At one end of the spectrum, scrapers can take feather—even powderlike—shavings, making them excellent tools for refining the shape and surface of our work. On the other end of the spectrum, they can be used for heavy hollowing, especially in situations where we have reached the limit of our cutting tools. Like a relief pitcher, scrapers can pick up and finish a job where the cutting tools left off.

Being able to be effective with scrapers, however, requires a clear understanding of the difference between cutting and scraping. After explaining the difference between cutting and scraping, we take a look at how to use and setup a scraper. Then we'll see how scrapers interact with the various grain orientations.

Cover tool: Ashley Iles Heavy Duty Bowl Scraper
Woods: Camphor; Curly Silver Maple