Buy one with the two thumb screws for blade depth adjustment. Loosen the clamping screw in the middle slightly then adjust the depth with the two thumb screws and then tighten the clamping screw.

They're the greatest for smoothing paddle shafts to round cross sections. Adjust one edge of the blade deeper than the other. Then for rounding a shaft it is a combination of varing down pressure, skewing the blade to the direction of pull, and then finding the rignt depth of cut along the varing exposure of the blade. Cut with the wood grain and keep the blade hair shaving sharp. Stanley or Record are both good brands.

I sharpen with sandpaper. http://www.hocktools.com/sharpen.htm and with the Veritas Sharpening System. (the blade is almost too short for the jig) http://www.leevalley.com/woodwork/wood.htm

I wont part with either my spokeshave or my scraper.