How do I pick a Spokeshave?

[mouppe]

The weight of the tool won't affect chatter- it's a light tool whatever its material. I have a couple of LV spokeshaves and I keep the mouth wide open at all times.

If you want a smooth cut with a spokeshave, I've found that using the tool in the right grain direction, making sure the blade is extremely sharp and skewing the tool in the cut where necessary are the three most important factors behind a good cut.

I don't follow your point on the mouth size and blade width tackling a small radius. If the curve is very tight, even a convex spokeshave may not be enough to get round the curve. I reach for the rasps at this point.

You may also want to grab a drawknife. I use it more often than a spokeshave to be honest.

 

[Phil Beckley]

Hi
An interesting thread and all will feel different to each other. In the image are my collection of spokeshaves - the two black are early Stanley with flat and round bases and these have served me well for many years. The small wooden one is great for making miniatures or taking the arris of an edge.......a great tool is the Spokeshave so long as the grain behaves  [wink]
rg
Phil
.....the Veritas is their beading tool, nice to use and make your own profiles.

 

[ear3]

I assume wider mouth opening = possibility of thicker shavings.

The weight of the tool won't affect chatter- it's a light tool whatever its material. I have a couple of LV spokeshaves and I keep the mouth wide open at all times.

If you want a smooth cut with a spokeshave, I've found that using the tool in the right grain direction, making sure the blade is extremely sharp and skewing the tool in the cut where necessary are the three most important factors behind a good cut.

I don't follow your point on the mouth size and blade width tackling a small radius. If the curve is very tight, even a convex spokeshave may not be enough to get round the curve. I reach for the rasps at this point.

You may also want to grab a drawknife. I use it more often than a spokeshave to be honest.

 

[Lbob131]

I have a set of Veritas  spokeshaves.
The rounded base  one is very  useful for scalloping  corners    to give  that hand hewn  look.

 

[ear3]

I ended up getting the Veritas.  Just the flat and rounded base, but not the concave.  I don't plan on shaping any chair parts or oars in the near future, and figure I can add it in when I actually have a need.  The set discount was only about $20, plus the free tool roll.

I have a set of Veritas  spokeshaves.
The rounded base  one is very  useful for scalloping  corners    to give  that hand hewn  look.