Hock Scratch Stock

Scratch stocks are one of the most popular and certainly the easiest way of adding a molding or any profile to your work. It's also easy to make a scratch stock profile the face of a piece or go around a curve, tasks that router bits and molding planes can't always do.

Essentially a scratch stock is an L-shaped block of wood that holds a thin steel cutter. The cutter’s end is shaped to match the profile you want to create. To use the scratch stock, you scrape the cutter over the wood surface, much like you would with a card scraper. By making multiple passes, the cutter gradually "scratches" the desired profile into the wood. For the first few passes, ensure the scratch stock is pressed firmly against the edge of the workpiece. As the profile forms, the cutter will follow its own path, making it easier to control. Since there’s no depth stop, you’ll need to monitor how deep you’re cutting and stop once the profile reaches the desired depth.

Why choose a scratch stock over a fancier tool? First, scratch stock cutters can be ground to create almost any profile you need, including those not available with router bits. This is especially useful when replicating a period profile or repairing a section of antique molding. Second, a scratch stock can be a more economical option compared to purchasing a router bit, especially if you only need a small amount of molding. Finally, a scratch stock is versatile and can be used on round or curved workpieces, which may be challenging to shape with a router..

Hock scratch stocks are made from tough, wear-resistant bamboo plywood. Two spring steel blades are included, one of which has a quirk-bead shape cut into it, to get you started. Just hone the profile flat on a stone to remove any small burr left over from production and you are ready to rock. The quirk-bead is just a start, you can file just about any profile on any of the four edges of both the included blades.

The body measures 3/4" x 1-1/2" x 4-3/4", the blue-tempered spring steel blades are .050" by 3/4 x 1-3/4"