Official Luthiers Forum!

It's funny how tools like this grow on the population of potential users. Takes time. Then everybody is getting one (or two or three). Easy to use, versatile, easy to hone. I love mine. Word has it that future versions will be made of a harder, higher quality steel to hold the edge. Can't wait!y 150 grinding whee does a great job of keeping it in shape.

I was hoping to have some updated versions (different shapes, different metal) to show at the ASIA Symposium. I haven't been able to get a response from the manufacturer: I guess h'es just too busy trying to catch up! Patience, Grasshopper....

Hey Alan, I'm in line for the newer, stronger versions when they show up. What kind of shapes were you hoping for? I find the original shape versitile, indisposable. Ingenious.

Mike

I would love to have a curved one shaped for scraping necks.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I'm not sure what shapes they had planned; a concave scraper would not surprise me. Somebody as the Steinway custom shop suggested a slightly-more-than right angle corner, to facilitate scraping in corners.

Once I got my Carruth, it gave me an idea - I quickly took some old too short to fit jointer/planer blades I had and sharpened them up as pure straight scrapers, just on an old crappy delta grinder with the stock fine wheel it came with - I used a diamond flattener on the wheel, then sharpened a concave edge .. they are unreal to use on almost anything - coco, ebony FBs, walnut, figured sapele (all my students now want one), and cheap, easy to make. Made a simple handle for it out of UHMW ...

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Pic?

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Doug

Don't let fear or common sense stop you from trying to build something

And this was the day, that sales of the Carruth Ultimate Scraper dropped by 75%.
Will Mr. Carruth fight back and endorse a circle cutter that does not have "Karol" in the name? Stay tuned for another episode of "As the Luthier Turns."

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Like sub .001" shavings, so are the days of our lives.

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Pat

I'm not sure but what the guys making those scrapers would not welcome a bit of a dip in demand: they'be been impossible to get in touch with for some time now. As for me: I don't get any sort of royalty or commission: i'm just happy I don't have to make the darn things in classes any more. Tere's nothing like puling a red-hot piece of steel out of the furnace and dumping it in a can of oil that's sitting near a pile of shavings....

Darn it Al! Couldn't you help add to the false drama? There hasn't been an exciting, drama filled thread in months!

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

sure ... these are about 4 and 5 inches wide, the blade is about 7/8 or so ... you can even sharpen the actual jointer edge side, doesnt even need to be the full thickness, once you get a bit of a concave edge, say about 1/16, its good to go.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

I've been using one of those cheap Chinese HSS blades as a scraper for a few years. I ground one of the edges into a gentle curve and it works incredibly well for leveling finish drop fill repairs as well. I don't even have to stick the tape on it to act as a depth stop.

Some of the best money I have spent. I have not used my card scraper since I bought mine. I have one that I use only for beveling the edge of my pick guards.

I also like the planer blade idea. i may try that for some of the larger wood projects.

I had emailed Al Carruth asking about the type of steel - on the Stewmac website it just says "tempered steel", which can be lots of stuff. I just received both the regular and mini scrapers in the mail - inside the packaging it says these are made from D2 tool steel which is tough stuff and holds an edge well. After playing with both of these, I think I like the mini best but both are really nice.

Thank you Mr. Carruth for making these tools available to everyone.

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

Anyone not totally in love with their Carruth Ultimate Scraper? I'm interested in picking one up.

I certainly reach for it before my card scrapers.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

1. Get both sizes.
2. Learn how to sharpen them.
3. Enjoy.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Thanks Steve - with StewMax I find my shopping cart just keeps filling itself up - must choose only one, for now...

Then get the big one first.

StewMax is fine but I order this and that all the time. Net net, I but more stuff - guess that's what they figured would happen

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"