Frank's razor blade scraper---a variation

[Brian Burns]

Hello All,

I'm constantly using Frank's trick for rolling up a burr on a razor blade. Another of Frank's contributions that deserves a "Luthie":

http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier/Technique/Finish/RazorScrap...

My variation on it is to burnish the burr, wrap a piece of masking tape around the center to protect the burr, and use a buffing wheel to polish off the burr and the sharp corners at the ends. This leaves only the center of the razor blade as an active cutter,  and the end portions as mirror polished guides. With this preparation of the blade you can scrape a fill right down flush with the adjoining area.  

I recently searched for a 100 pack of truly sharp razor blades---the standard ones are no longer called "razor blades", they are "scraper blades". McMaster Carr has them, of course, along with every other imaginable thing you might want:

https://www.mcmaster.com/#razor-blades/=14yawqs

Cheers,

Brian

[Frank Ford]

I think McMaster used to call them "extra keen" but now they seem to be "precision edge."

[Dave Hanna]

You might try the same thing with the Milwaukee  #48-22-1954 carton blade.  These have rounded corners and are much more durable than the old window scraper blades.You can also break them into shorter sections for scraping in restricted areas.  I tried your idea with one of the carton blades and it works great.  Neat idea.

[Brian Burns]

Hello Calamity,

Thanks for reminding me to get some utility knife blades to make into heavier duty scrapers (:->). I tried one some time back, and liked it---just didn't order any.

I Googled "sharpest utility knife blades" and darned if there wasn't a review of various brands. Lennox rated high---no surprise there. But the edge---as it were---was given to Wiss. Here is the link to them on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KKSTLC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_...

Cheers,

Brian

[onewent]

Those utility knife blades are super for shaping a saddle, too!  Tom

[peter meyer]

Brian

i wanted to thank you for your razor blade variation . its a charm! now i can scrape even closer to level with more control :)

                              Peter