ShokeShaves....Flat bottom and Round Bottom?

[hk538]

I recently picked up a near mint Stanley #151 spokeshave with the flat bottom and it does a fine job. Seeing as I'm not too familiar with spokeshaves, I was wondering if there's a spokeshave with a rounded, concave bottom for working on rounded stock such as hickory axe handle or spokes:-D I'd like to stay with the Stanley if I could, but it's no requirement.

Any advice on this?

thanks a bunch,
Greg

 

[grumpy]

Try Highland Hardware or other woodworking stores on the internet. I am not sure of Stanley buth they sell a round bottom shave for inside curves and a genuine rounded concave and convex take your choice. Harry

 

[rfeeser]

See the three wooden-handled Veritas spokeshaves at Lee Valley (very fine). And the Kunz ones at Woodcraft (low quality but useable). And Lie-Nielsen (very fine by reputation, but I have never used one).

 

[DaveO]

See the three wooden-handled Veritas spokeshaves at Lee Valley (very fine).

Is this the set you are referring to?

pic stolen from Insomniac.
Dave

 

[Travis Porter]

I have a round bottom one that has an S on it which I would think is Stanley. Don't know for sure.

 

[Gofor]

I have a '50's vintage 151 which I am still fettling. The bed for the cutter is basically rough cast and the paint was the leveling agent. After flattening the blade (major milling machine marks all the way to the edge, which had been sharpened convex and I squared up) I still have trouble with some chattering on flat hardwood. Still working on the blade bed which is very difficult to get flat.
From the reading I have done, (and I am no expert): I don't think Stanley makes a convex spokeshave. Also, if you can find one with an adjustable mouth, it will be a better tool.
I have had good luck with a flat blade making hammer, maul and ax handles (I start with a draw knife). With a thin cut adjustment on the spokeshave for the finishing work (a couple thousandths) , you can get a smooth rounded surface. If you want it perfect, a cabinet scraper will finish it nicely without any sanding.

My novice $.02 worth. I'm sure their are others more experienced and knowledgeable that will steer you to what you need:lol:

 

[Ozzie-x]

I've never studied spokeshaves and really can't get into too much detail about them, but 100-150 years ago spokeshaves were a big deal. Just about every major tool manufacturer made spokeshaves plus there were other mfgrs that only made spokeshaves. There's a lot of different shapes, styles, adjustments, etc., probably more than could ever be defined in one place. I've never specifically bought a spokeshave, but have ended up with a gaggle of them (I think they breed when the lights go out :lol: ). Somewhere, I ended up with a Bailey's patent adjustable mouth spokeshave that seems to do better than all of the others I've used. It makes a very fine cut with little aggravation like some of the others. I mostly use it for making hammer handles and such.

 

[DavidF]

Don't buy a cheap one - you will curse the day and it will end up as a door stop - DAMHIKT:BangHead: I'm currently looking a LN or the adjustable mouth one from Veritas

 

[hk538]

Thanks for the replies everyone....GOFOR, the Stanley 151 I have was in the same shape and I ended up using automotive sandpaper and a piece of 2x4 as a backer. I went from a really course to fine polishing and it's taken most of the chatter out, but it did take a while using the sandpaper. I also used the sandpaper to work on the blade flats and edge and it's very nice now. I did the same on my drawknife and you can almost shave with it now.
I'll keep my eyes open for a good convex. I may just end up ordering one eventually.
Thanks again for the suggestions,
Greg

 

[Mark Fogleman]

Mr. Feeser,
It's an honor to have you join us!
Welcome!

Mark in Concord

 

[hk538]

Thank ye for the welcome Tarhead:-D

 

[jglord]

Thought I'd add a bit of confusion here - to the question of flat or round. ;-)

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to use Bill Anderson's concave spoke shave and really liked the way it enabled making a curved surface and easily blending the cuts into a smooth curved surface.

I see Lee Valley has added a concave spoke shave to their Veritas line.

Veritas Spoke shaves

 

[Larry Rose]

I agree with David F, I've got a Stanley 151 (usable) a Kuntz concave (barely usable) and a Stanley convex (totaly useless) . Recently, I bit the bullet and bought the Veritas 3 Piece set. I couldn't believe how good they work. Save your money on the cheapos.

 

[Joe Scharle]

If you find yourself making bandsaw cabriole legs, you will realize the need for both flat and rounded spokeshaves. I've had a Record set for a long time (151s), but I'm going to order the Veritas. I need fatter handles now, for one thing.

 

[LeftyTom]

I went the cheap route, and picked up the flat and concave spokeshaves from Harbor Freight. I am getting my stuff together to try sandpaper sharpening, so at the least I can get familiar with sharpening the irons.

 

[Ozzie-x]

The latest Fine Woodworking has a tool test on spoke shaves.