Scraper temper

[DC]

I've made a scraper like Dean Torges. I made the blade from a file. It works well but doesn't hold an edge. I believe the edge is chipping. I haven't tried burnishing the edge for that reason. I just put the blade in the oven at 350°f for a couple of hours. It's now a nice golden/straw colour. Will that make it better or worse. Do you think I'll be able to roll an edge on it now. I could just try it and see but I don't want to chip up the edge again.

[KHalverson]

Will a sharp file cut it?
If so you should be able to push a burr.

[DC]

Yup, thanks, I'll try rolling a burr tomorrow.

[DC]

I took two strokes with a burnisher(side of a center punch) and now it takes nice .004" shavings. I'll have to be careful. Now to see how long it holds an edge. Thanks KH

[Woodely]

Not sure about your fix,  but I cold ground a file to make a knife and it holds an edge like tomorrow.
I dont have a scraper, got no use for one,      I use a file, rasp, finishing sander, whatever, if I have to hog off a lot material I use the belt sander or small hand plane.   But then again I'am working lam bows,  scraping a smooth hard rock maple or oak lam is almost impossible with a scraper.   

I also grew up watching my Dad use chisels, hand planes and hand augers for installing hand sets and dead bolts.  Younger people these days have no idea how to use a hand tool.  And now its CNC machines. 

[DC]

Have you tried using a plane on OS?

[Woodely]

Have you tried using a plane on OS?

Well no those wood fibers are fibrous.  Working OS I would bring out the rasp.   Dont get me wrong nothing wrong with using a hand scraper ,  but when I see people  removing 1/4" of material using a scraper its rather Futile is it not.   

[DC]

Yeah 1/4" is rasp work. My scraper is a cross between a spoke shave and a scraper so it's a lot faster than a cabinet scraper.