Noob card scraper question

[gsmittle]

Does one use a card scraper instead of or in conjunction with sanding???

g.

[Warren]

It depends on the wood and the project. How's that for a definative answer.

I use a card on knots and heavily figured wood. Scrapers seem to be just the thing on gnarly wood, as they cut rather than abrade. That being said, if the scraper isn't tuned, I've been known to wear out a few sheet of paper working a knot down. Sometimes I'm just too lazy to tune up the scraper. I would bet that skilled user of the scrapers probably gets the results he desires faster than I do. I usually just use them on problem areas.

I don't know that a scraper will give you a smoother finish than sandpaper if you are willing to follow the grades religiously, working down to the 4 digit grades.

[MilDoc]

So far my experience with a scraper has been on heavily figured wood. i liked the result better than sanding to 320 grit.