Replies

1. 
   ysu65 | Apr 29, 2021 09:10pm | #1

   What do you plan to make? Do you have a draw knife? Every use one? What kind of wood will you be working with? Give us a little more info. Thanks

2. 
   lat_axe | Apr 30, 2021 04:24am | #2

   These days, one parameter of making a tool choice is its availability. Many tools are in scarce supply and look like they might remain so for a while, due to Covid and other factors.

   However, Lee Valley seem to have stocks of their spokeshaves, except for their kit to make your own (not available until August).

   https://www.leevalley.com/en-gb/shop/tools/hand-tools/spokeshaves/49142-veritas-flat-round-and-concave-spokeshaves

   https://www.leevalley.com/en-gb/shop/tools/hand-tools/spokeshaves/44834-veritas-low-angle-spokeshave?item=05P3201

   https://www.leevalley.com/en-gb/shop/tools/hand-tools/spokeshaves/49710-veritas-hardware-kits-for-wooden-spokeshaves?item=05P3330

   I can attest to the good design & functionality of the first kind, having all three of them (flat, convex & concave). These have done a lot of work, over the years, to finish both green woodworking items and the more usual kinds of dry-wood furniture in which there are multiple curved and/or rounded surfaces.

   They were tested hardest in the making of four of the Veritas style Adirondack chairs out of teak and iroko. Tough little tools that did a great job with no complaints other than a demand to be sharpened more frequently than with other woods.

   You can also buy a small kit for them with which to build your own handles, should you want to give them a particular sort of grip. The handles screw off - and it's quite a useful feature to be able to use them with just one handle or even none, which allows them to get into some awkward spots.

   The best value is the Veritas spokeshave kit, which provides the plan for making one along with the blade and other metal parts that go into it. I've made one which has proved a fine tool; and would have made another if the availability hadn't dried up.

   The low angle item looks to be the most versatile in theory .... but I've never used one myself so can't really say.

   Lataxe

3. 
   john_c2 | Apr 30, 2021 04:47am | #3

   I'm a spokeshave junkie. I have all the vintage types you've heard of, and many you haven't. I have the Veritas flat, round, low angle, and small. I have wooden shaves from Ernie Conover, Caleb James, and a host of others.

   If I could only keep one, it would be the Lie Nielsen Boggs spokeshave. If I could keep two, I would add the Caleb James wooden.

   Don't buy a Kunz or anything made new and cheaply overseas. Total waste of money.

1. 
   user-7756088 | Apr 30, 2021 02:28pm | #6

   no I'm looking to use it on cleaning up cuts on the band saw. I realize I can use my block plane or sander. but one that is concaved would help on shaping. am I being foolish not having ever using one. Thanks for the tips.

4. 
   ysu65 | Apr 30, 2021 09:29am | #4

   In addition to the above advice I will chip in a bit more. If you are doing green woodworking for things like country or Windsor chairs, you should build a shave horse. There are several designs to choose from. To break down green wood you should get and learn how to use draw knives. I have several vintage draw knives with different attack angles and use them accordingly. Learn how to do shear cuts. You will quickly learn about grain direction and what will work on a particular item. I do not have expensive spokeshaves and with sharp blades I can get good results with green or soft wood. I even used one of the above cursed Kunz's on my last project to good advantage. These were three legged stools using Lowe's finest 2 x 8 dimensional lumber, a Covid isolation project.

   If you plan on working dry hardwoods, the good ones mentioned above are necessary. I have had friends who were used to working green then switched to dry wood and had difficulty getting good results with cheaper tools.

   And if no one is looking and the part is straight enough, sneak in the block plane.

1. 
   user-7756088 | Apr 30, 2021 02:32pm | #7

   they look like they could be fickle if the blade isn't square to the sole.and it looks like the blades would be a challenge to sharpen. thanks for your input.

5. 
   joeleonetti | Apr 30, 2021 01:32pm | #5

   Everyone should own the tried and true Stanley 151 spoke shave. Up until recently, my daughter used to use my vintage one. As a recent gift I purchased a new Stanley 151 (not sure what the formal number is). It worked just fine. That's where I would start. You can expand your collection from there.

1. 
   user-7756088 | Apr 30, 2021 02:35pm | #8

   thanks

2. 
   chuckvandyck | May 01, 2021 08:35am | #9

   I second joe’s advice. I got a 151 for a song. Love it. Would like to try a nicer one but don’t really have the need. I use it for spindles and seat profiles.

3. 
   jareed | May 03, 2021 10:19am | #12

   I concur! You do not need to spend a $150 or more to get a very useable spokeshave $25 will buy you a Stanley 151 in good useable shape, clean it up, hone the blade and you're off and running!

6. 
   user-7624188 | May 02, 2021 03:01pm | #10

   I purchased a 1950s English Rapier spoke shave for about 10 dollars at a garage sale. I also have a $150 CDN Veritas spoke shave. The Veritas is nice, but if the blade is sharp and the cuts are shallow, I would take the old English Rapier over the Veritas any day.

7. 
   _mj_ | May 02, 2021 07:09pm | #11

   I have the Record version of the 151... two thumbs up!

8. 
   [email protected] | May 09, 2021 09:18pm | #13

   Whatever you buy make sure it has screw mechanisms to adjust the depth of cut.A new user will find tapping to adjust a bit difficult.As you get better use a trick Michael Dunbar taught me.Keep one side of the blade shallow and the other more aggressive .That way after removing lots of material you shift to the shallow side for a finish cut.In your final cuts you then have both sides with a gentle fine cut.