Anybody ever have a scrapper scrap unevenly across ring transitions?

[toomanyknots]

What I mean is, take the gradual ring transition down the belly of a limb on a typical bow, where the rings feather out towards the nock. I have been having a problem where my scraper will sort of jump rings, and this will make a bump where the next ring starts. It is also pretty square, and not natural looking, it stands out pretty bad. Anybody know what I am talking about? I am using a straight scraper, it is probably not super sharp, but it ain't dull or nothing.

[Gordon]

Are you working with osage?

[ionicmuffin]

i have a similar problem with mine! i think its very dull though. it mostly happens either at rings, or at knots or other hard sections.

[Pat B]

That is the softer early ring being scraped more than the harder heartwood. If you don't get too much of a dip you can even it up using a sanding block when you get to final sanding. It is a pretty common problem when using woods like osager, locust, mulberry, etc.

[MWirwicki]

Like Pat said.  I use a finer file to blend the two surfaces.  Then only finish it up with sandpaper.

[toomanyknots]

Are you working with osage?

 , yup.

[toomanyknots]

That is the softer early ring being scraped more than the harder heartwood. If you don't get too much of a dip you can even it up using a sanding block when you get to final sanding. It is a pretty common problem when using woods like osager, locust, mulberry, etc.

Like Pat said.  I use a finer file to blend the two surfaces.  Then only finish it up with sandpaper.

Alrighty, sounds like a plan. Thank ya guys. Ya, it was on an osage bow I just finished it up. I thought I had sanded em down, than after finish sanding to 1000 grit, burnishing, and waxing, then I noticed that I still had some pretty big square indentations. Which thanks to the finish, are now painfully obvious,  .

[mikekeswick]

The problem gets worse the duller your scraper gets. The less sharp the more pressure you have to use to 'force' it to bite. They should always be sharp enough to 'wipe' shavings off with one hand.
The easy way to stop it happening is only ever use a super sharp scraper.
Then if this problems starts to form then flatten with files.

[SLIMBOB]

The key is not to let it get to deep.  As one appears, I use the sanding block as Pat said, and smooth it out completely.  Then back to the scraper, then repeat the sanding block and so on.  The thick ringed stuff is more of a problem as there is usually more early wood.  Sharper tools will minimize it.

[adb]

If I'm tillering osage, this happens. To prevent it, I alternate between scraper and rasp. The rasp will knock off the harder high spots, and then you can work with the scraper again. Keep the burr on your scraper fresh and it won't be as bad.

[dwardo]

Having two cab scrapers helps.
Sharpen both and when you start to question one, try the other and see if its you being too tired or the scraper blunting.

[Gordon]

It's all been said already - sharp scraper followed by a sanding block.