scrapers and oak

[pitch pine]

I am making a small table top out of oak. It comprises 3 edge-jointed boards and is 20" long and 14" wide. The boards are 22mm thick. I did the edge jointing OK and glued up, but when I tried to true up the face side I just couldn't do it without quite deep tearout (2-3mm). The grain changes direction on all 3 boards and even with a sharp plane and always going with the grain I couldn't avoid it........so I tried a scraper. I haven't had much sucess in the past but this time I managed to get reasonable shavings rather than dust. This left the top without tearout but with hollows from scraping.....so I sanded and got it reasonably flat.......and then I thought maybe I could have skipped the scraper altogether!

Question is are my expectations for the finish on this kind of oak with a scaper too high? I was hopeing to minimise the amount of sanding I had to do. Any comments?

Nick

 

[Karl]

I've found a scraper plane to be the best bet. That way you will avoid creating hollows (as you have done with a scraper card). They're not cheap though, but you could always make your own. There was a recent thread on doing so recently.

Alternatively you could try a back bevel on your bench plane of around 15 degrees (assuming it is a BU configuration). And take a very fine cut. This will only work if your plane is in good working order though.

Cheers

Karl

 

[Mr Ed]

Oak can be tricky for tearout at times and Karl is right that the scraper plane is the best solution. I use a small LN 212 scraper on isolated areas which means you don't need to scrape the whole board but can avoid too many hollows.

Ideally I would like a LV scraper plane, which I believe is acknowledged as an excellent tool for the situation you have.

Cheers, Ed

 

[maltrout512]

Ed, came across this site the other day.
http://data.bidmaster.co.uk/whpeaco...4169&status=C&F4=1054&select=TOOLS&offset=450

I have no connection with this site, and do not hold responsibility to your actions. :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[woodbloke]

Paul Chapman has recently finished a table top in oak (even though there are no pics :wink: :lol: I can personally vouch that it's been done) and he used a LV scraper to finish it, which I know he highly recommends - Rob

 

[pitch pine]

so you are suggesting I buy more tools.....I like that, I simply haven't got enough planes yet. Has the scraped oak table top needed any sanding?

 

[MikeG.]

I have done this so many times that I reckon I have cracked it.......

Plane 45 degrees across the grain (scrub planing, I think??) a bit if necessary, then belt sand across the grain then with the grain and through the grades.........and then finish with a scraper. Thats the key.......the scraping comes last on a flat surface, and you achieve the flat surface without planing with the grain because of the tear-out issues.

I am just contemplating making a scraper plane for this very situation. I have to say that I find English oak less prone to these problems than American White Oak, and can often finish just with a plane.

Mike

 

[woodbloke]

I have to say that I find English oak less prone to these problems than American White Oak, and can often finish just with a plane.

Mike

AWO is a very difficult timber to work with and often needs scraping to finish - Rob

 

[Paul Chapman]

Paul Chapman has recently finished a table top in oak (even though there are no pics :wink: :lol: I can personally vouch that it's been done) and he used a LV scraper to finish it, which I know he highly recommends

Here's the table top before scraping

And here it is almost finished

I used the Veritas scraper plane which I think is a fabulous tool. The finish it leaves is good enough not to need sanding. I also have the Veritas #80 style scraper which is good on smaller work.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Ironballs]

I'd go along with Paul's recommendation, he posted those pics when I was umming and ahhing over scraper planes and ended up with the LN version of the 112. Good plane

 

[Lord Nibbo]

I'll second what Paul says about the LV scraper plane as well, or should I say third it :lol:

Unbelievable finish is achieved and it's so adjustable it will scrape anything. Definitely one of the best tools to come out of Lee Valley.

 

[woodbloke]

Paul Chapman has recently finished a table top in oak (even though there are no pics :wink: :lol: I can personally vouch that it's been done) and he used a LV scraper to finish it, which I know he highly recommends

Here's the table top before scraping

And here it is almost finished

I also have the Veritas #80 style scraper which is good on smaller work.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

I used Paul's LV No80 scraper last year at Pete's (Newt) and was very impressed with it...it's far better than the original Stanley - Rob

 

[pitch pine]

Thanks for that. Looks an excellent finish. Do you use the scraper plane in the direction of the grain and "uphill" like a bench plane?

 

[woodbloke]

Thanks for that. Looks an excellent finish. Do you use the scraper plane in the direction of the grain and "uphill" like a bench plane?

Generally yes, used in the same direction as you would do for a bench plane. A bit of trial and error though will soon show you the best direction to use it it - Rob

 

[Paul Chapman]

Thanks for that. Looks an excellent finish. Do you use the scraper plane in the direction of the grain and "uphill" like a bench plane?

Generally yes, used in the same direction as you would do for a bench plane. A bit of trial and error though will soon show you the best direction to use it it - Rob

As Rob said, it's probably best, if you can, to use the scraper plane in the same direction as you would a normal plane, but in practice you can usually use it either way. With something like a table top, you will often arrange the boards (8 in the table I was making) to suit the appearance rather than the grain direction, so the grain is likely to be all over the place. With the table top in the picture above, I scraped the whole top in one direction.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[MikeG.]

Paul,

I wonder if you could let me know the blade dimensions on your scraper plane? I am just starting to think about making a wooden one.......

Mike

 

[woodbloke]

Paul,

I wonder if you could let me know the blade dimensions on your scraper plane? I am just starting to think about making a wooden one.......

Mike

Now this looks promising...could be 5 planes shortly. Top of the 'Slope' maybe? :lol: :lol: - Rob

 

[DaveL]

Now this looks promising...could be 5 planes shortly. Top of the 'Slope' maybe? :lol: :lol: - Rob

Just need to pop over with the tin of grease, don't think I even have to shove him. :wink:

 

[MikeG.]

Steady guys!!! Admittedly, going from 2 planes to 3 is a 50% increase........but it is hardly an obsession! A scraper plane, plus one long thing (a number 7 maybe) in the next few years and I shall feel uncomfortably overwhelmed. That is the limit of my slope!

Mike

 

[Paul Chapman]

I wonder if you could let me know the blade dimensions on your scraper plane? I am just starting to think about making a wooden one.......

I'll measure it tomorrow and let you know.

Cheers :wink:

Paul