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Tool:Mike Dunbar-Style ScorpShop Now
Manufacturer: Barr Tools
MSRP: $170
Barr Tools out of Boise, Idaho has a reputation for making high-quality, hand forged tools. I first heard of Barr Tools when I saw a video from David Barron, showing his Barr Quarton-forged Cabinet Maker’s Chisels. Now, Barr’s not made the cabinet maker’s chisel for awhile (though, I keep asking every time I email them), but the quality of the tools that Barr makes has not wavered. I have a large framing chisel from Barr, so I knew what I was getting when I ordered a scorp for an upcoming chair project.
The scorp, as seen above, was a literal razor blade when it arrived. This scorp is designed based on a Mike Dunbar style, and is a 4“ diameter. This plays well with the Allan Williams travisher I showed in the last issue. If you’ve never seen a travisher in use, it’s a sight to behold. The travisher is the scrub plane of the chair building world—it quickly removes material and can leave as rough or polished a surface as you’d like. Small cuts off this Barr scorp leave a beautifully textured surface, ready for refinement or finishing.
As with all Barr tools, this scorp is hand-forged. This means that there is occasionally a wait for the tools, but trust me, it’s worth it. Buying a hand-forged tool from a craftsman that’s at the top of their game is something that everyone owes themselves at least once in their lifetime.
Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality.
