Back in 2010 I purchased a bulk lot of scrapers via eBay US. At that stage the Australian & US $’s made such purchases good value. Even including postage, each scraper cost me only just over $8. I’m now seeing examples on eBay going from $A90-$A150.
Amongst the haul were two Stanley No.82 scrapers. These were identical except one had a 1907 patent date on it and the other had the angle adjustment screw replaced with a small bolt & nut.
About the No.82
The No. 82 has a 14 1/2-inch long tool featuring a blade holder, a long wooden handle, and a wooden front knob. The handle can be tilted to adjust the blade angle, allowing for better control and pressure application compared to other designs.
The handle is secured in place or released for tilting by a thumb screw located just behind the blade holder. This thumb screw passes through a slotted, arc-shaped piece, which has four notches to set the blade at one of four angles.
Both the handle and the knob are made of maple, while the cast iron frame is finished with black japanning. The blade clamping mechanism, free from obstructions on either side, enables the tool to hold blades of any width. This design makes it especially useful for scraping in hard-to-reach areas that other scrapers cannot access.
The No.82 was produced from 1907 and redesigned in the early 1930’s before being discontinued in 1958
My Scrapers
I only have a blade in one of them. But any scraper blade could be used. The blade I do have is marked with the Stanley sweetheart logo.
The one with a patent date is the more complete – having the original angle adjusting thumbscrew.
Both are well used with around 70% japanning.
Uses
One advantage of the Stanley Scraper No. 82 over hand-held scraper blades is its dual adjustability. First, you can set the angle of the blade edge relative to the handle using the hinged arm. Then, you can adjust the angle of the entire tool by lifting or lowering the long handle during use. This allows you to maximize the variable advantage of the hook on the edge for more or less cut, finely controlled by pulling on the long handle and pressing on the front knob. Such instant adjustment in the middle of a stroke enhances its versatility.
With a sharp burr, the scraper easily cleans up glue lines without tearing the wood grain, even if the glue has dried overnight and become hard. Leveling string inlay is a breeze, and eliminating slight misalignments between laminated boards takes just a couple of pulls. It’s an incredibly versatile tool.
A wing-handled scraper can’t get into inside surfaces. A frame-bodied scraper can’t get into corners. The Stanley Scraper No. 82 excels in these situations.
It’s also considered a good paint scraper. The long handle is handy when working on a ladder, the knob allows you to apply hard pressure for tough spots, and the adjustable head angle is helpful for dealing with different surfaces.