{"id":15162,"date":"2015-10-12T19:56:47","date_gmt":"2015-10-13T00:56:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.prairiewoodbasketry.com\/?p=15162"},"modified":"2016-03-22T13:44:27","modified_gmt":"2016-03-22T18:44:27","slug":"scarfing-the-rim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.prairiewoodbasketry.com\/index.php\/2015\/10\/12\/scarfing-the-rim\/","title":{"rendered":"Scarfing the Rim"},"content":{"rendered":"

Preparing Your Rims<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scarfing or shaving down your rim pieces will give a polished look to your basket. The goal of scarfing is to make the section where the two ends overlap the thickness of a single piece. When done well, it is difficult to find the join.<\/p>\n

This can be done\u00a0in a\u00a0number of ways with several different tools. Many weavers use a sharp knife and put a piece of thick leather on their lap to protect themselves. Others\u00a0use a trim plane or a pocket plane or a Stanley Surform Shaver and shave on a cutting board. When I\u00a0am traveling, I use the Xacto\u00a0Scraper with square (box) blade or my wood scorp and a small cutting board.\u00a0However, when I am in my studio, I use my favorite tools – a draw knife and a shave pony. \u00a0Whatever you use, be sure it is sharp!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n

<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/div><\/div>\n

Scarfing your Rim<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rim material is usually flat oval or half round. It can be wet or dry when scarfing, depending on personal preference.<\/p>\n

First,\u00a0cut a piece of rim material for the inside rim and the outside rim. The outside rim will be the outside\u00a0diameter of your basket (on the rim row) plus about 4-5 inches. The inside rim pieces will be the inside diameter of your basket (on the rim row) plus about\u00a03-4\u00a0inches.<\/p>\n

Put the outside piece around the basket and mark where they overlap.
\n\"rim1\"<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \"rim2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Mark on the top of the piece that slides under and on the under side of the piece that sits on top.<\/p>\n

\"rim3\"<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 \"rim4\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Next\u00a0prepare the\u00a0inside piece of rim material. Put the piece\u00a0around the inside of the basket along the rim row. If you are working dry keep the rounded side against the basket for measuring and marking.\u00a0Mark on the top of the piece that slides under and on the under side of the piece that sits on top.<\/p>\n

Now that both pieces are marked, you will shave them down.\u00a0You will only shave the side that is marked, this\u00a0means one end will be shaved on the flat side and the other will be shaved on the oval or round side. If you are using a\u00a0drawknife work with the beveled side down.<\/p>\n

\"rim6\"<\/a> \"rim5\"<\/a><\/p>\n

After shaving,\u00a0trim and sand the end that will be on the outside and your rims are ready to add to your basket.<\/p>\n

\"rim7\"<\/a> \"rim8\"<\/a><\/p>\n

For a\u00a0tutorial on scarfing with a plane check out The Basketmakers Catalog’s How to Make a Perfect Scarf Joint for Your Rims<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Where to get These Tools<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stanley Surform Shaver and planes can be purchased at your local hardware store. The Xacto scraper with square or box blade can be purchased from most basket supply and woodworking stores.\u00a0Many basket shops have shave ponies. My favorite shave pony design\u00a0is available\u00a0from East Troy Basketry<\/a> for $40 \u00a0The draw\u00a0knife that I use and love,\u00a0PFEIL “Swiss Made” Carver’s Drawknife,\u00a0<\/span>is available from Amazon.<\/p>\n

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A word about draw knifes:<\/p>\n

I am on my second drawknife. Years and years ago, I spent a chunk of money on a beautiful \u00a0knife. I used it until I broke one of the walnut handles off -it probably had a lifetime warranty, but I have no idea where I bought it. \u00a0So, it wasn’t too long ago that I\u00a0found myself shopping for a new one. I looked at a lot of drawknifes. I found one that I thought was perfect, but choked at \u00a0price tag. So\u00a0bought one that I thought would be sufficient and was\u00a0less than half the price. After spending an afternoon preparing rims before dying them for classes, I realized it was money wasted. \ud83d\ude41 My hands were sore, the blade didn’t slide through the material and the finish on the rims was less than perfect. So that evening I went online and ordered the perfect one. \u00a0And yes, it is perfect. \u00a0I prepped bunches of rims the other day – wow, what a difference having the right tools make. So don’t waste your money and buy a cheap drawknife, it will be a mistake.<\/p>\n

Click on the photos to see it on Amazon.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n

<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Another about wood scorps:<\/p>\n

I love my wood scorp. \u00a0When I am home it sits on a small block of wood on my weaving table. \u00a0I use it all the time to shave down the overlaps on flat oval weavers. \u00a0One or two scrapes and it’s done. \u00a0I have two, the one on my table and one in my travel tool bag. \u00a0They are pricey, but worth it.<\/p>\n

*The scorp is no longer available from Amazon, but I found it at the Woodcraft store … click on the photo and it should bring you there.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>