A couple years ago I started using metal scrapers to remove finish while filling the pores on a stock. Sometimes a scraper will cut perfectly and I can scrape a whole stock in a short time and sometimes it takes me two or three times longer to get all the finished scraped off. I'm guesing my sharpening technique sucks and I'm not getting the scrapers sharpened the same each time. I can feel a burr on each scraper when I'm done sharpening, but they don't cut the same.
I bought the scrapers at a local store and they did not carry burnishers. Somewhere, maybe here, I read that you could use an old engine valve stem to turn up the burr and that is what I have been using.
Anybody have any suggestions on how to fix what I'm doing wrong? And, what would be the average time for scraping a coat of finish off?
Thanks

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And, what would be the average time for scraping a coat of finish off

Depends

Here is a youtube of how I do mine. (not me in the video )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKZWqdPFul8

To me the key is the prep. Make a light burr and resharpen as needed.

This is my burnisher
http://www.rockler.com/product...ge=9949&site=ROCKLER

If you try and create too much of a burr the edge will start to roll in on itself.(might be your issue) You feel the burr but the edge will not cut worth a darn.

Ramrod thanks for the link. I'm no wood worker so any little tip helps.

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Ramrod thanks for the link

Turn the burr out (sharp edge) with one stroke per each edge. Don't keep going back and forth over the edge w/the burnisher trying to make the burr bigger. It just deforms it, forms an uneven edge and eventually turns it over. In all cases it doesn't cut as well,,if at all in the latter.

A burnisher can be any hardened piece of steel. As long as it's absolutely smooth. Any nicks or tiny scratches in it will deform the burr when it's turned out. That leaves the cutting edge with a nick, groove or dull spot in it and it will show in the wood surface everytime you pull the scraper accrossed it.
Keep the top edge of the scraper square to the sides and the better the polish the better the finish on the wood as with any scraper or chisel.
They take some getting used to. But when tuned right,,they can do an awful lot of work in a short period of time.

MANY thanks. From the video, I'm certain I have been rolling the burr over. Never occured to me that could happen. Also I never thought about looking on youtube, guess I'm not computer literate enough. I figured the bigger the burr the better. I was making three or four passes and using way too much pressure when forming the burr. I also noticed he was using a lot more pressure when scraping the wood than I was. Can't wait until the next finishing job comes along.
Again, thanks for the responses

You tube can be a good resource but it can also be your worst enemy. Be careful of the advice given on youtube. if the guy doesn't look like he knows what he's doing ignore it.

Start out with an appropriate scraper as far as shape , hardened of course. Stone the working edge smooth , square and sharp.
Many things can be used as a burnisher , as mentioned , as long as it's hard ,and polished, and round.Start with the burnisher square to the scraper work the length of the scraper with a good bit of pressure .As you work the burnisher is tilted slighly, bit by bit,ending with about a 45* angle.What you end up with is a burr that ,properly used [scraper angled to wood etc] with shave off a layer of wood exactly like a wood plane !!
It takes a little practice to form the burr and do the scraping just right.Just scraping off finish shouldn't require quite as much hook on the scraper.Work with the grain.
It's been a long time but I once could do a fine job and it was a pleasure to see a long continuous curl of wood being formed.