How do I pick a Spokeshave?

[WoodChuckWoods]

im am going to purchase my first spokeshave(s) and i  am not sure which one to get, price is not really a factor i just want the best one i can get and ive never used one before. so what are you all using?

 

[ShawnRussell]

Best to try them out.  I tried the LN, Veritas, and a wooden spoke shave and for my hands and body mechanics; I really preferred the LN Boggs spokeshave. And that is for both the curve and flat bottom ones.

 

[Guy Ashley]

I have used a number of different spokeshaves over the years and have now both the flat bottom and curved bottom LN Boggs Spokeshaves and they are perfect.

The trick with a spokeshave is proper set up and a sharp blade. The LN blade is thick and prevents chatter which does put some people off spokeshaves.

Once you set them up, then you will find them a breeze.

 

[Mac]

I use a Lie Nielsen Boggs too (curved bottom) and it's a really lovely tool.  Having said that, I've picked up some old wooden ones from ebay too and once sharpened they do an amazing job for light work.  Even the old stanley's do fine when sharp.

Cheers,
Rick

 

[davee]

I have the Veritas Flat, Round and Concave Spokeshave set and like them very much.  I found the flat one to be very intuitive to use from the start, while the other two took a bit more practice to be proficient. As others mention, the key is to have them very sharp. 

 

[Dave Schwarzkopf]

My favorites are Dave's shaves or one made by Russ Filbeck:

http://www.ncworkshops.com/products.html

http://www.russfilbeck.net/spokeshave.html

Though there are times when I reach for these:

http://www.woodjoytools.com/

or

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=49142&cat=1,50230&ap=1  (I've heard plenty of folks get great results out of the inexpensive wooden bodied ones that they also offer for sale)

or these:

http://www.lie-nielsen.com/catalog.php?cat=514    (I like their metal versions better than their new woody)

and to confuse matters further, Clifton makes a special purpose pair, (concave/convex), Terry Gordon, (HNT Gordon, Australia) makes some beautiful spokeshaves that are exceptional for hard/cranky timber, and the Windsor Workshop also has a few offerings from the UK.  I'm not a big fan of the Japanese style of spokeshave as they're just not comfortable for me.  Any of the new offerings by Kunz and Stanley will just make you angry, though I've heard plenty of folks rehab pre WWII Stanleys with great success, (not my cup of tea).

Sorry for the long list, just wanted you to know about your options.

To make a long story short; I have way too many of these things, but each has its idiosyncrasies that make it excel for certain tasks.  I could be humming right along using one of Dave's Shaves, then hit an area where the LN, Woodjoy or LV is better suited, (I've never really focused on why, I'll just keep trying different ones 'til I start getting good shavings and less tear out).  It could just be me, (user error), but they're moody little things; like everyone has already mentioned, the sharper the better.

Just an FYI, despite having large handles, you're not supposed to grab 'em fully with your hands and start heaving/cranking away.  The 'preferred' grip is pinching right behind or beside the blade w/ only your thumb and pointer finger.  Oh, one more tip.  Lots of folks cant the blade from one side to the other so on one side you can get a whisper thin shaving and the other can do larger work; that way you don't have to adjust the blade from shaping through finish stages.

One last thing; if you find yourself far down the spokeshave slope, these come in handy!

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=51504&cat=1,50230&ap=1

Dave

 

[mouppe]

The veritas one was my first and to date only one I have used. I got good results straight out of the box after a little honing. It comes with shims for closing the throat which are very useful.

I can recommend it to beginners based on my little experience.

P.s. I remember Garrett Hack showing me he had 19 (!) spokeshaves.

 

[Mac]

P.s. I remember Garrett Hack showing me he had 19 (!) spokeshaves.

A skillful name drop Mr Leon...is there an interesting story behind this?  [smile]

I have to say that I find them quite addictive, I don't know why. Woodguy's to blame, he let me borrow one of his and I got the bug! Anyway, here's my collection so far...all set up slightly differently and all used more often than you'd think!

[attachthumb=#]

 

[Dave Schwarzkopf]

Mac,

Is that nifty looking feller right below the Lie Nielsen vintage, or from some place that still offers them for sale?

Dave

 

[Mac]

Hi Dave,

Yeah, that's an old vintage one, but these look fairly similar?  If you keep your eye on ebay similar ones crop up fairly often though.

http://thebestthings.com/newtools/woodjoy_spokeshaves.htm

Cheers,
Rick

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Hey Mac,
That's a sweet collection of spokeshaves!

I have the LN flat and concave shaves, and the LV low angle.  Will probably get more.  Its a mystery to me, but I will struggle with one shave and pick up another than cuts the same wood like butter.

I love shaping a curve with a spokeshave, can't describe the feeling, but its as good as it gets in woodworking, at least for me...

Suggest you try several.  Its all about comfort and fit to your style.  I'm sure if you get a LN or LV and don't love it, there would be no problem returning it or selling it for darn near what you paid.

 

[waho6o9]

My favorites are Dave's shaves or one made by Russ Filbeck:

http://www.ncworkshops.com/products.html

http://www.russfilbeck.net/spokeshave.html

Though there are times when I reach for these:

http://www.woodjoytools.com/

or

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=49142&cat=1,50230&ap=1   (I've heard plenty of folks get great results out of the inexpensive wooden bodied ones that they also offer for sale)

or these:

http://www.lie-nielsen.com/catalog.php?cat=514    (I like their metal versions better than their new woody)

and to confuse matters further, Clifton makes a special purpose pair, (concave/convex), Terry Gordon, (HNT Gordon, Australia) makes some beautiful spokeshaves that are exceptional for hard/cranky timber, and the Windsor Workshop also has a few offerings from the UK.  I'm not a big fan of the Japanese style of spokeshave as they're just not comfortable for me.  Any of the new offerings by Kunz and Stanley will just make you angry, though I've heard plenty of folks rehab pre WWII Stanleys with great success, (not my cup of tea).

Sorry for the long list, just wanted you to know about your options.

To make a long story short; I have way too many of these things, but each has its idiosyncrasies that make it excel for certain tasks.  I could be humming right along using one of Dave's Shaves, then hit an area where the LN, Woodjoy or LV is better suited, (I've never really focused on why, I'll just keep trying different ones 'til I start getting good shavings and less tear out).  It could just be me, (user error), but they're moody little things; like everyone has already mentioned, the sharper the better.

Just an FYI, despite having large handles, you're not supposed to grab 'em fully with your hands and start heaving/cranking away.  The 'preferred' grip is pinching right behind or beside the blade w/ only your thumb and pointer finger.  Oh, one more tip.  Lots of folks cant the blade from one side to the other so on one side you can get a whisper thin shaving and the other can do larger work; that way you don't have to adjust the blade from shaping through finish stages.

One last thing; if you find yourself far down the spokeshave slope, these come in handy!

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=51504&cat=1,50230&ap=1

Dave

Thanks for the information Dave.

 

[skunkeye]

My LN spokeshave had the throat so tight that it would not allow the shaving to exit until I did some filing on it.  Works well now.

 

[Mac]

The LN certainly does have a tight throat...excellent for finishes cuts but not what you want for heavier work or removing a lot of material. I use it more in conjunction with an older record or stanley set up to make the heavy cuts and then the LN to finish.

 

[Kev]

I know nothing about using a spoke save properly. I bought an all metal Record a long time ago and dragged it out the other day while cleaning up some older tools. Probably got it over 20 ears ago.

I'm in a hotel room watching the sun come up in a different city at the moment - cant even go and check it out  [sad]

 

[mouppe]

P.s. I remember Garrett Hack showing me he had 19 (!) spokeshaves.

A skillful name drop Mr Leon...is there an interesting story behind this?  [smile]

I have to say that I find them quite addictive, I don't know why. Woodguy's to blame, he let me borrow one of his and I got the bug! Anyway, here's my collection so far...all set up slightly differently and all used more often than you'd think!

[attachthumb=#]

I attended two of his summer classes in Vermont over the past couple of years, and he offered to show us his workshop each time. He works out of a terrific little building on his working farm, and he took great pride in showing us some of his favourite and most precious tools, including the aforementioned 19 spokeshaves.

 

[WoodChuckWoods]

seems like the Nielsen is the favorite so my next problem is i have never sharpened a tool in my life, so i was wondering where i should start with that. the ws3000 seems like a good way to go for a beginner like me but really i don't know what would be best to start with.

 

[PaulMarcel]

I'll add that I love the Veritas set.  If you buy the set, you get the roll, which has come in handy for the beading tool, pullshave, and a couple small drawknives.  As Richard mentioned, it comes with a set of shims so you can easily adjust the throat.  I like that as you can keep it open for fast shaping then close it up if necessary for finer work.  That said, though, I haven't used the LN (Boggs or otherwise).

As for the Worksharp, the spokeshave blades are pretty short; can a Worksharp handle that?

 

[WoodChuckWoods]

As for the Worksharp, the spokeshave blades are pretty short; can a Worksharp handle that?
[/quote]
thats a good question does anyone know? i am not sure of the limitations on that machine. i saw the veritas set and it looks great also

 

[mouppe]

I sharpen my blades by hand. the blade is too short to be used in a honing guide.

Quick Tips Episode 5- Spokeshave Setup and Sharpening