Spoke Shaves and such

I think the most versatile for the money is the Stanley or Record 151. It has two fine tune adjusters, one trick you can do with this is angle it a bit, so you can get thicker or finer shavings just by moving it to one side or the other. Go with flat bottom for general purpose

I’ve got to agree with SMP. I use my 151 more than any of the other spoke shaves in my arsenal.

well if money is not an issue ill recommend the veritas,they are like carving butter.and they are just plain beautiful too look at-lol.

-- working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.

well if money is not an issue ill recommend the veritas,they are like carving butter.and they are just plain beautiful too look at-lol.

- pottz

Yeah money no issue I would probably get a Lie Nielse Boggs model, those things are like works of art.

I have just started trying to learn to use a spoke shave as well. I was trying to make a handle, and I am having trouble clamping in a way where I can work on several sides of the handle. Do you veteran spoke shavers have a favorite way to clamp when you work?

-- Bill - in New Hampshire

I have just started trying to learn to use a spoke shave as well. I was trying to make a handle, and I am having trouble clamping in a way where I can work on several sides of the handle. Do you veteran spoke shavers have a favorite way to clamp when you work?

- BillGo

Well depends, if I know i can make it longer and cut to size(like a handle) I’ll jest leave a couple inches on one end to clamp. Then mount like so in my vise:

I have just started trying to learn to use a spoke shave as well. I was trying to make a handle, and I am having trouble clamping in a way where I can work on several sides of the handle. Do you veteran spoke shavers have a favorite way to clamp when you work?

- BillGo

Everyone’s methods are different, but for me a draw horse/shaving horse is the best way to clamp when using either a draw knife, or a spokeshave.

-- Think safe, be safe

Chris, start with any spokeshave. There are lots of variations, but the essentials come down to two types, flat sole and curved sole. Find one with a flat sole. They can all be sharpened and can all be adjusted.

I have a spare Goodell and Pratt that I found not too long ago. See
https://www.lumberjocks.com/topics/64776
entry #223
Kenny says it’s made no later than 1915, kinda cool and in very good shape.

Also, find a drawknife. I use it more than my spokeshave.

-- Mike (near Boston) ... Laziness is the mother of invention, necessity is the mother of exhaustion - me

Gentlemen, A gentle reminder may be in order. First Rule of Hand Tools: Always work from the rougher tool to the finer one. A drawknife is a MUST have, for doing the basic shaping. That shape is then refined with the spokeshave.
Use of both tools is happily intuitive, and takes very little practice to achieve satisfactory results. Cuts can be made either deeper or more shallow simply by adjusting the angle of one’s wrists, which changes the blade angle.
A flat bottomed spokeshave is the go to tool for most projects, and the best one to use at the start. Clamp up some scrap wood in the vise and let the shavings start flying! These two tools are joyous to use!

-- Barry, in Maryland

drsurfrat beat me to it, Get a flat soled one first.

Don’t get a cheap knockoff one – they can be made to work, but not if you don’t know what you are doing.
A spokeshave is one of those tools where if you get a dodgy one first it will put you off for life :)

So, either vintage or decent new (Veritas, LN, Woodriver).

Clamping mostly depends on personal preference.
A shave horse would be the ideal solution, though pretty much anything that holds the stock will work fine.
I often use a parallel clamp in a vice as most versatile to put at any angle, kind of a poor mans carving vice.

-- Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.

Woodshop Therapy put out a video (April 10,2020) on building a Benchtop Shaving Horse. Seemed like a good clamping method. Use it with a spokeshave or with a draw knife. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz09xpYA6g8 video instructions to build it. clamp to work bench and away you go.

I went with the Kunz flat and round bottom spokeshaves. The flat bottom I used on several of my projects and works good for me. The round bottom I haven’t had a project to use it on yet. The Kunz radius and half round spokeshaves I do plan on getting (I’ve had the need for them recently). https://www.highlandwoodworking.com/kunz-hand-planes.aspx

You may want to add a Travisher to your list of hand tools. Great for shaping seats. https://www.pinterest.co.uk/martinpleiss/spokeshaves-scraper-travishers/#travisher

Pretty nice gizmo that guy’s made himself. Had forgotten that I’d seen a few bench mounted shave horses on YouTube a few years ago. Nice twist on an old tool, especially in a limited space.

-- Barry, in Maryland