With their newest tool, Woodpeckers transforms a standard four-sided carbide cutter into a mini scraper by adding a custom handle.
There are some advantages to using a carbide insert as a scraper blade. Perhaps most importantly, a carbide edge should stay sharper longer than steel. And even if one edge gets damaged or dull, you can just loosen a screw, turn the insert 90° and you’ve got a brand new scraping edge.
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See also: Carbide Super Scraper Review
With this tool, you can also change the insert to meet your scraping needs.
The blade that ships with this mini-scraper features a slightly cambered edge, to reduce the chances of gouging your work. You can swap that blade with an optional square cutter, which should work better for getting stubborn glue out of corners.
The mini-scraper can be used in two different ways: you can push the scraper at a low angle for an aggressive cut, or pull the scraper at a high angle for a smoother cut.
As of the time of this posting, you can only buy the Woodpeckers mini-scraper direct from their site. We’re thinking that it will slowly make its way to their distributors.
Price: $20 (plus shipping)
This is the introductory price, good thru 9/30/2016, after which the price goes up to $22.
Once you have dulled all 4 edges of the carbide insert, you can purchase a replacement cambered carbide insert, or a square carbide insert, for $12 each.
First Thoughts
When I first saw Woodpeckers promoting their mini-scraper on social media, I thought: “Hey that’s a cutter for a carbide turning tool!” I have a few extras lying around and it wouldn’t take much to whip up a handle of my own. Maybe inserts that have become too dull to cut properly at the lathe might have a second life as scraper blades.
Given Woodpeckers propensity for expensive tools, after I started looking into the product I was surprised that Woodpeckers was only charging $22 for the handle and an insert. They’re selling the inserts at a price that’s comparable to what you’d pay at Rockler, Woodcraft, or another woodworking store, so charging another $10 for a handle doesn’t seem all that unreasonable.
I don’t use a scraper to remove glue from my projects. I’d like to say that I’m on the ball and clean squeeze-out as soon as it happens with a wet rag, but I usually end up scraping dried glue away with a chisel anyway. Dried glue is hard on the edge of a chisel, and I’ll usually end up cutting into the wood a few times by accident. Maybe this mini-scraper is something I should try.
Nathan says
Aug 24, 2016 at 3:17 pmmight be the first woodpeckers tool I would buy. only thing I’d like to see offered – but I know it’s limited use.
a carbide scraper bit where the 1-4 corners have a defined radius. Like a .05, .10,.25 etc.
something akin to that – so you could scrape with a set radius if you desired or artistic sculpting or the like.
Stuart says
Aug 24, 2016 at 6:25 pmI think we’d sooner see inserts with specified curvatures. Maybe something similar is available by carving tool makers?
Nathan says
Aug 25, 2016 at 8:42 amequally useful. radi over 1 inch for example.
fred says
Aug 25, 2016 at 8:57 amNot quite the same – but steel wood scrapers are available from Flexcut in a set of different profiles (part # SK120)
http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/151339/Flexcut-Profile-Scrprs-w-Hndl.aspx?gclid=CL_dvfXN3M4CFQQehgodUIQJbg
Card scrapers also come in curved designs – sometimes called gooseneck scrapers
http://www.woodcraft.com/product/158977/lynx-mini-scraper-set-4pc.aspx
Auriou also used to make a variety od small scrapers in different profiles – but they don’t seem to be listed anymore on the Forge de St Jeury website.
fred says
Aug 24, 2016 at 3:35 pmSometime the wet rag thing is not so good as on some softer woods it can distribute the glue and force some into the pores making for imperfect finishing.
I generally let the squeeze-out dry and use a card scraper to clean things up.
I do know other woodworkers who like to use carbide paint scrapers from Sandvik or Bahco. The handle on the Bahco 625 looks a bit like this Woodpecker’s tool.
https://www.amazon.com/Bahco-Premium-Ergonomic-Carbide-Scraper/dp/B000288LOW/ref=wl_mb_wl_huc_mrai_2_dp
Of course if you want to really spend extra money on this task – then $140 for a Lie Nielsen chisel plane might be the ticket
Steve says
Aug 24, 2016 at 4:11 pmcompletely agree about the wet rag, it often makes it worse
Benjamen says
Aug 24, 2016 at 4:13 pmYeah the clean it up while it’s wet vs. the let it dry seems to be one of those topics that divide woodworkers. I’ve been told to do it both ways many times.
You have a good point that it can depend on the wood you are using. Exactly what you described about just spreading the glue out happened to me on a construction lumber bench I just built.
A card scraper is a good idea, I was practicing raising a burr a few months ago so I should put that skill to use.
fred says
Aug 24, 2016 at 4:31 pmOf course if we all used the ideal amount of glue – brushed on or otherwise (finger anybody) spread evenly and thinly – applied – we’d have less squeeze-out to deal with. But alas …
Certainly if you intend to paint then by all means use the wet rag.
If the work is meant to be dyed or stained – then I still like to let it dry and scrape
Nathan says
Aug 24, 2016 at 5:06 pmThat’s my critera too. stain and paint – dry then scrap/sand (or possibly plane)
if painted – wet rag it – sand, prime, paint.
3ymbie says
Aug 25, 2016 at 10:58 amShipping is $40 USD to my Canadian address… That’s roughly $56 CAD. I will pass.
Steve says
Aug 25, 2016 at 8:14 pmWoodpecker and Kreg need to seriously adjust their prices.
Mark S. says
Aug 29, 2016 at 2:51 pmKreg’s not too bad price-wise, heck they sell them at Home Depot and Lowes so they can’t be too overpriced but I agree with the Woodpecker – yes you get what you pay for but Veritas and Lie-Nielsen aren’t quite that expensive for similar quality.