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Spoke Shaves of Your Dreams

24K views 232 replies 59 participants last post by  donwilwol 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
The HOYD thread has solved so many issues, answered so many questions, and converted so many people, that I wondered if the same thing might be true for spoke shaves. With my apologies to Bertha, for borrowing the title somewhat from his epic thread.

I thought I'd post some pics, to help define which numerical designation your spoke shave might be. I have a bunch which I can't easily identify, the Stanleys have been copied in other foundries to one degree of success or another.

so, here goes:

Wood Tool Knife Hardwood Hand tool


#51
Record, 9 3/4" Long, 2 11/16" cutter
Stanley 10", 2 1/8" cutter
Stanley 10 1/8" 2 1/8" cutter
generic 10 1/8", 2 1/16" cutter
generic10 1/8", 2 1/8" cutter

Office ruler Ruler Wood Hand tool Motor vehicle


#52 Kunz 9 3/8" , 2 1/16" cutter

#53 Stanley Split blade, 10 1/8", 2 1/16" cutter

Hand tool Wood Font Tool Metalworking hand tool


#60 Stanley tandem, SW, 10 7/8", 1 1/2" each cutter

Hand tool Pruning shears Tool Wood Metalworking hand tool


Kunz 9 5/8" 1 1/4" curved, 1 5/8" straight

Stanley 9 5/8" 1 1/4" curved, 1 3/4" straight

Tool Wood Bicycle part Hand tool Metalworking hand tool


#64 Stanley #64 8 3/4" 1 3/4" cutter

#A64 Record, 8 1/2" 1 3/4" cutter

generic #64, 8 7/8", 1 3/4" cutter

Hand tool Wood Metalworking hand tool Symbol Antique tool


#65 Kunz w/ chamfer guides 10 1/2, 1 1/2" cutter and rounded sole.

#65 Stanley 10 3/8", 1 1/2" cutter, rounded sole.

Ooops… no pic..

#63, Stanley, 10 7/8, 1 11/16" cutter

Kitchen utensil Tool Wood Hand tool Metalworking hand tool


Some unknowns:

generic 9 1/4", 2 1/8 with chipbreaker?

generic 9" , 1 3/4"

Stanley, half-moon logo on cutter, 9 3/4", 2 1/16" cutter

Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Bumper Bicycle part Auto part


#151s

got pics to share? any info or thoughts you'd like to share? What is YOUR favorite spoke shave, and why?
Thanks, all for your input!
 

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#2 ·
Poopie you win !
That's a pile of shaves, but I thought you had a hate on for Kunz ? you seem to have a lot of them..
I've got a 51 of theirs sold by Home Hardware, couldn't get the freaker to work, and believe it or not Lee Valley customer service gave me the answer.. too much paint where the blade beds, just ONE flipping corner….they have sold the Kunz line in a limited way for years.
 
#5 · (Edited by Moderator)
Glen: yup, you're right, I really have no use for them…but, my Stanley #65 was begging for chamfer guides, and along came the Kunz. I'll paint the guides black and put 'em on the Stanley, when I need 'em. Yeah, Kunz in general is scrap metal to me, but for as little as I pay for them, I can salvage the cutters, screws and stuff for more evolved spoke shaves, wink wink!

Don: Yeah, I know should never let these multiply like rabbits, but I'm pretty well known for never thinning the herd…in fact you are the recipient of the only escapee from the poopiekat corral. My only population control is the periodic sacrifice of a "Handyman" when I'm desperate for little giblets for other plane restorations. When I retire, I'll start peddling a boatload of miscellaneous planes, and other tools.

Woodcox: Just make sure that your flat-sole purchase does not have a 'Gang-Green' paint finish on it! Though I only have a couple of curved sole examples myself, they are the unbeatable answer to smoothing inner curves. Any brand-name #151 can be a hi-performance user, and I'd settle for one if I was to have just one, (er two with a curved sole model too.)
 
#12 ·
Bob,
Your Cambodia one resembles the #64s, what with the split cutter and all.
I dare not even dream about your LNs and Lee Valley examples!
I'd like to see either of the "Boggs" shaves in action!! Off to youTube I go!
Thanks to everyone for posting!!
 
#13 · (Edited by Moderator)
I've got the LN Boggs spokeshaves as well. Compared to vintage, these have a little more heft in the casting. However, the primary difference is the mouth opening. It's much smaller with the LN and Veritas, which I like.

I'm not sure why Boggs didn't use the ol' no. 151 blade adjustment in his design (as veritas did). It sure seems to be a superior design. It takes a little while to get used to setting and adjusting the iron on the boggs spokeshave. But once you've got it down….they sing.

Spokeshaves my preferred way to shape or smooth most any curved surface. A couple action shots.

-
Wood Art Religious item Cross Brick
 

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#15 ·
You have a woodworkers disease, the main symptom- when I retire, I will sell-I have retired more than a
couple of times and I still have not sold a tool. I have given tools to sons and other worthy people, but
can not remember selling a tool yet. The only thing you can do is continue to enjoy life. I would put a
picture of my spokeshaves here, but they are behind the colorful stump that is becoming a dollhouse for
a great grandaughter and unavailable until it is finished.
 
#16 ·
Thanks for your insight, Gus!
Yeah, I have three grandsons, all in the 4 to 6 year-old range. I want to build each of them an Anarchist-style toolbox, complete with tools. Well, I gotta have a few dozen of each type of tool, from which I can select the three finest of each to put in the toolchests. Equity, y'know! And then, of course, there's the two granddaughters, who would just give me a funny look if I made them toolboxes. I'm just a dinosaur, perhaps I should just make them something they can put their I-Pads on. Woodworking is such a sunset hobby…putting a smile on a child's face with a handmade wooden gift is still something I can do.
 
#17 ·
Here's what I have. All from yard sales or flea markets, I didn't pay much.

The black double only has an S on one handle, the blades are marked Stanley Rule and Level Co, the other black is not marked.

The larger, curved wood spokeshave is marked Bagshaw and Field, PHILA . The other is unmarked.

They all work good, but I prefer the wooden spokeshaves.

Wood Hand tool Hardwood Metalworking hand tool Auto part
 

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#18 · (Edited by Moderator)
Interesting, Hairy!
I've just never had any kind of constructive exposure to wooden spokeshaves. In shop class we had Stanley iron, and back in my apprenticing days, there was one old-timer who had his secret stash of tools, always locked up, but he did pull out a wooden spokeshave on rare occasions. Seeing someone here who prefers wooden ones is reassuring to me. I'll be looking closer for then on my next antiques hunt. I think I'm daunted by the method of sharpening them, which so far eludes me.
 
#20 ·
Here's my little collection of two. The top one is a common Stanley No. 51. The bottom one with an adjustable mouth is unmarked. I've used these a lot over the years. They belonged to my dad, who was a fine craftsman. I remember him saying the bottom one was the best spokeshave he ever used. I'd sure like to know who made it.

Household hardware Metal Nickel Composite material Auto part


Tool Household hardware Diagonal pliers Metal Pliers


Tool Household hardware Hand tool Auto part Composite material
 

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#21 ·
#26 · (Edited by Moderator)
I find the Lee Valley contour planes work much better than my Record version of the Stanley 151.

I got the pair for $30 an will likely get the larger sized one again and try putting a radiused sole on it.
 
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