Question:
Paul, the last picture which is the close-up of you using the card scraper, shows you using the heel of your hand to help bend and push the scraper. I love using the card scraper. It’s one of my favorite tools to use. But I’m having a hard time now due to arthritis at the base of the thumbs (I’m your age). It hurts. I’ve tried using the scraper as you show in the picture but I have a hard time doing it that way. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Answer:
Greg, I think the lightly curved scrapers help a great deal because with the curved edge they need much less thumb and hand flexing/pressure if indeed they need any. I just make my own by grinding and filing a radius. Sharpening is otherwise the same.
More:
I was getting ready to post my own scraper holder type in answer too because this has to be the simplest card scraper holder and I can make one in about five minutes max from scrap and a lone wood screw.
Here we go!
One scrap of wood, any wood, 7″ long or two inches longer than your particular scraper cut to 3/4″ by 1″.
Make a curved rip cut along the length to an inch from the end through the wider 1″ face.
Make a 3/16″ hole 3/4″ from the open end of the wood but through to the saw kerf only.
Countersink the hole to seat the screw and prevent splitting by pressure.
Drill a smaller pilot hole for the screw thread to bite into the wall of the smaller hole on the opposite side of the saw kerf.
Slide the scraper into the kerf.
Set the screw.
You can now adjust the distance of the scraper edge by slackening the screw and shunting the plate where you feel you get the best cut.
I like the corner of the holder to rest on the surface of the wood being scraped which then fixes the angle solidly and allows for good pressure to be focussed without any flexing of thumbs or hands.
Remove hard corners according to feel using a rasp, chisel or spokeshave and file.
Hand Hold Options
The nice thing about the holder is there is no need for applying pressure to flex the plate via two thumbs or the heel of the hands as is usual at all. You can easily pull it or push it which makes it really nice too. I love this flexibility and optionality.
Position one:
Position two:
Position three:
Position four:
Total cost? Not even a penny!
Time to make? Three to five minutes.
