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On hardwood tops I've used a scraper to bring down shell rosettes.  I am concerned that I might damage a spruce top with this technique. What is the best way to do this?

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

I inlay while my top is still a bit thick. the one pass through my drum sander with 120 grit on the inlay side to level to the top. then I flip the top and take it to the final major thickness on the bottom side. After construction I scrape then sand to 600p to remove all scratches.

Before my drum sander I sanded by hand and a ROS then scraped. If you inlay close enough. then scraping is not that hard or dangerous if you are versed at scraping.

I brought mine down with the scraper and didn't have any problems. I don't have a drum sander so this was my only option. I just made sure to keep it flexed so the corners didn't gouge into the spruce. 

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Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils - Louis Hector Berlioz

Chansen / C hansen / C. Hansen / Christian Hansen - not a handle.

Christian

OK thanks. I don't have the luxury of a drum sander yet so I'll go with scraping.  

_________________
A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

I use a hard scraper: a piece of tool steel about 1/8"-3/16" thick that has been hardened and barely tempered, so that it's at about RC-60 or better. You don't turn an edge on these: just lap off the surface and grind the edge perpendicular. The burr left from grinding is the edge. Being hard these don't lose the edge as fast on shell, and the weight helps keep them from chattering. There's a pic of one on my web site, in the 'Tool of the Month' section. I regret that it's been a lotta months since I posted a new one.

Thanks Alan, I use a small paint scraper with the corners ground off.  It produces nice shavings with no chatter. 

_________________
A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA