Setting Up and Sharpening a #80 Scraper
Setting Up
Whilst working on a flat surface, turn the adjusters to loosen the retaining bar and load the blade into the holder. The 45 degree angle should be facing the back. Pinch the bar and blade against the body of the holder, making sure the cutting edge stays flush with the sole, and tighten the retention setscrews to set the position. Use a scrap piece of wood to check the shavings are of equal thickness on both sides. By adjusting the central thumbscrew in the main body of the scraper, the blade is forced into a slight curve which then causes the blade to flex through the mouth of the sole. Further adjusting a tiny bit at a time enables you to set the depth of cut until shavings appear.
Sharpening
When sharpening the #80 scraper, the angle should be as close to 45° as you can get. With the blade in the vise, use the flat file at a 45° angle using a continuous stroke from one end to another, this creates a smooth, straight edge. To achieve a 45° angle, you can measure and cut a piece of wood as a guide. To see how to make this, see Paul’s video here.
To remove any unwanted burr, place the flat side (non-bevelled) against the super fine plate on the diamond plate and rub back and forth.
Next, flip the scraper so the bevelled side is facing down on a flat solid surface. Then run the burnisher along the face 30 times keeping it flat.
While holding the scraper on end against the workbench pressing down with your hand, use the burnisher against the bevelled edge and pull up 10-20 times, keeping the angle as close to 45° as you can. Make sure you have something to protect your palm from the scraper blade when doing this. For the final few strokes, increase the angle by a few degrees, this will give the scraper the turned edge. Repeat these steps on the other cutting edge if it has a 45° bevel.
Relevant Guides
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Setting Up and Sharpening a #80 Scraper
Setting Up Whilst working on a flat surface, turn the adjusters to loosen the retaining bar and load the blade into the holder. The 45 degree angle should be facing the back. Pinch the bar and blade against the body of the holder, making sure the cutting edge stays flush with the sole, and tighten…
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Using a #80 Scraper
When using the #80 scraper, generally known as the cabinet scraper, the first thing you should do is establish a comfortable grip. It is designed so you can hold the handles and press your thumbs into the back of the centre. This applies the most direct force behind the cutting edge. To lower the blade,…
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Buying a #80 Scraper
Paul found that although the Faithfull #80 Scraper is similar to the Stanley, the blade was thinner and sharpened to the wrong angle. Although this turned out to be easier to sharpen, it didn’t work as well as a thicker plate. The Axminster Rider No. 80 Scraper comes with an extra thick blade which is…
I am preparing my No. 80 scraper blade which is a Hock replacement blade and thicker than most. Should the corners of thicker blades be eased at corners like a plane blade? Or cambered perhaps to prevent digging in at corners?
Many Thanks,
stephen
Hi,
No we don’t round the corners on scrapers because the blade is flexed into the wood and the corners of the scraper blade remain flush with the surface of the holder.
Kind Regards,
Izzy
Hi Lizzy,
Do the thicker blades flex enough in your experience for example with Hock and the thick Rider blades?
Thanks!
srttephen
Hi Stephen,
Paul says:
The Rider blades turned out to be useless (https://paulsellers.com/2018/01/axminsters-80-cabinet-scraper-uh-oh/) because they were too hard to be sharpened and the blade edge could not be turned. I’m sure the Hock irons are fine, because his irons tend not to be too thick but why not just use the existing blade (unless it’s a Rider). Thick irons are of no real value and they take longer to sharpen.
Kind Regards,
Izzy
Hi Folks,
Any reason not to use a honing guide for No. 80 irons? At a projection of about 17mm it produces a 45 degree beveI and I noticed you use one on the thinner blades/irons in the article: “FAITHFULL #80 BENCH CABINET SCRAPERS OK”. I’m assuming just to be careful not to overnight and bend the blade/iron in the honing guide?
Many Thanks,
Stephen
Hi Stephen,
Pauls says:
Often you can’t get them in the honing guide because the blade is too short. Secondly, the honing guide bends the plate into a curve and therefore the blade comes out convex along the edge rendering it useless. The truth is, if you don’t bend it there’s not enough holding power in the guide.
Kind Regards,
Izzy
Hi,
I recently bought a Rider #80 cabinet scraper from Axminster and received it today.
It is listed as a new product and does seem to have been redesigned:
It comes in a plain cardboard box with no instructions.
The blade is now made of a single piece of steel, (not laminated), that can be sharpened with files.
It is supplied ground to the correct angle of 45 degrees.
It is still a thick blade which means you can use a honing guide to set the bevel angle without bending it.
I paid £23.98 for it, so it is still a good price.
Axminster seem to have addressed all of the issues that Paul had with the original except one, it is still called a Rider No. 80 Scraper Plane.
Regards,
Kim