Shoutout to the older guy at the lumber yard who told me to try a card scraper on my curly maple

Trust the old guy, he knows his stuff.

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Old guys at lumber yards are a gold mine for tips, but calling it a card scraper is a bit off. That's the flat piece of steel you use with your thumbs. He probably meant a cabinet scraper, the kind with a handle and a blade you can adjust. Both are great for tricky grain, but the cabinet scraper is a lot easier on your hands for a big job.

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felixw682mo ago

Fellow old-timers also say to grind the burr on them scrapers with a good burnisher, not just push it around. That burnisher work makes a huge difference in how the scraper cuts. They also like a light touch with some oil on the wood to keep the shavings from clogging. Saves a lot of sanding on curly maple for sure.

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