Replies

1. 
   gdblake | Feb 25, 2011 01:57pm | #1

   The Kunz spokeshave needs a lot of tuning

   Murphsaw:

   Kunz spokeshaves are somewhat crude tools that require a lot of tuning before they work.  Without seeing your shave, my guess is that the bed (the part of the shave the cutter rests against) is not flat.  It is also possible that the blade itself is not flat.  Either of these conditions result in chatter.  You can flatten the blade on sandpaper adhered to any flat surface (glass, granite honing plate, tablesaw or jointer, MDF, etc.).  Just use a marker to color the back of the blade and take a couple of passes on the sandpaper.  The marker will be sanded off of the highspots.  Just work the blade until all of the coloring is removed with a couple of light passes on the sandpaper.  The spokeshaves bed can be flattened with a safe edge metal file.  Again, use a marker to color the entire bed area and lightly file the entire bed until it is flat. 

   You will eventually figure out that cheap spokeshaves are nothing but a frustration to use.  If this is a tool that is going to see a lot of use in your shop may I suggest you save up a buy a quality shave from Lie-Nielsen, Lee Valley, Dave's Shave, or other maker.  Personally, I own the Veritas shaves and think they are great as far as metal shaves go.  My own preference is wooden bodied shaves.  By design they have a lower cutting angle than metal shaves and seem to work curved surfaces better for me.  Lee Valley has an inexpensive kit that you can purchase with directions on how to make your own wooden spokeshave.  This is a fairly easy project that results in a super tool.

   Good luck,

   gdblake