How to Sharpen a Windshield Ice Scraper
by thunderwaldo in Workshop > Tools
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How to Sharpen a Windshield Ice Scraper
This Instructable sounded more like a punch line to either of two bad jokes:
1. How do you know you’ve lived in a northern climate too long?
2. How do you know you’re cheap?
Regardless, over the years, I had grown rather fond of a particular window ice scraper, due to its design which included both a brush and a second handle to accommodate two-handed scraping (a must in the dead-of-winter Michigan mornings, due to the fact that my garage stores far too many tools and projects to ever consider using it for parking cars). However, this November, I had noticed that the blade had become nicked and dull, rendering the tool rather ineffective in removing frost from my windshield.
1. How do you know you’ve lived in a northern climate too long?
2. How do you know you’re cheap?
Regardless, over the years, I had grown rather fond of a particular window ice scraper, due to its design which included both a brush and a second handle to accommodate two-handed scraping (a must in the dead-of-winter Michigan mornings, due to the fact that my garage stores far too many tools and projects to ever consider using it for parking cars). However, this November, I had noticed that the blade had become nicked and dull, rendering the tool rather ineffective in removing frost from my windshield.
Get to Work!
Realizing that there had to be a solution present somewhere in the aforementioned garage, I set off to sharpen my ice scraper blade using the following equipment:
• Sandpaper, assorted grit (I used 100, 150, and 240 grit);
• Sanding blocks (a hand sander and a piece of scrap wood); and
• A dull ice scraper.
• Sandpaper, assorted grit (I used 100, 150, and 240 grit);
• Sanding blocks (a hand sander and a piece of scrap wood); and
• A dull ice scraper.
Sharpening - This Will Look Familiar
Anybody who has sharpened a chisel or other sharp object will quickly recognize this technique.
First, I attached the coarsest sandpaper to the sanding block. This is done to create a firm, flat surface to accommodate even sharpening.
Next, I started sharpening by laying the scraper blade across the sandpaper at the same angle as the bevel of the blade, and rubbed side to side, applying light to moderate pressure. I then sanded the underside of the blade, also applying light to moderate pressure. I repeated this process until the noticeable nicks were sanded away.
I repeated using the 150 grit sandpaper, then finished using the 240 grit sandpaper, until the blade felt uniformly sharp and smooth.
First, I attached the coarsest sandpaper to the sanding block. This is done to create a firm, flat surface to accommodate even sharpening.
Next, I started sharpening by laying the scraper blade across the sandpaper at the same angle as the bevel of the blade, and rubbed side to side, applying light to moderate pressure. I then sanded the underside of the blade, also applying light to moderate pressure. I repeated this process until the noticeable nicks were sanded away.
I repeated using the 150 grit sandpaper, then finished using the 240 grit sandpaper, until the blade felt uniformly sharp and smooth.
Sharper Than Woodpecker Lips!
Viola! The scraper worked worlds better after a quick 15 minutes in the shop.
Postscript: Apparently, window scrapers aren't meant to last forever. On a particularly cold Michigan January morning, the blade snapped in two. It didn't have anything to do with the sharpening. The plastic was old and brittle and I was being a bit too aggressive. The technique definitely worked!
Postscript: Apparently, window scrapers aren't meant to last forever. On a particularly cold Michigan January morning, the blade snapped in two. It didn't have anything to do with the sharpening. The plastic was old and brittle and I was being a bit too aggressive. The technique definitely worked!