Sharpening a #8.5

[Clint deal]

I have a Stanely 8.5 that my father gave me. It is the cabinet srapper plane. Do I sharpen the iron like a regular plane or does it need a burr like a card scrapper. It is sharpened now but I can't get it to work very well at all. Everything else seems to be in great shape and the sole is flat.
Am I just doing something wrong? I set the blade where it is just cathing the wood and it does'nt do any more than srape alittle dust up. Should I be getting curls at least as good as a card crapper?
Thanks for any help
Clint

[John Miliunas]

Clint, I'm not familiar with the 8.5 and I'm a greenhorn to this Neander thing, as well. BUT, even with that, any kind of "scraper" needs to have that wire burr on it. On my LV scraper, the blade is sharpened to 45* and then a burr turned on it. Yes, you should be getting curls, not just dust. :cool:

[Steve Cox]

Clint,

I'm guessing you mean a #85 rabbetting scraper plane. This should give you more info about the tool http://www.supertool.com/StanleyBG/stan10.htm#num85
You are correct in assuming that you should be getting shavings like you would with a cabinet scraper. It is different tuning up these types of scrapers and in my experience a little more work. Read the above info and see if it helps.

[Bob Smalser]

Same method you use on a #80.

http://www.brendlers.net/oldtools/scraping/scraper.htm

http://www.cianperez.com/Wood/WoodDocs/Wood_How_To/INDEX_How_To.htm

[Clint deal]

Sorry, yes it's an 85. I see a dot between the 8 and 5 so I always think of it as an 8.5. The blood and gore site says it's an 85 so that's what it is.
The site on sharpening them is what I needed so thanks for that. it'll help alot. I don't plan on using it enough to wear it out as it's in pretty dang good shape and I want to keep it in good shape but I would like to use it occasionally
Thanks
Clint.

[Clint deal]

Thanks for the help Bob. Great articles. I cleaned, sharpened and burred the blade today. Now that's more like it! This thing really does the trick! I tried it on some really wild Maple and it's smoother than any sandpaper.
If I can keep learning these old ways I'll just quit using that dang dusty paper yet.
Clint