Stanley #51 Blade angle

[Lee Schierer]

I just came into possession of a Stanly #51. Is this a scraper or a type of spoke shave?

The iron looks like it was hand sharpened. What is the correct configuration of the iron cutting edge? Should it be sharpened like a scraper or like a plane iron?

[Pedro Reyes]

It is a spokeshave, blade bevel down like on a standard bench plane.

Pedro

[Prashun Patel]

+1: sharpen it like a plane or chisel. I am usually using these for roughing cuts and am less concerned with tearout due to figure, so I keep mine at 25 degrees.

[Lee Schierer]

Thanks guys. I guess I need to spend some time with my glass plate scary sharp set up. Hopefully my blade holder can grip this short blade.

[James Pallas]

Lee
The spokeshave is a handy tool. I use mine a good bit. Paul Sellers has an instructional for making a holder to sharpen with. I don't use one. I sharpen sideways on the stone with good luck. I usually go up to my 13000 grit stone. I have found that it chatters a bit sometimes, probably my technique and the oak I work with a lot. I do try to sharpen at about 30 degrees or a little better, that seems to help with the chatter some. Once you get the hang of it the tool is good for cleaning up curved work concave or convex.
Jim

[Lee Schierer]

I sharpened up the iron with a 30 degree angle and was able to get some pretty thin poplar shavings after a couple of adjustments. It isn't likely that it will see a great deal of use as I do mostly flat work, but you never know.