Chet Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 I my recent Morris Chair project, when I was cleaning up the inside curve of the arms and back slats I was thinking that this might be a nice place to use a spoke shave if I had one. I have enough arthritic pain in my thumbs that keep me from ever thinking about card scrapers. I do have a cabinet scraper that I use pretty regularly but the sole of that is too big to do a lot of inside curve stuff This got me to wondering how many of you own a spoke shave? Do you use it as much as you thought when you purchased it? What types of things gets you bringing it out to use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 I'll be the first to admit that I don't use mine as much as I probably should! I don't think you'd have any issues with the arthritic paid if the cabinet scraper doesn't bother you. I've got some shaping on a project coming up and it's my intention to use the spoke shave purely because you made this post and reminded me...lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick S Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 Spokeshaves are my favorite hand tools. My fave is the Brian Boggs. I have 5 and use all of them for different operations. I use them to taper legs, smooth curves after the spindle sander, sometimes for beveling edges instead of a block plane. Anywhere I can I use them. Edit: I just reread this. I don't have 5 Boggs spokeshaves. I have 5 spokeshaves that I use regularly and one of them is a Boggs. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 I have a bunch of them. For problem hands, and first user, I highly recommend the Lee Valley- Veritas ones. They will go to work right out of the box, but do benefit from a super sharpening, like anything else. You also get your choice of favorite steel for the cutter. There are quite a number of special purpose ones, but those have big, comfortable handles, and a non fiddly blade adjustment. https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/tools/hand-tools/spokeshaves/49142-veritas-flat-round-and-concave-spokeshaves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted November 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 1 hour ago, ..Kev said: I don't think you'd have any issues with the arthritic pain My comment about the arthritis was connected to just the card scraper and the way you need to flex it with your thumbs. I didn't mean to confuse it with the use of other hand tools. Mick what is it about the Boggs that make you partial to them? I was looking at the Veritas because I have been happy with their hand planes. Would the flat one be the place to start if buying just one at the moment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 Look at the first thing you want to do with one, and pick the first one to do that. I first bought the concave one to shape some handrails on an old house, and not too long after, the other two showed up, for some odd reason. edited to add: I looked at the Bogg's, but didn't want an A2 blade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick S Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 32 minutes ago, Chet said: Mick what is it about the Boggs that make you partial to them? I was looking at the Veritas because I have been happy with their hand planes. Would the flat one be the place to start if buying just one at the moment? When I first used the Boggs I didn't understand how to adjust the depth. For that reason I was leaning toward the Veritas also. A friend of mine had a Boggs and showed me how easily it adjusts by tapping the end of the handle on the bench with the blade upright to lower it slightly, or tap it with the blade upside down to raise it. By tapping one end of the handle only you can skew the blade so that one side takes off a little more than the other. Very fast and simple although it does take a little practice, much like adjusting a Krenov style or Japanese plane. We have a few of the Veritas spokeshaves at school and I found them trickier to fine tune. The Boggs is more comfy in my hands. The weight and balance work well for me. I would definitely start with a flat bottom. If it would help, I can make a short video in the morning and post the process. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 We all like videos! Heck yes and thanks in advance. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted November 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 46 minutes ago, Mick S said: If it would help, I can make a short video in the morning and post the process. I could go for that. I appreciate you taking the time to do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 I use a flat bottom spokeshave, and frankly can't see a compelling reason for a round bottom. An inside curve would have to be really tight to not be workable with a typical flat spokeshave. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 6 hours ago, wtnhighlander said: I use a flat bottom spokeshave, and frankly can't see a compelling reason for a round bottom. An inside curve would have to be really tight to not be workable with a typical flat spokeshave. Turn 90° in that work flow. Flat only works in the one orientation. If you want to work across, the “corners” dig and the center skips. Think about refining a seat contour that curves in from multiple planes of approach. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 @Tpt life are you talking about a shave with a sole that curves front to back, but has a straight blade, or one with blade and sole curved side to side, like a scorp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 13 hours ago, Chet said: This got me to wondering how many of you own a spoke shave? Do you use it as much as you thought when you purchased it? What types of things gets you bringing it out to use? Yes, A LV one with the convex curved bottom. I use it more than i thought i would. I use it on anything concave curved. You can use it on small strait parts that have curves leading in or out. I've found many times where some curves were tighter than the plane could handle. I thought about getting the flat bottomed but after using the convex one I haven't really found a need as it works flat and convex surfaces just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 8 minutes ago, Chestnut said: Yes, A LV one with the convex curved bottom. I use it more than i thought i would. I use it on anything concave curved. You can use it on small strait parts that have curves leading in or out. I've found many times where some curves were tighter than the plane could handle. I thought about getting the flat bottomed but after using the convex one I haven't really found a need as it works flat and convex surfaces just fine. Drew I had to chuckle a bit when I read this its funny how we each have our own way of handling a task, while I have both I prefer the flat bottom for both flat and convex surfaces Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 3 hours ago, wtnhighlander said: @Tpt life are you talking about a shave with a sole that curves front to back, but has a straight blade, or one with blade and sole curved side to side, like a scorp? I don’t know of one like the first. All curved I see are referencing the second. Many “flat” do not have a true flat sole front to rear that is very large at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 1 hour ago, pkinneb said: Drew I had to chuckle a bit when I read this its funny how we each have our own way of handling a task, while I have both I prefer the flat bottom for both flat and convex surfaces I've ran into curves that were too tight for the convex spoke shave . I don't have my OSS set up so i don't really use it and resort to other measures. I feel like i should buy the flat bottomed now to try and understand what I'm missing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick S Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 3 hours ago, pkinneb said: Drew I had to chuckle a bit when I read this its funny how we each have our own way of handling a task, while I have both I prefer the flat bottom for both flat and convex surfaces I do the same. The only round bottom spokeshave I have is a Pinnacle and it's really not a very well designed piece, IMO. The mouth is way too large (open) and I get lots of chatter, regardless of how sharp it is or how much I'm trying to take off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 I use the flat one (LN Boggs) mostly for rounding corners. It's more comfortable to use than a block plane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 My tightest curve one is an old Millers Falls "CIgar Shave". https://workingbyhand.wordpress.com/2015/10/23/the-millers-falls-no-1-spokeshave/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodbutcher Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 I just bought a Veritas flat bottom spokeshave. I found it to be a pleasure to use, and wont hesitate to use it again the next time I am doing anything with curves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mick S Posted November 21, 2019 Popular Post Report Share Posted November 21, 2019 Sorry for the delay. Been one of those days... Here's the link to the video I shot this morning about adjusting the Boggs spokeshave. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted November 21, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2019 Thanks Mick, I appreciate you taking the time to do the video. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmercer_48083 Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 Mick, Just watched your video about the spoke shave. Great tip! Thanks for posting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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