Making a budget hide scraper

Cutting out the curve.

In this blog we will look at making a simple, portable hide scraping tool for dry scraping once an animal hide has been mounted in a frame after initial processing.

There are tools already available for this purpose which can be purchased, however, they can be expensive, or you may only wish to work a couple of hides or simply prefer to make your own for short term use.

On modern hide scrapers the steel used is generally around 4mm thick tool steel with a single bevel on the top side with the underside being flat. The bevel is approximately 30 degrees.

We will be making a portable head which can then be mounted on some timber for use at home or carried into the wilds and lashed on to a round of timber for use in the woods.

What you'll need for the project.
What you’ll need for the project.

You will need an angle bracket, hacksaw or angle grinder, metal file, marker pen, bowl to draw round, sandpaper, wet and dry paper if available, 5 screws approximately 18mm in length and ideally a clamp to secure the workpiece.

I have chosen to use a galvanised angle bracket from Screwfix 60mm x 60mm x 40mm wide as I had one spare in my shed. Despite only being 2mm thick this will suffice for short term use.

Firstly, you will need to make out your desired head shape using the marker pen. I drew round a suitably sized bowl for this.

Drawing the shape.
Drawing the shape.

Secondly using the hacksaw or grinder (if you have one) cut out the basic head shape after having secured the bracket to a workbench or table for safety.

Cutting out the curve.
Cutting out the curve.

Next clean up the cut you have just made using the metal file as required.

Be careful to ensure that the head shape is suitably rounded on the corners so it will not penetrate the hide whilst you are scraping.

You are now ready to begin sharpening the head using the metal file.

On this scraper I have beveled both edges to form the scraping edge. This is simply because the metal is only 2mm thick and remember this is a simple budget scraper that you can easily make and use at home with minimal expense.

Once the edge has been sharpened using the file use some finer sandpaper on a sanding block to further develop the edge. I suggest 120 grit working through to 320 grit.

You can then use wet and dry paper to continue this process if you wish working on to the higher grits.

You could also use a sharpening stone or field sharpener such as the Fallkniven DC4 before moving on to final stropping as you would with other bladed tools.

This will take some time of course to achieve your desired edge.

Creating the edge on the scraper.
Creating the edge on the scraper.

My chosen handle shape drawn out from a piece of scrap wood for home use.

Adding a handle.
Adding a handle.

There are numerous handle options depending on where you are working the hide.

In the woods you can select a suitable round, split the top section approximately 10cm, insert the head you have made and lash it on securely ready for use and carve the round so that it becomes comfortable in your hands ready for work.

When the improvised scraper edge becomes dull you will need to pause whilst you re-establish the edge.

Alternative handle idea.
Alternative handle idea.

The handle attached using the 5 screws. This handle is fine for use in my hands. You can customise your own to suit your own comfort needs.

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