Instantly, I appreciated the level of care Melbourne Tools goes to in packaging their products. Like the MTC Spokeshaves I reviewed some time ago, the packaging is not only attractive looking, but the snug fitting foam surround ensures that no matter how rigorous the shipping process may be, the tool will arrive in your hands undamaged.

But, with that said as soon as you hold it in your hands you quickly realize how robust the body is. So much so you immediately know this is definitely not a tool you want to drop on your toes. By comparison to a Stanley No. 80, the MTC Cabinet Scraper is very similar in shape and size, however, there are a number of standout features.

Setting up the MTC Cabinet Scraper is an absolute breeze, by loosening the knobs on the back to lower the blade into position and tightening the attractive knurled brass knob on the front you are in business right out of the box. One handy feature of the set up is the 70mm Carbon Steel blade is double sided and allows you to flip the blade over for a second sharp edge. Meaning no loss in momentum having to go and resharpen the blade when trying to complete a task.

Speaking of the blade, one simplistic, yet well thought out feature, is the blade tucks nicely into the body of the cabinet scraper and doesn’t protrude like other models where the sharp corners are just waiting to catch you by surprise. Immediately after setting up the blade you get lovely wispy curls off of the wood, with a simple turn of the brass knob you can take a heavier curl or right down to a fine dust. Ultimately leaving your surface beautifully smooth and ready for finish. Even super dense or figured woods come out gorgeous after only a few passes.

Most cabinet scrapers over the years, with the exception of a select few have had all metal/cast iron handles, which ergonomically fit well in the hands, but after extensive use can get wearing on the palms. The MTC Cabinet Scraper alleviates this burden with their signature cork inserts. Which don’t get me wrong, when I first saw the cork on the spokeshaves I questioned the durability, but after hours of use and abuse with my at times sweaty hands, the cork remains in excellent shape and shows absolutely no signs of degradation.

The handles themselves are minutely shorter than the No.80, which at first I wasn’t a fan of, but then had to remind myself the MTC Cabinet Scraper isn’t a direct copy, it’s an improvement on an old classic. After some usage I started to realize the slightly shorter handles allowed for a more natural and comfortable grip as the palms had more of an angled approach in relation to the wood versus a parallel style grip needed with older models with longer handles. This slight change in grip redistributes the pressure off of the wrists allowing for a much more comfortable experience.

If I were to have any complaint, and this is honestly extremely minor, I wish there was a hole in the handle so I could easily hang or take down the cabinet scraper off my tool wall. Sure I don’t mind creating a little holder for it, but a simple hole in the handle for hanging would make for a nice touch to this already well thought out improvement on a classic tool.

Overall, I’m in love with the MTC Cabinet Scraper, but as I said, I LOVE cabinet scrapers, so much so I want to get my hands on more of them, not that I need more than one, but I WANT more. I truly do think cabinet scrapers are one of the most underrated tools in the shop, and at a price point of $75 CAD, with a limited lifetime warranty, this is a sure fire way for any woodworker to get in on the joy that is using one.