In this article, I’m going to show you an amazing tool that will make it way faster and easier to sharpen your scrapers with scary-sharp burrs.
The tool is called the Accu-Burr.
Scrapers are some of my favorite tools. I use them every day, and my guitar-building process depends heavily on them.
They’re amazingly useful for figured and wild grain woods and provide unmatched subtly and control for things like:
- Finessing subtle graduations
- Leveling binding & purfling
- Refining graceful curves
- And so much more
But, If sharpening your scrapers is even a little bit of a struggle, then my guess is that you might not be using them very much, if at all.
That’s where the Accu-Burr comes in.
It just might be the missing piece of your scraper sharpening tool set that will help you unlock all the power and benefits of your scrapers.
(Especially the curved and very small ones – more on that later)
As with any tool, there are a few tricks to getting the best results from it.
That’s why I’ll also show you the simple system I now use to sharpen my scrapers using the Accu-Burr so that you’ll know exactly how to use it if you decide to try it.
Let’s dive in.
Card Scrapers & Sharpening
If you’ve been using scrapers for a while already or if you’ve taken advantage of my super in-depth guide and video on card scrapers, then you might already have a good understanding of how scrapers work and how to sharpen them.
If you’re brand new to using scrapers or haven’t seen those resources yet, then I highly recommend you check them out:
The methods I use and explain in the article and video are rock-solid systems I’ve used for 25+ years.
But no system is perfect, and there was always one little thing that bothered me: the awkwardness of sharpening the smaller and curved shapes of my most used scrapers.
Fortunately, that’s one area where the Accu-Burr really shines.
What Is The Accu-Burr?
The Accu-Burr is a new type of scraper burnisher that makes it easier than ever to get consistent razor-sharp burrs on your scrapers.
Most scraper burnishers are made of a carbide rod that is held on an angle to turn or draw out the burr. (See my video here for more on this)
The Accu-Burr is made of a high-quality American-made carbide rod with three precision-ground v-shaped grooves. These grooves create fine, medium, or coarse burrs (5°, 10°, or 15°) on both sides of a prepared scraper edge.
This design makes it easier than ever to put an accurate burr angle on both sides of the scraper at the same time.
The best part is that it is fantastic for curved scrapers and even my little oval scraper, which I use constantly for things like fine-tuning the recurve areas on my archtops and much more.
Benefits I’ve Found Using The Accu-Burr:
- Super easy to use
- Consistent & accurate bevel angle
- Great control & finesse for small scrapers
- Perfect for curved or odd-shaped scrapers
- Sharpens both sides of your scraper at once
The Accu-Burr comes in several different models:
I’m using the Accu-Burr Junior model, which I love the feel and look of. It has a high-quality, beautiful aesthetic that reminds me of my Lie Nelson low-angle 102 block plane.
Hopefully, It’ll have a similar worn-in patina in a few years for an even better match.
How I use the Accu-Burr
This tool is about as simple as it gets, but I have found a few tips that have helped me get the best results in the least amount of time.
I’ll admit, there are some shortcuts I take from time to time when I get lazy or if I’m just in a hurry (see my video here for more on that), but the steps below are what I do most often now and are what give me the best results when using the Accu-Burr.
(Even when I complete the entire process below, the whole thing only takes about 5 minutes.)
Step 1 – Clean & Smooth The Sides
I like sandpaper because I can work dry. It’s also great because when I tape it down around the edges, it creates a subtle angle to the scraper and helps to sand the very edge where the burr is – see the image below.
(You might have seen the ruler trick for this, but the tape is much easier in this case and as simple as can be)
I’m looking for a smooth feel when I touch it and a smooth scratch pattern along the whole edge when I look at it under light and magnification.
Step 2 – Smooth & Polish The Edge
Look at the light reflection along the edge under magnification to ensure that it is smooth and even.
I follow this with my old “medium” stone for a quick polish. I find that the Accu-Burr does a much better job of drawing a more durable and sharper burr when the edge is polished rather than just sanded at 1000 grit.
Then, I check again with light and magnification to look for an even, square, and polished edge.
Step 3 – Draw Out The Burr
Now, we get to the fun part!
I put the scraper in my vice, which always has a layer of 1/8″ cork double stick taped to the inside of the jaws.
The cork lining is great for many things, but it also makes it easier to grip even the smallest scrapers.
I apply a single drop of 3-n-1 Oil to the Accu-Burr groove that I will be using (I most often use the 15° groove). The oil really makes a big difference; it feels smoother and seems to work better, too.
I run the Accu-Burr across the scraper as many times as needed until I can feel the burr on both sides of the edge.
I have seen videos of people using it online, and they seem to use very few passes and very little pressure. But, I get my best results when I use a good amount of force and move slowly and steadily across the edge.
It’s a controlled but strong force, the same dynamic tension I use when French Polishing.
Like all things in guitar making, it’s important to experiment to find the amount of pressure and number of passes that work best for you.
And that’s it.
It’s a really clean and straightforward process that produces fantastic results.
After 25+ years of guitar building, I rarely find a new tool like the Accu-Burr that makes such a difference and instantly becomes part of my workflow.
Speaking of new tools and stuff, If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out my Ultimate Guide To Luthier Tools and Download the Free PDF.
Special Thanks & Final Thoughts
Before we wrap up, I have to say a special thanks to you guys in the Luthier’s EDGE for telling me about this great tool. I can always count on you guys in the EDGE and all of you help me to keep learning and growing along with you.
I hope you found this Article helpful, and if you decide to try the Accu-Burr, let me know how it goes for you.
As always, if you have any questions I can help with, don’t hesitate to comment below and let me know.
