Cabinet scrapers, also known as card scrapers, are woodwork tools used for shaping and finishing. They are used to remove material in small amounts and are especially useful when working on difficult grain areas that might get damaged by hand planes. Popular with craftsmen because of the level of finesse you are able to achieve, cabinet scrapers take a fair bit if practice to master and are certainly not pick up and play. Although like anything that takes time to master, it’s worth it if you’re really serious about your woodwork skills as you’ll be able to craft some beautiful pieces of work.
Comparison table: 5 Best Cabinet Scrapers | ||||||
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Bahco 474 Cabinet Scraper 6 X 2.1/2in-21g   |
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Irwin Marples M2450 Cabinet Scraper 5in
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Proops Wood Cabinet Carbon Steel Goose Neck Scraper 180mm 4.5" (W3340) Free UK Postage
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Cabinet scraper blade set with scraper burnisher in Velours-Leather-Walle   |
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Craftsmen who make violins often use cabinet scrapers for finishing and shaping the bodies of the instruments. Cabinet scrapers are usually made from high carbon steel and can be purchased in a range of shapes and sizes to suit your specific needs. They often arrive still blunt and it is up to you to put an edge on to them before you can use them.
Here are the 7 best cabinet/card scrapers out there at the moment. I’ve given them a short review and then highlighted their better traits in bullet points.
1.Irwin Marples M2450 Cabinet Scraper 5in
This simple yet effective tool is made from hardened and tempered, high carbon steel shaped in a 5inch by 3inch rectangle. The steel has been polished to give it a smooth finish and it sits about 1/8 of an inch thick, which is certainly enough for you to put a good edge on to it. It is good for cleaning up surfaces on hardwoods. The steel used gives you a good balance of hardness and the ability to sharpen it without too much work.
- Hardened and tempered to 470 vickers
- Polished for a smooth surface finish
- Made from high carbon steel
- Good balance of hardness and ease of sharpening
- Good thickness to make an edge.
2.Bahco 474 Cabinet Scraper 6 X 2.1/2in-21g
This cabinet scraper from the Bahco brand feels very strong and should last you a very long time. It is made from high quality, Swedish, chrome nickel steel that has been cold rolled, then hardened and tempered making it extremely tough. It has been made with specially ground cutting edges to help improve its performance and comes with a plastic edge protector.
- Comes with Plastic edge protectors
- Made from High quality materials and is very strong.
- Will be long lasting and hard wearing.
- Produces a great finish on hardwood and is ideal for removing varnish from old furniture.
- Specially ground cutting edges
- Made by a trusted and respected company
3.Proops Wood Cabinet Carbon Steel Goose Neck Scraper 180mm
If you’re looking to get that perfect finish on that wooden bowl that you’re making, or any other curved wooden surface for that matter, a goose neck shaped scraper will do a much better job than any ordinary sandpaper. This goose neck shaped cabinet scraper from Proops is a great little hand tool. It is solid and just the right thickness and hardeness to make it a good scraper.
- Great for shaping and finishing curved surfaces
- Very good price at only 3.50
- Made from high carbon steel so it’s nice and strong yet still flexible
- Just the right thickness and hardness for this type of tool
- Goose neck shape
- Can shape even old, dry hardwood
4.2pc Concave Cabinet Scraper Set
This two piece set of concave scrapers is another great addition to your woodwork kit if you plan on carving curved pieces. These cabinet scrapers have been specially designed and shaped for just that task. They are manufactured in the UK out of high grade steel and each scraper has different sized recess areas on them to give you the size of curve that you want. Scraper 1 has 2/8″, 3/8″, 1/2″, 5/8″ and 6/8″ curved sections. Scraper 2 has been made with 7/8″, 1″, 1 1/8″, 1 2/8″ and 1 1/2″. Thus these are excellent little versatile tools.
- Two concave scrapers in the set for a good price
- Made in the UK out of high grade steel
- Each scraper has different sized recess areas, giving you a lot of variety and choice
- Great for shaping curved chair legs, spindles, and much more.
- High quality tools
5.Cabinet scraper blade set with scraper burnisher in Velours-Leather-Wallet
For 43.28 you can buy yourself this handy little cabinet scraper kit from makers Kirchen. The set is comprised of a Square scraper measuring 150x60x0,8 mm, a hollow and round 0,8 mm scraper, a Swan neck measuring 0,8 mm and a round scraper burnisher. These all come in a good quality Velours-leather-wallet to keep them in.
- A good selection of cabinet scrapers and would be a good addition to you tool kit
- Comes with a good quality leather wallet to store your scrapers in
- Strong and flexible steel scrapers
- Comes with a round scraper burnisher
- Square scraper measuring 150x60x0,8 mm, a hollow and round 0,8 mm scraper, and a Swan neck scraper measuring 0,8 mm, should be enough to tackle most finishing tasks.
As you can see, cabinet scrapers are a brilliant addition to your toolbox that won’t leave you bankrupt. Sure, it requires some practice to get really good at using them, but that time and effort will seem worth it when you are shaping and finishing beautiful hardwood furniture and such. Because of the simple design of cabinet makers, there is very little that can go wrong with them, and also very little maintenance except keeping the edge sharpened, so these are hand tools that last.
With so many premium quality products out there on the market for very reasonable prices, investing in a decent cabinet scraper has never been easier. So, if you are interested, simply click on one of our links and it will take you onto your next step towards your purchase.
