Spokeshaves Cool for curved work

By Craig Bentzley

In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a hand- revolution going on. Well, actually, it’s hand to remove the machine Spokeshaves are available in more of a hand tool rediscovery. marks left by your thickness ora multitude convex blades of configurations, and models After decades of enjoying the planer. But unless all your work is dedicatedincluding models to chamfering. with concave straight and flat, there’s another valuable tool you’ll want to add realizeefficiency that of most power machines tools, many to your arsenal: the spokeshave. needs,However, straight-bladed unless you’re models a woodworkers have come to When it comes to curved work, a chairmaker or have specialized properly set up spokeshave will simply cannot finesse work the perform a variety of tasks ranging will handle most common chanceway certain you’ve hand discovered tools can. the cabriolefrom simple legs smoothingand other curved of arched jobs. In this article, I’ll explain For example, there’s a good edges to shaping of spindles, how to get a straight-bladed spokeshave into good working 40benefits woodcraftmagazine.com of using a well-tuned Dec/Jan 2011forms unsuited to hand . order and how to put it to use. Depth adjustment screw

Throat wear plate Cutting edges Blade locking knob

Adjustable shoe A for depth of cut B Modern -up shaves have blade-locking knobs. Bevel-down spokeshaves have a sole that’s flat (Stanley Blade depth is controlled either by adjusting No. 151 at left) or slightly convex (No. 151R). Knurled underlying screws or the height of a front shoe. knobs adjust the blade in or out to set the depth of cut. Types of spokeshaves to tear out areas of reversing usually have to install a new Although the low angle tends Spokeshaves can be categorized throat plate to close up the mouth. into two basicFigure types 1based). First on is These old models also lack blade grain, the mouth on most new blade orientation: bevel up and depth adjustment screws, instead spokeshaves can be set for a fine bevel down ( incorporating friction-fit tapered theopening most to commonly minimize available. the problem. the traditional bevel-up shave, tangs, which can be fussy to TheseBevel-down metal shaves spokeshaves have a blade are originally manufactured with adjust. WithPhoto new A models a wooden body. If you frequent senseavailable to forego in both troublesome and antique tool sales and flea vintagemetal ( shaves.), it makes configuration much like a hand markets, you’ll find these tools plane and are manufactured theirin abundance, useful life but cycle, be aware suffering that with either a flat or slightly most of them are worn beyond Because of their lower convexPhoto soleB (commonly called cutting angle, bevel-up shaves a round-bottom spokeshave) control.from misshapen At the very soles least, and you’ll wide- alsoexcel great at rapid at slicing stock removalend grain. of ( ). The flat-soled open mouths that compromise straight-grained . They’re versions will handle convex and long, sweeping concave Figure 1: Basic Spokeshave Types Blade locking knob Bevel-Up Shave Blade locking knobs Frame with Shoe-locking handles screw

Adjustable shoe Shoe-locking Adjustable shoe screws

Blade depth Bevel-Down Shave adjustment knobs Locking screw Frame with handles Blade Cap iron Blade screw Cap iron Blade depth adjustment knobs

Cap iron screw Cap iron Profile of round- bottom sole Locking screw Sole Sole Mouth

Photos: Paul Anthony; Illustrations: Chris Glowacki Dec/Jan 2011 woodcraftmagazine.com 41 Cap iron should contact notches.

Also flatten inner edge C of cap iron. D Flatten the sole on 100-grit on a dead- If necessary, file the screw slot to allow the cap- flat surface, using firm, short side-to-side strokes. iron shoulders to contact the body notches. curves, but you’ll need a round- The venerable Stanley model Tuning a spokeshave bottom shave to get into tighter No. 151 and its various imitations

Contemporary bevel-up curves such as the ankle area modelsare readily is very available user-friendly new and and spokeshaves—whether wood or of a cabriole leg. The steep used. Blade adjustment on these metal—rarely require as much cutting angle makes bevel-down tune-up work as their bevel- spokeshaves the best choice cutsallows on you one the side option of the of tool skewing and down counterparts. Since the for working figured woods. In the blade slightly to take heavier blade on a bevel-up shave serves general, they’re used for fine theas a entire large portionunderside of theof the sole, blade. shaving, not gross stock removal. finer shavings on the other. make sure to flatten and polish Blades: Bigger Is Better The blade that came with my secondhand spokeshave was totally used Also, ease a blade’s sharp trailing up and could not be advanced any further to take a shaving. This was edge with a file or honing stone actually a blessing in disguise because it gave me an excuse to replace to prevent it from scarring your it with a thicker, aftermarket blade. Thick replacement blades by IBC shavework on should the backstroke. be as smooth The as or Hock Tools are available through Woodcraft woodcraft.com( ). wear plate on a wooden bevel-up

possible, as should the adjustable shoe on a metal bevel-up shave. don’tWhether come readyyou buy to newuse. Foror used, onemost thing, bevel-down the castings spokeshaves on

inexpensive models often suffer from poor quality and sloppy machining. This may mean an out-of-flat sole or a The thicker IBC blade (top) will blade that doesn’t seat properly, replace a stock blade (bottom), contributing to control problems reducing chatter and closing and chatter marks on your up the mouth in the process, work. Blades may be improperly which helps reduce tear-out. thatsharpened little usable or, in theblade case is left.of an old shave, sharpened so often

42 woodcraftmagazine.com Dec/Jan 2011 Fortunately, it’s not difficult to E F Flatten an inconsistent blade bed with a mill file, using Screwing a spokeshave blade a series of overlapping diagonal strokes. to a wood extension allows the use of a honing .

shoulders on the body as they cutsperform smoothly a complete and cleanly. tune-up, should.the cap Iniron that won’t case, contact elongate the rewarding you with a tool that finer grits. For bevel-up blades, Photo maintain an angle of 20-30°. If For this article, I purchased Dthe. To cap avoid iron lengthening screw slot using the a you work primarily in , Ia beganused Stanley by disassembling No. 151, typical the slotchainsaw any more file asthan shown necessary, in best.a 20° Whenangle workshoning fine. the bladeFor on a of those found at flea markets. , a 25-30° angle is tool and putting all the parts in check the fit frequently bevel-up shave, the posts can get bya rust-removal rubbing it aggressively bath for a few side with the blade inserted. in the way. To do the job, pinch hours. Then I flattened the sole On a metal-bodied spokeshave, the blade at both ends while the blade bed often requires straddling a narrow stone and to side on a piece of 100-grit some work. Heavy, uneven rubbing the blade back and forth aluminumPhoto C oxide sandpaper solidlyjapanning against or bad the castings bed, inviting can and sideways. Alternatively, take affixed to a granite slab prevent a blade from seating maintaindiamond paddlesan angle to of the about bevel. ( ). I followed up by For bevel-down blades, polishing it in the same manner chatter in use. With sloppy using fine emery cloth. To polish , you can often scrape 25°. To help with honing the 1 a round-bottom4 spokeshave sole, away the blobs. An out-of- bevel, I madePhoto a simple F). If the I back up emery cloth with a flat casting can be smoothed and blade holder that fits into my ⁄ piece of "-thick cork and scrub inleveled Photo with E a mill file, working honing jig ( with a side-to-side motion. in the diagonal fashion as shown back of the blade is rough, I’ll Next, you'll want to attend to . Check your progress hone it using a progression of the cap iron. To minimize blade frequently, and continue filing waterstones, finishing up by bottomchatter andof its to leading prevent edge chips needs from awayFinally, high the spots blade until needs the blade to be polishingAdjusting it with a spokeshave 8000 grit. jamming under the cap iron, the doesn’t rock while in place. blade. Flatten that section using it's so short, a blade can be hard to make solid contact with the flattened and sharpened. Because As with a hand plane, you’ll want to adjust a spokeshave to the same technique used to to hold for sharpening. Instead of take a cut that’s appropriate for flatten the sole. Also smooth and using a grinding wheel, I suggest the job at hand. But setting a polish the top of the cap iron’s necessarysharpening to with restore honing the stones.edge and spokeshave can be tricky. Unlike Onleading some edge shaves, to allow the “ears” chips onto Begin with as coarse a grit as is servea hand as plane, a sighting a spokeshave reference. break away cleanly and smoothly. provides very little sole to then move through progressivelyDec/Jan 2011 woodcraftmagazine.com 43 It’s of little use trying to set a blade by feel because a cutting edge that projects far enough to feel will probably create too coarse a cut. The best approach is trial and error, making test cuts on a piece of scrap. Shaves with depth adjustment afterknobs adjustment are easiest by to advancingset, but be sure to take up any backlash contact the bottoms of the blade the adjustment knobs until they G slots. Spokeshaves without To set a shave that lacks adjustment knobs, snug up the cap iron locking adjustment knobs require a knob, tap the blade lightly to advance it, then tighten the locking knob. bottomdifferent out approach. the blade, For and these, then place the tool on a flat surface, Even the most highly tuned snug up the cap-ironPhoto locking G), don’t have to reposition yourself certain cuts. If this occurs, screw, but not too tightly. Tap or your work frequently. That spokeshaves can chatter during the blade lightly ( said, I find that pushing gives in Photo I secure the cap-iron locking me the most power and control, try skewing the tool as shown andscrew, set and them make differently. a test cut. For especially with unruly woods. . Skewing the shave I own a number of spokeshaves asome, slightly I like heavier to skew slice a blade on the to other.take a Thisfine cutcreates on one a sort side, of and two-in-one shave that’s great for preliminary work. I follow up with a shave that’s set to take fine, uniform shavings forUsing a more a spokeshave refined surface.

Using a spokeshave requires areconcentration, so long, beginners especially have if you’rea new to it. Because the handles tendency to grab them out at Shaving Kits Making a wooden bevel-up spokeshave from a kit is an affordable their ends. However, this type of way to make a tool that’s anything but cheap. I’ve been using mine grip will not allow your wrists to for over 10 years, and I love it. Dave’s Shaves (ncworkshops.com) control the cut. Instead, I place offers a complete $65 kit, including a Hock blade, pre-marked wooden my thumbs and forefingers as blank, and comprehensive instructions. It takes maybe an afternoon close to the blade as possible, with to build the shave. For those more adventurous souls who want to the handles simplyPhoto serving H). as a build the body from scratch, a Hock blade with locking screws can resting place for the remainder be purchased directly from Hock Tools (hocktools.com) for about of my fingers ( $36. With it you'll find instructions for making the tool body. Spokeshaves can be pushed or pulled. It’s a good idea to master44 woodcraftmagazine.com both techniques so youDec/Jan 2011 Figure 2: Shave With The Grain. Round-bottom shave

Flat-bottom shave

Flat-bottom Round-bottom spokeshave spokeshave

lowers the blade’s angle of finish the bottom of a curve. to smooth everything out prior resistanceattack and onusually end-grain. results in a grainIf you reverses,can’t perfectly you may smooth need to to assembly and finishing. cleaner cut. It also helps combat the tangency point where the theOnce shaving mastered, revolution. the spokeshave Chances cut convex areas, and a round- are,is an once indispensable you learn totool, handle so join the bottomUse a shaveflat-bottom for concave shave to resort to a scraper. In any case, you’ll probably want to refine n you can’t cut a concave radius the spokeshaved surface with tool, you’ll depend less on your thatsurfaces. is smaller (Bear than in mind the radiusthat a scraper and/or sandpaper to oscillating . remove any chatter marks and About Our Author of the spokeshave bottom.) Craig Bentzley has been restoring antiques inAlways Figure work 2. Tight in the radii “downhill” are and building furniture for nearly 40 years. In direction of the grain, as shown addition to writing, Craig also teaches at guilds, shows, and at Woodcraft stores. inparticularly side-to-side challenging, slicing cuts and to you may have to work the shave

H I For best control, hold a spokeshave close to its Reduce blade chatter by skewing a spokeshave. Here, blade, pinching it firmly at the base of the handles. the shave is being pulled downhill with the grain.

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