How to use a hollow cabinet scraper

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Step 1 – Clamp workpiece

Secure your workpiece in a vice or clamp, or against a workbench stop, ensuring that whole of the face or edge to be scraped is above the securing parts, giving free access to the workpiece surface.

Step 2 – Choose edge

The shape of the surface to be scraped will help you decide which edge of the scraper you will use.

When scraping externally rounded surfaces using a concave scraper you will need to use a blade that is slightly too big.

Step 3 – Hold scraper

Hold the scraper using both hands on opposite sides. Slightly angle the scraper away from you or towards you, depending on whether you are going to push or pull the scraper.

Place your thumbs in the centre of the scraper.

Step 4 – Place scraper

Place the cutting edge of the scraper at the point where you wish to start scraping.

Step 5 – Scrape workpiece

Using both hands, push or pull the scraper along the surface of your workpiece.

When scraping, the grain needs to be sloping upwards and away from the scraper, rather than downwards towards it, otherwise the scraper will dig in too far, causing tear-out.

You may need to grip with just one hand to get into some places with the scraper.

Step 6 – Finish scraping

Repeat step 5 until the surface of the wood is even and smooth.