Scraper

[Nick]

Well I thought I remembered a post on here not so long ago mentioning the Carruth scraper but a forum search didn't turn up anything (I maybe putting the wrong entry in). Could I just say that I've just used mine for the first time on some Curly Maple binding & could I say what a fabulous bit of kit it is! It's main advantage I reckon, is because it's so solid that it can be used single handedly. I haven't got one of those padded body clamp thingamajigs so I've always had fun scraping the binding faces on the side of the guitars, juggling the body around trying to get it 'clamped' between the bench & my body to get to the various curves. This little beauty leaves me one hand free to hold the body down onto the bench. It's damn 'sharp' to & soon had the 0.010" overhang flush with the sides & could be scrapped either with or against the curl with minimal, if any, tearout.
If you are in the market for a scraper with curves (I've always sucked at drawing the hook on my smaller curved scrapers, the geometry of these doesn't use a hook so eliminates that problem! ) & straight edges could I recommend you at least look at one of these. I am in no way attached to Stewmac or Al Carruth so won't get any commision but am however a happy purchaser .

[68matts]

Thanks for the review Nick ,I have been looking at these wondering how good they would go single handed. I think I'll have to get one and give it a shot

[rocket]

Yeah saw them a while back, i've just placed an order with Stmac and have included it in with the rest of the stuff, looking forward to its arrival.
Glad to hear good reports about it Nick.
Cheers mate.

Rod.

[Allen]

Big thumbs up on them from me as well. .......except you don't need to use those thumbs to flex the scraper. Just drag it along and you'll be pleasantly surprised at how well they work.

I used mine on some Ringed Gidgee yesterday and the finish looked like it was lacquered and polished. I was actually worried that the wood being so damn hard and smooth I wouldn't get good adhesion with the mirotone, So I roughed it up with some sandpaper.

[Lillian]

I think you guys have talked me into getting one. I need other scraper options that can be used without thumb pressure.

[Clancy]

I've been using one for a while now and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.
When it first arrived I was a bit underwhelmed by the look of it.
That all changed when I put it to the timber.
It's in with the other revered tools now.

[rocket]

Straight to the pool room Craig!!

Rod.

[Clancy]

Damn Right!
Pool Room Status achieved the moment it cleaned up a scratch on an installed spruce top, holding the body in one hand & pulling the scraper across the top with the other hand.

[rocket]

Ahh the serenity!!

[Lillian]

The wallet is now a bit lighter, but the scrapers are on their way. Hopefully I can use these easier than a card scraper in a holder.
Thanks for the heads up.

[matthew]

I made one by grinding down an old plane blade.

[Lillian]

I must say I'm liking the scrapers. I was able to start cleaning up the neck/heel transition area. My only concern is being able to resharpen them. They require a grinder to get the hollow grind. I'm going to have to puzzle out a solution for that. Don't want to buy another piece of equipment if I can avoid it.

Thanks for the heads up about them.

[Nick]

I must say I'm liking the scrapers. I was able to start cleaning up the neck/heel transition area. My only concern is being able to resharpen them. They require a grinder to get the hollow grind. I'm going to have to puzzle out a solution for that. Don't want to buy another piece of equipment if I can avoid it.

Thanks for the heads up about them.

Glad you like them Lillian, re the sharpening, I'd say being a hardened Alloyed steel (high Chromium content which gives it strength & a reasonable amount of Manganese which will increase the wear properties & a high Carbon content for hardness) & the edge being alot more supported than a traditional hook, that these should take a while before they're needing to be resharpened (unlike the 'traditional' scraper). It may be worth checking out if you have an engineering shop or a tool & cutter resharpening shop near you that can get them to run them over their grinding wheel, can't imagine they'd charge a great amount & it would only needed to be done infrequently I'm guessing.

[Clancy]

I've just been sharpening it on the small diamond stone (stewmac sourced) and not worrying about the hollow grind.
I figure the hollow is just there to make it easier to sharpen, in the same way as the thick HNT Gordon Plane blades (which I don't hollow grind either - because I don't have a bench grinder )

[rocket]

Hoping to sight amongst other fun bits'n pieces this week , a Caruth scraper delivered from Stumc!!!
Rod.

[Lillian]

From what I got out of their instructions was that the ever so slight hollow grind gave you burrs of sorts. But I think you are right, as long as there is a clean edge that it will cut those beautifully fine strips of wood without too much hassle. I'll probably just need to square it and polish it.

Rod, I think you are going to be a very happy camper.

[Nick]

I found this in Stewmacs youtube channel, Al Carruth shows the best way of sharpening his scrapers, interesting 'tip' at the end when scraping Spruce. You can get to it from the product page but they ask you to subscribe, for those that don't want to


youtu.be/

[kiwigeo]

First time Ive actually seen what Al Carruth looks like.....hes alot more down to earth and grandfatherly-like than I imagined

[Nick]

First time Ive actually seen what Al Carruth looks like.....hes alot more down to earth and grandfatherly-like than I imagined

Yeah it wouldn't surprise me if he has a job every December down at the local mall, appeasing small children.

[WaddyT]

He'd be sprinkling glitter on them to check their Chladni patterns!

[Lillian]

Thanks for posting the video Nick. I finally had a chance to look at it. Great stuff.

[Nick]

He'd be sprinkling glitter on them to check their Chladni patterns!

True! Bet little children don't resonate as well as a bit of Engleman.

Thanks for posting the video Nick. I finally had a chance to look at it. Great stuff.

No worries, hope it helps, seems you may get away without owning a grinding wheel for a while.

[Dave Anderson]

I've had the scraper for a while now and love it! It really cuts great when sharpened up
properly. Another grand slam from Stew mac and Santa Carruth!!

[Kim]

Another grand slam from Stew mac and Santa Carruth!!

Thanks Dave

Cheers

Kim

[Lillian]

I have had both scrapers now for a bit. Let me just say Nick, the next time you are in town lunch is on me. Thanks so much for posting about these little beauties. I can hold them and use them with very little trouble and pain. The heel of my neck is now cleaned up, well, for the most part. And I can move on to the next hurdle.

Thanks!