I want to start using more hand tools. I have a spokeshave and wanted to get a drawknife for heavier material removal- my initial project is some tapered spindles for a bed headboard (don’t own a lathe). I’m not an E-bay or flea market shopper so wanted to buy a new one and I’m willing to pay for quality. Any recommendations would be appreciated and can they be sharpened with water stones? I don’t own a wheel-based sharpening tool.
Thanks so much,
Andrew
Replies
I am not an expert, but I own a German curved drawknife that I like. It looks like this one from Highland Woodworking:
https://www.highlandwoodworking.com/mueller-drawknife.aspx
You might want to reconsider an antique. I have four or five I have purchased over the years at maybe $35+-. They are elegant and well balanced tools if you can find in good condition. Many of the new offerings are crude by comparison.
If you are set on a new tool the Barr chairmakers drawknife would be a good choice. It's about $150. You can get it from Highland
Water stones work well for sharpening.
For the record, there are bevel up and bevel down draw knives. A bevel down version will have the handles parallel with the blade, this will result in a natural position of the hands for comfort and maximum control when in use.
A bevel up knife will have the handles cranked down slightly to allow for the same hand position when using bevel up.
I'd look on ebay. Just look at the pictures closely,at the front and back of the blade. If it's not rusty or pitted, it will do a good job.
Look for a 10 inch, straight blade.
To be honest, you are probably going to have to get what you can get.
Right now there is no guaranteed supplier of most any woodwork tool.
I have an old no-brand one which is just fine - I was given it as part of a job lot when I bought the owner's lathe. It's a simple tool and not one often sold in big box stores so I don't think there are many bad ones out there...
I have four, no wait, five, all antiques. Two have fold down handles, two 10" straight, and one small one. Personally, I recommend looking for an old one, learn how to sharpen it, then practice with different kinds of wood. Grain direction knowledge is very important to get good results. Green wood is usually easier to work than kiln dried. But if you really really want to do stock shaping with a spoke shave, you need a shave horse. You can use a face vice to do rough things like bark removal (like I did yesterday) but when it comes to efficiently shaping and flipping stock, a shave horse is required. Different designs are available. If you really like this type of work, then buy a new one.
I have an antique one. I love the feel of the old tools. This one was clearly made by someone who knew what he was doing. the handles were turned - you can still see the marks from the lathe drive chuck. A new one will likely cost $150 plus. You can get a vintage one (and far better, IMHO) for around $50, including shipping.
Everyone I know declares the Lie Nielsen knife to be a GREAT all around drawknife to get going with.
I have vintage ones from family, but if I didn't I would buy the LN.
If you can find one, sure. The drawknife has been one of the tools on hiatus the past couple of years.
Bum-mer
Yeah, I’ve been looking for one for a while and keep hoping they will start making it again. The Barr is another good option for new.
Thanks so much for all the input; I’m going to buy an antique one on eBay and clean it up.
A cursory look on Ebay turned up a couple of nice knives in the $50 range, still a great buy.
If you want to get nuts, here is a fine offering...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/115080850025?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item1acb5a6a69:g:BhwAAOSwfDRfzYQP&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAAA4BHSi1k7wfSHHOiD3A93FVAkmoMIRu1fG%2BGjvgnEvFD8ysb7o5irsr9NHNR8Kl%2BaaZF4VVzwtyKsyi8bqZFGDruRD%2FtFtj1SOCyHp45edQfkUQPGwx35f1F0Wrd26I6WuikK4KDRjrZgEFoYy9OR1jhPf6ds0MFxMYDdrcfjSovHseFOr1LbobJO%2FTf%2FiiDYnewTrhxRghZdM0BYypzTI9L0c4u85z5dAnUiZVe72od18E0mFk0Ry2IOLsXg4N0VaR12KQJcElfozVzCeiY43uw6lRcVR%2BTIIon9TIlJduk0%7Ctkp%3ABFBMlujCrJVg
Whoa.wonder if buyers are beating down the door to get that bargain.
Gotta have the matching straight one!
There is no pleasing some people...
The curtis buchanan videos on grinding and honing a vintage knife is pretty great. He uses a grinding wheel but I’m sure you could figure something out with a file or coarse stone.
The ray iles knife is okay. I find the finish a little lacking and handle design kinda weird. But if you want new, i think it’s a good worker. A shopmate has one. Also John Keenan on the SMC forum is often selling rehabbed ones for very good prices. https://toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/MS-IDRAWK.XX?searchterm=draw
I own (honestly) over 90 drawknives. Stay away from the many new knives intended for peeling bark unless you want to use it for that specific purpose. The most consistent and generally useful are the Greenlee brand knives, not as old as some of the other brands but consistently high quality. As far as sharpening, I use a diamond stone and hold the knife as you might a violin but with one handle against your arm upper arm and the edge pointing away from the body. After honing to 1000 grit, I buff or strop the tool for that super sweet final edge
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