Recommendation needed: a "real" burnisher for card scappers (and the like)

[Riccardo964]

The dents don't seem that protuberant on the image, however, I was expecting to have nothing in there after I use it. That's an HSS bar I bought last year for £10.

Well, I'll try buying some options you politely gave me, thanks a million.

Best,

Riccardo964

[LCF]

5 hours ago, Riccardo964 said:

The dents don't seem that protuberant on the image, however, I was expecting to have nothing in there after I use it. That's an HSS bar I bought last year for £10.

Well, I'll try buying some options you politely gave me, thanks a million.

Best,

Riccardo964

 

Those dents suggest to me that you're probably drawing the burnisher right along the point of the edge. Try starting flat on top of the thin edge and then  gradually increasing the angle until you can feel the edge burr you are hoping for. As Evan and Davide have suggested, dress the blade square first with fine abrasives as if it was any other edged tool. Smooth and clean. Leave the file in the drawer. 

Edited November 28, 2025 by LCF
Typos etc

[HoGo]

Rough edge of scraper can act as a file or saw and will scratch your rod. You shouldn't push hard on the edge.

BTW was your HSS rod properly hardened?

[Riccardo964]

25 minutes ago, HoGo said:

BTW was your HSS rod properly hardened?

I didn't do anything to it, should I? 

The item's name was: "Sourcingmap 10mmx200mm HSS High Speed Steel Carbide Bars for CNC Lathe"

 About this item

• Product Name : Carbide Bar;Material : HSS
• Color : Silver Tone;Diameter : 10mm/ 0.4"
• Total Length : 200mm/ 7.9"
• Weight : 124g 

I will follow your advice @LCF, @HoGo, and all others, thank you!

Riccardo964

[Don Noon]

That description is very suspect, using HSS and carbide interchangeably, and no specification of hardness.  Apparently from China on eBay (https://www.ebay.com/itm/376614571652), where there's not much certainty of getting what you think it is.  From the nicks on the bar in the photo, my best guess is that that "HSS" bar is too soft, if it is indeed any kind of HSS.

[Conor Russell]

It seems that you are working the edge with just one spot on the burnisher.

Try swiping the steel along the edge, pulling the scraper steel in the direction you want it to go.

Mostly,  I use knife edged scrapers, and one swipe turns the edge. If I'm turning a square scraper, I treat both cutting edges separately, and a few strokes on each turns down a burr.

[LCF]

8 hours ago, Don Noon said:

That description is very suspect, using HSS and carbide interchangeably, and no specification of hardness.  Apparently from China on eBay (https://www.ebay.com/itm/376614571652), where there's not much certainty of getting what you think it is.  From the nicks on the bar in the photo, my best guess is that that "HSS" bar is too soft, if it is indeed any kind of HSS.

 

You can use a screwdriver, what is need is toughness but Riccardo's burnisher doesn't appear very tough.

 

Att pic of a Chinese 'HSS' mill cutter which was only cutting aluminium. Imagine my disbelief! It probably would be ok to pull a hook on a burnisher though  since it seems about the same steel as screwdriver. 

 

[Riccardo964]

4 hours ago, LCF said:

Att pic of a Chinese 'HSS' mill cutter

 low quality stuff indeed... I hear Chinese items are hit-and-miss, some good, some really bad, one just needs to keep looking.

 

aamof, as a temp solution, I bought a set of HSS drill bits (from Lidl - let's wait on 'quality') and put the 10 aside to work as a HSS burnisher. Let's see what happens.

Cheerios,

Riccardo964

 

[HoGo]

The shanks of most drills or mills are made of cheaper steel only the "working" half is of the more precious material, they are friction welded together. 

Unless your manufacturer claimed full carbide or HSS they will be like that.

[JacksonMaberry]

I've used the accuburr for the last five years, no grooves yet in the carbide for what it's worth. I feel I've gotten my money's worth at least, and it's been nice to take the guesswork out of choosing my angles. Nothing wrong with developing the knack for doing it with a simple rod though

[Don Noon]

11 hours ago, Riccardo964 said:

 low quality stuff indeed... I hear Chinese items are hit-and-miss, some good, some really bad, one just needs to keep looking.

aamof, as a temp solution, I bought a set of HSS drill bits (from Lidl - let's wait on 'quality') and put the 10 aside to work as a HSS burnisher. Let's see what happens.

Those drill bits might also be sourced from China, or Romania, or similar low-priced (questionable quality) supplier.  With similar results to your "HSS" rod.  

[Brian in Texas]

5 hours ago, JacksonMaberry said:

I've used the accuburr for the last five years, no grooves yet in the carbide for what it's worth. I feel I've gotten my money's worth at least, and it's been nice to take the guesswork out of choosing my angles. Nothing wrong with developing the knack for doing it with a simple rod though

It’s nice to hear that. I’m wanting to get one for myself. What diameter did you end up with? I see them available in different sizes.

[Don Noon]

7 hours ago, JacksonMaberry said:

I've used the accuburr for the last five years, no grooves yet in the carbide for what it's worth.

I wouldn't expect marring of a carbide burnisher unless you are using it on carbide or diamond scrapers (you wouldn't be able to turn an edge on them, anyway).

[JacksonMaberry]

2 hours ago, Don Noon said:

I wouldn't expect marring of a carbide burnisher unless you are using it on carbide or diamond scrapers (you wouldn't be able to turn an edge on them, anyway).

Nor would I, but I was responding to the earlier posters who expressed concern about exactly that wrt the AccuBurr. 

[LCF]

14 hours ago, HoGo said:

The shanks of most drills or mills are made of cheaper steel only the "working" half is of the more precious material, they are friction welded together. 

Unless your manufacturer claimed full carbide or HSS they will be like that.

Yes the back end is a carbon steel, the eponymous drill rod, which is sacrifical so it doesn't destroy the chuck jaws. That's handy since you can drill into it to braze on an extension.

[JacksonMaberry]

12 hours ago, Brian in Texas said:

It’s nice to hear that. I’m wanting to get one for myself. What diameter did you end up with? I see them available in different sizes.

When I bought mine, there was only a single product. Afaik, that's still the case. I bought mine here, and I don't see multiple diameters? I can't imagine what difference it would make if there were, either.

https://taytools.com/brands/union-manufacturing?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21901920472&gbraid=0AAAAADmpRzG9hCmkHTci1IusHnzoranSp&gclid=Cj0KCQiA0KrJBhCOARIsAGIy9wCf-TLOGpCz1Yg7I1Z-_CzvmNbYap-7D1NQ3vmplnaOTdvNaNN2JZIaApbvEALw_wcB

 

Edit: I stand corrected. Looks like it comes in either 3/16 or 1/4. When I ordered, it was only 3/16 so that's what I've got. 

[Muswell]

1 hour ago, JacksonMaberry said:

When I bought mine, there was only a single product. Afaik, that's still the case. I bought mine here, and I don't see multiple diameters? I can't imagine what difference it would make if there were, either.

https://taytools.com/brands/union-manufacturing?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21901920472&gbraid=0AAAAADmpRzG9hCmkHTci1IusHnzoranSp&gclid=Cj0KCQiA0KrJBhCOARIsAGIy9wCf-TLOGpCz1Yg7I1Z-_CzvmNbYap-7D1NQ3vmplnaOTdvNaNN2JZIaApbvEALw_wcB

 

Edit: I stand corrected. Looks like it comes in either 3/16 or 1/4. When I ordered, it was only 3/16 so that's what I've got. 

Another vote for the Accuburr, it works well and shows no sign of wear.  I went with the brass handles which stop it rolling off the bench. Mine too is 3/16.

[Riccardo964]

2 hours ago, JacksonMaberry said:

Looks like it comes in either 3/16 or 1/4.

 

27 minutes ago, Muswell said:

Another vote for the Accuburr

 

My only "problem" with the Accuburr is the price, perhaps it's worth my while, given all remarkable suggestions:

Best,

Riccardo964

 

[Wood Butcher]

1 hour ago, Riccardo964 said:

My only "problem" with the Accuburr is the price, perhaps it's worth my while, given all remarkable suggestions:

It will be worth every single penny, just to bring this to an end.
In the time you have spent making reasons not to buy something that will work, you could have scraped the arching on five backs.

[Mark Norfleet]

1 hour ago, Wood Butcher said:

It will be worth every single penny, just to bring this to an end.

 I’m a bit amazed by how long this has gone on!  It’s something I’ve never really thought about after getting a small piece of tungsten carbide.  Accuracy has never been a concern.

[Don Noon]

If cost is the concern, you can get a 1/4" x 4" carbide rod for $15 on Amazon or eBay.

[Greg Sigworth]

I looked up in my metals handbook and HSS stands for High Strength Steel and refers to the yield strength of steel; the stress where it will start to bend or yield. There are probably over 40 kinds of HSS steels and the hardness is different from yield strength of steel. The Chinese were in the past selling steels that had the right composition but were not heat treated properly, but that has improved greatly over the years. HSS steels are not designed for hardness but for high yield strength. 

[Jeffrey Holmes]

3 hours ago, Mark Norfleet said:

 I’m a bit amazed by how long this has gone on!  It’s something I’ve never really thought about after getting a small piece of tungsten carbide.  Accuracy has never been a concern.

So am I. 

[Dr. Mark]

6 hours ago, Mark Norfleet said:

’m a bit amazed by how long this has gone on!

And without a single mention of the Osmium Crystal scraper burnisher!

[Jeffrey Holmes]

36 minutes ago, Dr. Mark said:

And without a single mention of the Osmium Crystal scraper burnisher!

Hahahahaha!