Anybody use them? How do you keep them scraping good? I am constantly working on mine and its annoying. I have to run my file over it every 5 minutes or less. They are advertised to "sharpen" with just a file. I have tried rolling a burr with a screwdriver, that doesnt work. When it works it works great.
A friend gave me one a few years ago. At first I didn't like it but found once properly sharpened it is a pretty good tool.
I don't file sharpen mine. I square the sides by rubbing it on a fine diamond hone and roll a hook on all sides with the shank of an "American made" old craftsman screw driver. It stays sharp for a long time this way.
I will give it a try Eric. Anything is better than what I do now. Thanks
That's been one of my go-to tools for years. I file sharpen, as recommended, lightly filing off the old burr first, then rolling the file slightly as if burnishing. It takes off alot of wood for a scraper, much like a Bowyer's Edge. The shavings are probably 3 or 4X thicker than what my Sandvik card scraper removes. It's a rougher tool that doesn't leave as clean of a surface. Perfect for everything but final clean up and chasing the last couple inches of draw length. You'll need to refile the burr after after every bow, but sharpening is quick. Like any tool, if it's dull, it's miserable.
The best scraper I've found is an electric hand planner blade. Stays really sharp for a while but the single bevel edge is easy to sharpen.
I have one too and have had the same difficultly as you Pearl. I wound up getting Bowyers Edge and haven't looked back.
Adam nailed it! I just tried the "rolling" thing with my bastard and WOW! That sucka makes some nice curls now, better than ever. Thanks Adam