Subject: looking for source for scrapers

From: [email-masked] (David Erickson)
Date: 11 Dec 1996 16:48:32 GMT

I'm looking for a source for flat-ended scrapers, the kind that take
replaceable blades, preferrably carbide tipped.  I checked MSC catalog,
all they have are steel, fixed blade.  Note, these are for scraping
machinery ways, not paint or woodworking applications.

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David Erickson    Technical Support Engineer    Rational Software Corporation
email: [email-masked]
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From: Suzette Perry <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 13:25:00 -0500

[email-masked] wrote:
> 
> In article <[email-masked]>, [email-masked] (David
> Erickson) writes:
> 
  Note, these are for scraping
> Using the side of the grinder remove the file teeth and you have an
> excellent scraper for beds.
> 
> Peter

Okay, so where do you guys get the ribbed straight edges needed for
scraping machinery?

Brian Perry

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From: [email-masked] (David Erickson)
Date: 13 Dec 1996 02:51:36 GMT

>>replaceable blades, preferrably carbide tipped.

>I've scraped many a lathe and mill bed with a 12" flat file.

Well, Peter, not to bring up the Jet controversy again (grin), but
if you've restored lathes worthy of restoration, why would you buy a
piece of junk like that in the first place?

>excellent scraper for beds.

The scrapers with the replaceable blades have thinner more flexible blades, 
which gives you more control.  I've used both, and I've made my own carbide
tipped scrapers out of an old file by brazing on an insert.  I still prefer
the kind with replaceable blades.

I had one response that suggested Enco as a source for the replaceable blade
models.  Now if I could just find an Enco catalog (they usually end up in
the trash).

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From: [email-masked]
Date: 13 Dec 1996 16:39:43 GMT

>Okay, so where do you guys get the ribbed straight edges needed for

Don't know about ribbed ones but Starret have some nice ones. Aint cheap
tho'

Peter

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From: [email-masked]
Date: 13 Dec 1996 16:39:41 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>, [email-masked] (David

>piece of junk like that in the first place?

Time! Never have enough of it. Needed to make parts *now*. Figured the Jet
would do it. Almost did. It certainly does now after some 30 hours of
extra work. <sigh>

Peter

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From: Suzette Perry <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 14 Dec 1996 02:02:52 -0500

> Don't know about ribbed ones but Starret have some nice ones. Aint cheap

Peter,

Me again, have you used these for scraping? I have the book, Machine
Tool Reconditioning and they only show straight edges with heavy ribbing
to avoid warp.

Brian Perry wishing to so some scraping

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From: [email-masked]
Date: 14 Dec 1996 16:25:54 GMT

>Tool Reconditioning and they only show straight edges with heavy ribbing

Depends on the length you need to scrape. For 3 or 4 feet I have used them
with great success. You just need to make sure there is no bow in them. I
have used toolmakers clamps to hold blocks to the straight edge that hold
square to the work. As the blocks are all the same size it is a simple
matter to align them with the edge of the way. This is much more difficult
if you are scraping inverted vee ways as it is almost impossble to get the
straight edge not to bow. For those I suspect the ribbed types would be
mandatory.

However I wonder whether a lump of finished hardwood with a saw slit along
its length for the stright edge to fit into might add sufficient
stiffness. Maybe even clamp the stright edge into the saw cut with wood
wedges. The saw cut could be about 1/2 to 2/3 the depth of the straight
edge. The small amount of wavyiness you could get this way would not
affect the end result. Protect the straight edge too.

Scraping is slow exacting work. If you need to do it then do it, but I
would opt for paying to have it ground if possible. Perhaps I have wasted
(sorry, spent) too much time scraping and lost sight of the 'fun'. It used
to be a punishment job for final year apprentices'. Can't imagine why I
always got the punishment jobs. ;)>

As to your book, often the text book and the art are rarely the same.
Unless you are planning on scraping as a business, buying a $3K straight
edge for a one-off job is hard to justify. See if you can take a wander
around a large machine shop (pre-CNC) and you will be amazed at the things
that have been cobbled together to make a very workable system for
specific one-offs etc.

As someone said a little while back when he showed people around his
workshop he would say, "I can make *anything* on these machines, if I
can't make it then I can make a machine with them that will."

Peter