scraper plane blade angle

[Ron Petley]

I am started on making a scraper plane (woddie) with a fixed blade angle. I have a scraper blade .042" and plan to build it so I can bend/curve the blade. What sort of angle should I set the blade at? I want to mainly use it for red oak.
I have instructions to place it at 85 degrees but thought I would cast it out here before cutting any wood.
cheers Ron.

[Dave Anderson NH]

Hi Ron, I don't want to be a wet blanket, but I think that at .042 thick the blade will be very difficult to get to flex and will be limitied in how much it is adjustable. You might consider getting a thinner piece of steel for the blade. It is possible that I'm wrong, but it's worth checking out on your own before you invest a lot of time in the plane body.

[Ron Petley]

Dave:
Thanks or the advice I have 3 thickneses .024, .034 amd the .043. What thickness would you use? I was thinking more along the lines like planes the thicker the better. I have the block cut and shaping the handls, but have not started on the blade parts. Cheers Ron.

[Danny Thompson]

FWIW, there are 2 blade options on Lee Valley's Veritas scraper plane. A flexing blade that is 0.055" high-carbon steel, and one that doesn't flex that is 0.125" A2 steel. The bed angle is adjustable from 0-25º.
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&cat=1,310&p=48431

The blade on Lie Nielsen's scraper plane is 0.140" and doesn't flex. To solve the roblem presented by such a thick blade, LN grinds a 45º bevel on the business end, with the bevel toward the back (facing the tote). They recommend starting with a bed angle about 15º forward of vertical.
http://www.lie-nielsen.com/catalog.php?sku=112


Would love to see pics when you get to that point.