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

[Dr. Mark]

7 hours ago, Don Noon said:

The rest just think they do (but that can apply to almost everyone, not just engineers).

Hey!  This is like watching the eruption of a criticism volcano!

[Davide Sora]

12 hours ago, Mike_Danielson said:

David, you are being a Wuss.  There is almost no oil on the burnisher.  I hope you realize that unless you use rubber gloves, your instruments are going to be contaminated with oils and grease from your skin.

Don't you realize it is much easier to turn the edge, and the edge is smoother with a tiny amount of lubricant?

Let us practice clear thinking.

You're free to use as much lubricant as you like, but I'm free to worry about any potential consequences and avoid anything unnecessary or superfluous.

[Greg Sigworth]

Thank you for all your comments. Making an effective scrapper is a skill set I am still working on; especially the proper curl edge. The original op is somewhat related to this. Most of you use and make very good scrappers and may not know all the technical terms. You have mastered what really matters; I am still working on it. I liked the comment about a little oil on the burnisher. Reminds me of my father telling me to take the inside part of the fishing rod that goes into the other piece and rub it in my hair to put a little oil on it; a little dab will do ya. I might try that, I don't yet. 

[Bodacious Cowboy]

11 hours ago, JacksonMaberry said:

Personally, Maestronet feels the same to me as it did when I joined in 2013 or so. Some of the cast has changed, but the overall character, at least in my view has always been about the same - there's a handful of genuine, generous contributors and then there's... Everyone else.

There are very few interesting/useful discussion topics these days IMHO.

 

 

[Jeffrey Holmes]

13 hours ago, Mike_Danielson said:

David, you are being a Wuss.  There is almost no oil on the burnisher.  I hope you realize that unless you use rubber gloves, your instruments are going to be contaminated with oils and grease from your skin.

Don't you realize it is much easier to turn the edge, and the edge is smoother with a tiny amount of lubricant?

Let us practice clear thinking.

I wish to join the Wuss club!  Seems like I'll be in good company.

I have never lubricated my burnisher and I've never had difficulty turning an even edge with it... be it a fine edge for varnish work or an edge for wood removal.

Carry on if you all must.

[Jeffrey Holmes]

13 hours ago, not telling said:

It took me 30 seconds perusing the threads yesterday to realize there's another bout of "we're all the same thing" going on. I've seen it before. I've gotten too comfortable saying whatever. But never in that way. When we are lucky enough to hear from Davide Sora on the regular, about anything, we want to not "flub" it up. I say "we" but speak for me only obviously. Roger Hargrave used to talk about eating beans on toast, anything! Awesome! Sometimes, often, he'd drop a truth bomb of his violin experience and knowledge. Him, Melvin Goldsmith, Bruce Carlson, all these guys who used to post here, about amazing knowledge, they probably don't because of too many encounters with that kind of dude. No, we are not all the same. Telling Davide to practice some clear thinking is just...crazy...but he doesn't need defended. I just miss how Maestronet was several years ago.

As I've been here pretty much since MN started (like 26 years), I can state with confidence that the character has always been in flux.  Depending on the characters contributing at any given time it can be a very informative place to be, or an unruly one (or both).  Like you, I prefer to remember the "good times", but there have been plenty of dissonant, argumentative and ugly times along the way (that took a lot of time to moderate).  It cycles.

Melvin still pops up from time to time, Roger is retired but always welcome if he wishes, haven't seen Bruce for a while, but there are a good number of others here with many things to offer (and a ton of experience).

I've mentioned it before (and still believe it) that the quality of this site depends on the quality of content... and the understanding that those who have vast experience to share here do not "owe" others their time and knowledge, so respect for their generosity is warranted... If you all have a desire to attract more of those who possess a great deal of expertise, I implore all members to think before they post!

 

[not telling]

There are still lots of experts and incognito experts here, mostly the same people as when I left. I hope everyone who's contributing to newbie and the general knowledge feels appreciated. I don't actually know what's going on out here, just this week. I was gutted to read about Roger's battle with Parkinson’s this morning, for example. And, yes, I know Holmes meant me in some of that. I am occasionally unruly and very sorry for when he has needed to moderate me. This is a great resource and I shouldn't ever really say anything. But...you knpw...five pages on scrapers is just...different. Continuing to discuss oil on burnishers is wild. The science should be considered settled on that one. 

[Jeffrey Holmes]

1 minute ago, not telling said:

But...you knpw...five pages on scrapers is just...different. Continuing to discuss oil on burnishers is wild. The science should be considered settled on that one. 

I'm with you.

[Dr. Mark]

13 minutes ago, not telling said:

But...you know...five pages on scrapers is just...different.

It's easy to see why:  Along with tangential subjects like (forgive me, please) the length of a thread, and (again) expansive criticisms of others opinions  and rushing to the defense of people who don't need defending - the primary discussion is about burnishers, not scrapers.  This illustrates why things have to be repeated over and over again, and why answers need to be approached from more than one direction in hopes that some inattentive poster will have an 'Oh, now I get it' moment.  May I suggest we just go with the flow and enjoy the opportunities available here?

[JacksonMaberry]

2 hours ago, Bodacious Cowboy said:

There are very few interesting/useful discussion topics these days IMHO.

 

 

Same as it ever was, at least in my time here. It's always a matter of winnowing the chaff for the kernels. 

[Greg Sigworth]

3 hours ago, Jeffrey Holmes said:

I wish to join the Wuss club!  Seems like I'll be in good company.

I have never lubricated my burnisher and I've never had difficulty turning an even edge with it... be it a fine edge for varnish work or an edge for wood removal.

Carry on if you all must.

Now that to me is a real gem, a diamond in the ruff. "an even edge with it... be it a fine edge for varnish work or an edge for wood removal". Wow, two different kinds of edges, one for varnish resurfacing or cleaning up and the other for wood removal. I had never thought of that use though I have on occasion used a scrapper to resurface some varnish. Thank you, I will use that gen in the future.

[Davide Sora]

19 minutes ago, Greg Sigworth said:

Now that to me is a real gem, a diamond in the ruff. "an even edge with it... be it a fine edge for varnish work or an edge for wood removal". Wow, two different kinds of edges, one for varnish resurfacing or cleaning up and the other for wood removal. I had never thought of that use though I have on occasion used a scrapper to resurface some varnish. Thank you, I will use that gen in the future.

This is the strength of scrapers: by simply varying the angle and pressure of the burnisher, you can achieve a different cutting action, suited to different needs. Furthermore, you can omit the burnisher altogether and vary the sharpening angle, further modifying the cutting effect. It is certainly one of the most versatile tools and, last but not least, one of the least expensive.

[Mike_Danielson]

Bad boy here:

I am a retired materials scientist, and I know something about metals.

Whoever said just use oil on the burnisher?  Wax will also work--it is a lubricant.  We use wax on bow adjuster screws to not stain the wood.

[Jeffrey Holmes]

1 hour ago, Mike_Danielson said:

Bad boy here:

I am a retired materials scientist, and I know something about metals.

Whoever said just use oil on the burnisher?  Wax will also work--it is a lubricant.  We use wax on bow adjuster screws to not stain the wood.

You're not the only bad boy here.  

I use paraffin on bow screws occasionally myself.  I apply a very small amount and melt it into the screw threads.

I am aware some metal workers lubricate their burnishers, and some cabinet makers I've known do as well.  I've never felt the need to, and indeed was trained not to. I would personally be concerned with getting even a small amount of wax on/in a patch bed, on an unvarnished surface, or on varnish when scraping down fill varnish... and am more than satisfied with the results I get without the lubrication.

[David Burgess]

On 12/1/2025 at 10:22 PM, Mike_Danielson said:

Do not forget to run a lubricated cloth over the burniser before using it--that is probably the most important thing to do.

The strawberry flavored lubricants are my favorite, with butterscotch a close second.

[not telling]

40 minutes ago, David Burgess said:

The strawberry flavored lubricants are my favorite, with butterscotch a close second.

Really? Most experts believe there would be an adverse effect on the wood, but to each their own. Clearly you are beyond the experimental phase.

Also, thanks to VdA for posting probably the best burnisher on the planet. It's a stocking stuffer if it gets here in time.

 

 

[Andrew tkinson]

There once was a fellow named Draper

Who, when asked how he burnished his scraper

Said "to achieve such a sheen"

I use my Osmium inlaid bean!

Then some vinegar and a little brown paper! "

 

[Mike_Danielson]

2 hours ago, David Burgess said:

The strawberry flavored lubricants are my favorite, with butterscotch a close second.

I am worried about rust getting on your burnisher.  How old is your burnisher?  Perhaps you are not using it enough.

[Violadamore]

3 hours ago, not telling said:

Also, thanks to VdA for posting probably the best burnisher on the planet. It's a stocking stuffer if it gets here in time.

お役に立てて、光栄です。

[Violadamore]

2 hours ago, Mike_Danielson said:

I am worried about rust getting on your burnisher.  How old is your burnisher?  Perhaps you are not using it enough.

[HoGo]

Now, that's Maestronet in it's best! Who woulda think burnishers can be such a hot topic

[JacksonMaberry]

1 hour ago, HoGo said:

Now, that's Maestronet in it's best! Who woulda think burnishers can be such a hot topic

I don't really understand all the dismissiveness. Burnishers are an important too. If, by discussing it civilly, we can be a help to others, then it's time well spent. Perhaps it's not the most exciting topic for me, but I'm glad to have it rather than another 20 page slap fight about grounds, or sound hole placement, where more than half the poster have no idea what they're talking about despite arguing with ferocious certainty. 

[Jay Higgs]

6 hours ago, JacksonMaberry said:

If, by discussing it civilly, we can be a help to others, then it's time well spent.

Yes! JacksonMaberry hit at the core of why I participate in Maestronet.  It took me a long time to get where I am happy with my scraper use, and every bit of information helps.  The one new tidbit I learned from this thread was the need to lightly oil the burnisher.  

[Andrew tkinson]

7 hours ago, JacksonMaberry said:

I don't really understand all the dismissiveness. Burnishers are an important too. If, by discussing it civilly, we can be a help to others, then it's time well spent. Perhaps it's not the most exciting topic for me, but I'm glad to have it rather than another 20 page slap fight about grounds, or sound hole placement, where more than half the poster have no idea what they're talking about despite arguing with ferocious certainty. 

Hello Jackson, I agree, my scrapers and scraping technique are very hapharzard. As Davide mentioned above the scraper is a very versatile and useful tool when sharpened and used to its full potential. 

So even though I attempted to be funny above with my silly limerick, I, and I am sure many anonymous readers, have gained useful knowledge during the reading of this thread. 

The trap I nearly always still fall into, when I am really enjoying trying to make something, is, I don't want to stop and spend time getting my scraper (or gouge or plane etc) sharpened so, ironically, by 'saving time' I end up taking at least five times longer in the end to achieve a not so good result.

A discussion like this is understandably boring and frustrating to people who already have mastered this seemingly simple tool but has been useful to me as it has got me thinking about how I could improve my work.

[HoGo]

10 hours ago, JacksonMaberry said:

I don't really understand all the dismissiveness. Burnishers are an important too. If, by discussing it civilly, we can be a help to others, then it's time well spent. Perhaps it's not the most exciting topic for me, but I'm glad to have it rather than another 20 page slap fight about grounds, or sound hole placement, where more than half the poster have no idea what they're talking about despite arguing with ferocious certainty. 

My previous post was meant more ironic. It's pretty much a rule here that after some number of posts even the threads with very good start will turn into minefield of (sometimes) inapproprieate ambiguities. This behavior be a good think in the future to prevent the AI bots from cherry picking the best of knowledge from public sources like this.