of a screwdriver, but:


I heard high carbon steel drill bits work, too.


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com

---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

In article ,
says...

"sam" wrote in message
...
Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

Thanks,

Round shaft of a screwdriver works if it is smooth.

My question: will an actual burnisher do a much
better job?

Thanks,

s

In article ,
says...

"sam" wrote in message
...
Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

Thanks,

Round shaft of a screwdriver works if it is smooth.

My question: will an actual burnisher do a much
better job?

Thanks,

s

sam writes:

Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

Some use the shank of a chisel.... That's what Tage Frid suggests in
his books...

sam writes:

My question: will an actual burnisher do a much
better job?

I think the real issue is can you control the angle of the burnisher
in a consistant manner, and put enough pressure to form the hook?

As I said, the Tage Frid book (Vol. 1) has a section on the scraper,
and he uses the shank of a small chisel (AIR).

Clamp it in a vise, and bear down, maintaining the angle during the
hook forming.

My trouble is, I am not sure if I am forming a 5 degree hook
consistently. I can do it once, but if I come back months later, and
want to touch it up, can I duplicate the same angle? Is it 5 degrees?
10?

You may wish to consiter the Veritas variable burnisher.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...1448&cat=1,310

This lets you set the degree of a hook you want. That way you can
have scrapers, with light, medium, and and heavy degrees of hoo -
consistently.

sam wrote:
In article ,
says...

"sam" wrote in message
...
Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

Thanks,

Round shaft of a screwdriver works if it is smooth.

My question: will an actual burnisher do a much
better job?


No. Assuming the alternative used is smooth.


--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

On Dec 1, 9:02*pm, sam wrote:
Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

Thanks,

s

As has been pointed out here, lots of things will work. In addition
to screwdrivers and chisels, I have even used a large nail or spike.

sam wrote:
Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

Anything that is smooth, approximately round, and harder than the scraper
will work. The burnisher is handy because it has a nice handle and a good
length all of which is usable but there's nothing magic about it. I've used
drill bits, chisels, and screwdrivers and they all work fine but they're
harder to hold or have less working length than the purpose-made burnisher
and with the chisels you have an additional sharp edge to avoid.

So, no, it does't make a better hook, but it's a more pleasant tool to
handle for that particular purpose.

By the way, Amazon has "crown" brand burnishers, which work fine, for 15
bucks and shipping right now.

On Tue, 1 Dec 2009 23:42:22 -0500, "Ed Edelenbos"
wrote:

[...snip...]
I went to a local engine-rebuilding shop and bought a few old push rods
for a
dollar apiece. Chucked one in the drill press and polished it with
successively finer grits of sandpaper, ending at about 800 or 1000. I've
been
burnishing my scrapers with that for seven or eight years now. Works just
fine, and beats heck out of spending $30.


Tough call... ??? 5$ for the rod and then 2 hrs to polish, I guess if
those 2 hrs are worth less than $12.50 each...

2 hours? I think that would be a 5 minute job...?

Now getting to the machine shop and back, depending on where you live,
that might take some real time.

On Wed, 2 Dec 2009 00:33:04 -0600, the infamous sam
scrawled the following:

In article ,
says...

"sam" wrote in message
...
Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

Thanks,

Round shaft of a screwdriver works if it is smooth.

My question: will an actual burnisher do a much
better job?

Compared to a hardened screwdriver, no. Essentially, anything harder
than the scraper alloy will be able to turn a hook.

I prefer a plain old honed edge to a hook, but I'm not using scrapers
every day, either.

Use whatever you like. Try some things and figure it out for yourself,
Sam.


--
Follow the path of the unsafe, independent thinker. Expose your ideas
to the dangers of controversy. Speak your mind and fear less the label
of 'crackpot' than the stigma of conformity. And on issues that seem
important to you, stand up and be counted at any cost.
-- Thomas J. Watson

Ed Pawlowski wrote:

You're supposed to take it out of the engine?


If you leave it in, and rev up the engine, you don't have to move the
burnisher back and forth, just slide your scaper back and forth across
the pushrod.

On Dec 1, 10:33*pm, sam wrote:

Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher

Round shaft of a screwdriver works if it is smooth.

My question: will an actual burnisher do a much
better job?

I've used a screwdriver shaft (go for one that isn't nickel-plated,
from a good quality screwdriver), and tungsten carbide rods
and rounds, and there isn't much reason to prefer one over
the other.

A favorite old crosspoint screwdriver with a bunged-up tip can
do this in retirement. Use that resource!

You want a hardened rod, so I'd think a valve stem or a shockabsorber
shaft would be better than a pushrod.

whit3rd wrote:
On Dec 1, 10:33 pm, sam wrote:

Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher

Round shaft of a screwdriver works if it is smooth.
My question: will an actual burnisher do a much
better job?

I've used a screwdriver shaft (go for one that isn't nickel-plated,
from a good quality screwdriver), and tungsten carbide rods
and rounds, and there isn't much reason to prefer one over
the other.

A favorite old crosspoint screwdriver with a bunged-up tip can
do this in retirement. Use that resource!

You want a hardened rod, so I'd think a valve stem or a shockabsorber
shaft would be better than a pushrod.

Yes, I think this would qualify as one of those times when you want a hardened rod. There
are other times when having one is not particularly convenient...

--
Free bad advice available here.
To reply, eat the taco.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bbqboyee/

Steve Turner wrote:
Yes, I think this would qualify as one of those times when you want a
hardened rod....


snicker :-)


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com

---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

On Dec 1, 10:02*pm, sam wrote:
Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

I've been just using the scraper fresh off the file and it works
excellently. Clamp the file in a vise, swipe the card a couple times,
scrape away. Now this isn't for a finished surface, but for just
smoothing out planer marks, glue, smal tear out, etc. prior to final
sanding it works like a charm. Some guy over on lumberjocks.com has a
blog on it if you want more detail.

JP

Steve Turner wrote:
whit3rd wrote:
On Dec 1, 10:33 pm, sam wrote:

Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher

Round shaft of a screwdriver works if it is smooth.
My question: will an actual burnisher do a much
better job?

I've used a screwdriver shaft (go for one that isn't nickel-plated,
from a good quality screwdriver), and tungsten carbide rods
and rounds, and there isn't much reason to prefer one over
the other.

A favorite old crosspoint screwdriver with a bunged-up tip can
do this in retirement. Use that resource!

You want a hardened rod, so I'd think a valve stem or a shockabsorber
shaft would be better than a pushrod.

Yes, I think this would qualify as one of those times when you want a
hardened rod. There are other times when having one is not particularly
convenient...


I wouldn't know personally, but apparently it can be a real problem
after four hours.

On Tue, 1 Dec 2009 21:02:22 -0600, sam wrote:

Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

Thanks,

s

If you have a lot of time on your hands, an old file does work well.
Either round or triangular the trick is to grind it down to flat steel
then polish it - progressively with something like silicon carbide
sand paper - not easy given that it is hardened steel, but the results
work well. I think this is an old British thing (at least it was an
old Brit that told me about it) from back in the day when they would
cut up old handsaw blades to use as scrappers.

HTH,
Jeffo

In article ,
says...

sam wrote:
In article ,
says...

"sam" wrote in message
...
Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

Thanks,

Round shaft of a screwdriver works if it is smooth.

My question: will an actual burnisher do a much
better job?


No. Assuming the alternative used is smooth.

Thanks. Much appreciated.

s

Maxwell Lol wrote in
:

sam writes:

My question: will an actual burnisher do a much better
job?

I think the real issue is can you control the angle of the
burnisher in a consistant manner, and put enough pressure
to form the hook?

As I said, the Tage Frid book (Vol. 1) has a section on the
scraper, and he uses the shank of a small chisel (AIR).

Clamp it in a vise, and bear down, maintaining the angle
during the hook forming.

My trouble is, I am not sure if I am forming a 5 degree
hook consistently. I can do it once, but if I come back
months later, and want to touch it up, can I duplicate the
same angle? Is it 5 degrees? 10?

You may wish to consiter the Veritas variable burnisher.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...61448&cat=1,31
0

This lets you set the degree of a hook you want. That way
you can have scrapers, with light, medium, and and heavy
degrees of hoo - consistently.

I just received one of these in the mail today. It's the first
time I've ever been able to get a proper edge on my scraper.
Maybe I'm a dumbass but no amount of effort resulted in the
edge I was looking for.

I pulled this out of the packaging and about 5 minutes later I
had the best edge on my scraper that it's ever had. I would
highly recommend as I would just about everything they sell.
Never purchased a bad product from them yet.

Larry

Jay Pique wrote:
On Dec 1, 10:02 pm, sam wrote:
Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

I've been just using the scraper fresh off the file and it works
excellently. Clamp the file in a vise, swipe the card a couple times,
scrape away. Now this isn't for a finished surface, but for just
smoothing out planer marks, glue, smal tear out, etc. prior to final
sanding it works like a charm. Some guy over on lumberjocks.com has a
blog on it if you want more detail.

JP

I use card scrapers *all the time* and hardly ever piddle around with trying to
get a hook on the edge. I usually rake mine across a 320 or 600 grit diamond
stone to get a crisp, sharp 90-degree edge, and rarely am I ever left wanting
for anything better.

--
Free bad advice available here.
To reply, eat the taco.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bbqboyee/

On Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:23:43 -0600, the infamous Steve Turner
scrawled the following:

Jay Pique wrote:
On Dec 1, 10:02 pm, sam wrote:
Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

I've been just using the scraper fresh off the file and it works
excellently. Clamp the file in a vise, swipe the card a couple times,
scrape away. Now this isn't for a finished surface, but for just
smoothing out planer marks, glue, smal tear out, etc. prior to final
sanding it works like a charm. Some guy over on lumberjocks.com has a
blog on it if you want more detail.

JP

I use card scrapers *all the time* and hardly ever piddle around with trying to
get a hook on the edge. I usually rake mine across a 320 or 600 grit diamond
stone to get a crisp, sharp 90-degree edge, and rarely am I ever left wanting
for anything better.

My method exactly, and I couldn't be happier. Hooks are for more
patient people.

--
Follow the path of the unsafe, independent thinker. Expose your ideas
to the dangers of controversy. Speak your mind and fear less the label
of 'crackpot' than the stigma of conformity. And on issues that seem
important to you, stand up and be counted at any cost.
-- Thomas J. Watson

In article , "Ed Edelenbos" wrote:


"Doug Miller" wrote in message
...
In article , sam
wrote:
Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

I went to a local engine-rebuilding shop and bought a few old push rods for a
dollar apiece. Chucked one in the drill press and polished it with
successively finer grits of sandpaper, ending at about 800 or 1000. I've been
burnishing my scrapers with that for seven or eight years now. Works just
fine, and beats heck out of spending $30.


Tough call... ??? 5$ for the rod and then 2 hrs to polish, I guess if
those 2 hrs are worth less than $12.50 each...

Umm....no.... "A dollar apiece" for the rods, not $5 (where'd you get that
from, anyway??), and maybe -- MAYBE -- fifteen minutes to polish.

In article , Jim Weisgram wrote:
On Tue, 1 Dec 2009 23:42:22 -0500, "Ed Edelenbos"
wrote:

[...snip...]
I went to a local engine-rebuilding shop and bought a few old push rods
for a
dollar apiece. Chucked one in the drill press and polished it with
successively finer grits of sandpaper, ending at about 800 or 1000. I've
been
burnishing my scrapers with that for seven or eight years now. Works just
fine, and beats heck out of spending $30.


Tough call... ??? 5$ for the rod and then 2 hrs to polish, I guess if
those 2 hrs are worth less than $12.50 each...

2 hours? I think that would be a 5 minute job...?

Now getting to the machine shop and back, depending on where you live,
that might take some real time.

Ten minutes from home... g

In article , sam wrote:
In article ,
says...

"sam" wrote in message
...
Not crazy about shelling out 30 bucks for a burnisher, but I'm
wondering if a burnisher does a much better job getting the
hook on a card scraper than the round end of a file.

Thanks,

Round shaft of a screwdriver works if it is smooth.

My question: will an actual burnisher do a much
better job?

I used to have a Lee Valley burnisher. I sold it right after I started using
an old push rod. The push rod does a *much* better job.