Accu-Burr burnishing rods

Produce the perfect edge on your card scrapers in no time flat.

Author: Carl Duguay

A burnishing rod (also called a burnisher) is used to create and refine the cutting edge on a card scraper. It’s a hardened, polished rod made from steel or carbide that is rubbed along the edge of the scraper to turn a small, sharp burr. This burr acts as a cutting edge that allows the scraper to remove fine shavings from wood, producing a smooth surface.

A card scraper is a thin, rectangular piece of hardened steel used for smoothing surfaces and removing fine shavings from wood, especially when working with difficult grain. It’s a simple but highly effective tool that can produce a glass-smooth finish, often outperforming sandpaper. It’s also very effective for scraping away dried glue without damaging the wood.

The key to preparing a card scraper for use is applying controlled pressure at the right angle to form a consistent burr. And this is what the Accu-Burr burnisher enables you to do exceedingly well.

MANUFACTURER: Union Manufacturing Co.
MODEL: Accu-Burr
PRICE: $55 to $97
MADE IN: USA
SOURCE: Leevalley.com

KEY FEATURES:

Manufactured from ground carbide.
Available as unhandled 3″ and 4″ rods and 5-1/4″ brass handled rod.
Enables you to produce a 5, 10 or 15 degree burr.
Works with scrapers that have widths from 0.010″ up to 0.100″

The5e are 5 models of Accu-Burr burnishing rods. Three of these are available in Canada from Lee Valley:

The AB1 and AB2 rods come unhandled — you can use them as is or add your own custom handles. Use the AB1 for card scrapers up to .100″ thick. For thicker scrapers, such as those found on cabinet scrapers, use the AB2. The JR1 burnisher is the AB1 rod fitted with a pair of beautifully turned brass handles.

These rods are made from ground carbide, which makes them stronger than steel but also more brittle, so be careful not to drop them on a concrete shop floor.

What sets these burnishers apart is their three precision-ground V-shaped grooves, each at a specific angle. This design allows you to roll a fine (5°), medium (10°), or coarse (15°) burr. The burr forms on both edges of the scraper at the same time. I typically roll a 5° burr on one side of a scraper, then flip it over and roll a 10° burr on the other, giving me four scraping edges with a choice between fine and medium burrs. I keep a second scraper prepared with medium and coarse burrs.

Using the Accu-Burr is simple. Secure your scraper in a vise, select the groove for the burr size you want, and draw the rod forward or backward across the scraper’s edge. That’s it. Apply moderate downward pressure and let the burnisher do the work—two or three passes are enough to create the burr. Check for the burr by running your fingernail along the scraper’s edge. The Accu-Burr works on all scraper shapes, including rectangular, oval, concave, and convex.

I’ve used the Accu-Burr on both thin and thick scrapers with excellent results. However, starting with a well-prepared scraper is essential. If you’re unsure how to do this, check out “The cabinet scraper: low tech tool – high performance results“.

If you use card or cabinet scrapers regularly, an Accu-Burr is a worthwhile addition to your toolkit. It provides excellent leverage and control without being cumbersome, striking a perfect balance between strength and ease of use.