Veritas - Small Scraping Plane (Rating: 5)
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There are things you can do with a scraper that would defeat even the finest of hand planes. The micro geometry of their cut produces a Type II shaving, yielding a perfect surface even going fully against interlocked grain or over knots.
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I use a variety of scrapers and for spot work nothing beats a card type or even an ordinary paint scraper. One problem with these types is that they will follow any undulations on the existing surface as they have no registration (sole). For larger work where I do need accuracy and flatness I use the Veritas Cabinet Scraper and have been very pleased with its performance.
The newest pretender to the throne in my kit is this small scraper plane. It is only 1/4" narrower than the cabinet type yet delivers the same results with several added features.
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It can be used one handed, can work right up to adjacent vertical surfaces and is generally much more maneuverable. It can be used on narrow stock with confidence as the centre of gravity is very low with its block plane style of shape and grip.
This is one very comfortable chunk of steel to wield as the rear palm rest is fully adjustable to your hand and the heavy weight feels just right. The blade lock is fast and easy to set with adjustable camber provided via a rear set screw.
All good but for one thing. The blade. All scrapers suffer from the same limitation of having to spend a whole lot of your work time sharpening and resetting the blade. They may cut like a dream but they sure don't last long. I've had this tool for 1 1/2 years now and first attempted to extend the blade life by cutting a HSS planer blade down to a 2" length and grinding a notch in the top. This gave me triple the working time or more and is well worth doing. But now I've discovered the ne plus ultra for this tool. For $29 (on sale at Normand) I invested in a box of 10 double edged carbide cutters meant for shaper heads or flush trimming router bits.
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No hook is possible with these though it does not seem to make much difference and believe it or not you may still put a very slight camber on them even though they are solid carbide. I'm expecting 10x the life over HSS and at $1:50 per extended use it sure beats the snot out of Lee valley's usurious price of $10 for an ordinary replacement blade. And speaking of usurious, why is my much larger cabinet scraper blade from them priced at only $5:20? Feh. Real nice tools but predatory pricing at times.
However, if you appreciate scraping and can afford it, get it.
gene
Link to product page.
http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=62885&cat=1,230,41182
There are things you can do with a scraper that would defeat even the finest of hand planes. The micro geometry of their cut produces a Type II shaving, yielding a perfect surface even going fully against interlocked grain or over knots.
I use a variety of scrapers and for spot work nothing beats a card type or even an ordinary paint scraper. One problem with these types is that they will follow any undulations on the existing surface as they have no registration (sole). For larger work where I do need accuracy and flatness I use the Veritas Cabinet Scraper and have been very pleased with its performance.
The newest pretender to the throne in my kit is this small scraper plane. It is only 1/4" narrower than the cabinet type yet delivers the same results with several added features.
It can be used one handed, can work right up to adjacent vertical surfaces and is generally much more maneuverable. It can be used on narrow stock with confidence as the centre of gravity is very low with its block plane style of shape and grip.
This is one very comfortable chunk of steel to wield as the rear palm rest is fully adjustable to your hand and the heavy weight feels just right. The blade lock is fast and easy to set with adjustable camber provided via a rear set screw.
All good but for one thing. The blade. All scrapers suffer from the same limitation of having to spend a whole lot of your work time sharpening and resetting the blade. They may cut like a dream but they sure don't last long. I've had this tool for 1 1/2 years now and first attempted to extend the blade life by cutting a HSS planer blade down to a 2" length and grinding a notch in the top. This gave me triple the working time or more and is well worth doing. But now I've discovered the ne plus ultra for this tool. For $29 (on sale at Normand) I invested in a box of 10 double edged carbide cutters meant for shaper heads or flush trimming router bits.
No hook is possible with these though it does not seem to make much difference and believe it or not you may still put a very slight camber on them even though they are solid carbide. I'm expecting 10x the life over HSS and at $1:50 per extended use it sure beats the snot out of Lee valley's usurious price of $10 for an ordinary replacement blade. And speaking of usurious, why is my much larger cabinet scraper blade from them priced at only $5:20? Feh. Real nice tools but predatory pricing at times.
However, if you appreciate scraping and can afford it, get it.
gene
Link to product page.
http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=62885&cat=1,230,41182
