Spokeshave advice

[Joel Goodman]

I am looking to get my first spokeshave. I could get a SW #51 or should I go for a LV or LN? If I went with the #51 is a heavier replacement blade worthwhile? What are the pros and cons of the various options? I have several planes that I use a lot -- some old Stanley's and some LN but spokeshaves are a new area for me.
Thanks!

[Matt Stiegler]

Joel, you probably already know that the LN boggs spokeshaves are 20% off until the end of today at woodcraft. I have no wisdom to offer about whether that's what you should do, except to note that folks posting here have spoken highly of a couple different LV options that are substantially less pricey.

[Brian Kent]

I have tried a couple of old Stanley's, a cheap Stanley knock-off (Anant),

a Lee Valley made from a kit,
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=49710&cat=1,50230

and 2 rosewood contour planes: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=46321&cat=1,41182,46334

The Anant is useable with a lot of work.
The old Stanley's are fun and work well with the original blade.
The Lee Valley Kit is very nice.

But the pair that is the very most useful time after time is the inexpensive rosewood contour planes. 2 planes for $27.50 - that's some great value.

Now as you can see I have not tried a replacement blade for the Stanleys, a top notch Boggs, LN, or top Lee Valley - premade. So lots of grains of salt to be taken here.

The Anant was not really a great value, though cheap.
All the others were less than $100 total for all 5, and great useful values.

Brian Kent

[Joel Goodman]

Brian,

The contour planes look interesting -- are they sort of low angle spokeshaves? On the Stanley you have -- is it a #51 (without adjuster) or a #151 (with the two knobs)? Does the adjuster add anything? I see that LN left it out on theirs.

Thanks,

Joel

[Robert Rozaieski]

If you are going to spend the money on a LV or LN, I'd highly recommend looking at the wooden versions available from Kansas City Winsor Toolworks, Woodjoy and Dave's Shaves. I've used vintage stanleys and the LN shave and I can honestly say that I like my wooden shave a lot better. Wooden shaves are a completely different style than the metal shaves and in my opinion, work a lot nicer.

A lot of shaving is end grain work and low angle wooden shaves excel here. The high angle metal versions are just like a standard bevel down bench plane. Fine for long grain but not as good for end grain. I made my own but if you are going to spend the coin on a LN or LV, the ones mentioned above are definately worth a look.

[Mike Henderson]

And if you're going to go with a low angle, look at the Lee Valley kits (http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=49710&cat=1,50230&ap=1) (if you're into making your own).

Mike

[Harold Beck]

Joel,

I have a Record 151 and 152 (I think - one flat bottomed, one curved). I have made both LV kits. I have put more time in getting the Records to work that It took to make the LVs.

The ones I made from the LV kits are all I use now.

HB

[Archie England]

IMO, a SW 52 or 53 beats the 51 totally. I've got all three, plus some others and the 51 is perhaps the worst user without further fettling.

Wish I knew how the Boggs or LV spokeshaves behaved, but I've never handled one.

BTW, the Stanley 63 (contour) and 64 (flat) are excellent smaller users!

[Sean Hughto]

I've got a few spokeshaves, if you lived nearby you could come try some out. Here's just a few (the wooden platoon and Boggs are not in this cabinet):

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2005/2265379117_349d1fe51d_o.jpg

[Mike Henderson]

Wish I knew how the Boggs or LV spokeshaves behaved, but I've never handled one.
I took a class on Windsor chairs. I was using spokeshaves that I had, mostly older Stanleys. The instructor came by and handed me his LN Boggs flat spokeshave. After using it for a while, I stopped by Woodcraft on the way home and bought my own.

The mouth is tight on the Boggs so you can't hog off a lot of wood, but for finish shaving, they're wonderful. It just cuts easily and smoothly, with no chatter.

Mike

[And if you want to buy one, remember that today is the last day for the 20% off at Woodcraft.]

[John Keeton]

I have briefly owned the LN Boggs shaves, and they are nice. In the process of trying various tools, I ended up with the LV LA (http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=44834&cat=1,50230&ap=1)shave, and I really enjoy using it. I don't do a lot that requires a shave, and it seems to accomodate my minimal skill level very well. I like the adjustable toepiece, as well. Have to admit though, the looks aren't much, and the various wooden shaves sure much better!

Sean, very nice cabinet interior, BTW!! Organization plus!

There is a Boggs for sale in the Classified forum. http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=121161

[Phillip Pattee]

This is a timely thread. I don't do much curved work yet, but I do have a Stanley 151, a 51, and a 52. I don't think the adjustment knobs on the 151 add much to its functionality. I also have a vintage wooden shave that I haven't sharpened up and used yet. I can tell you that I like the feel of the wood in my hands much better than the cold steel of the Stanley shaves.

Here is an alternative to consider. I have the small drawknives from North Bay Forge and these are fantastic tools for rough shaping. http://www.northbayforge.com/dk.htm You can also take very fine shavings with them -- in well behaved grain, working with the grain. They have earned their place in my work shop but they aren't a finishing tool.

I've made some of my own hand planes; spokeshaves are next on my list of tools to build. I'm looking at both the Hock kits (I think this is what Dave of Dave's Shaves uses) and the LV kit. I'm leaning toward the LV kits. Perhaps Santa will favor me with those as a gift this December.

[Gary Herrmann]

I tried a friend's LN Boggs spokeshave and liked it a lot. Ordered one from WC last night.

[Don Rogers]

Sean,

Your tool cabinet is a well organized beauty and I especially like your tool holders. They look very professional and it looks like you custom made them for your tools.

My collection of spokeshaves is almost identical to yours (or will be as soon as I finish making the wooden Lee Valley kit shave) and the tool holder is something I would also like to have. Did you make the shave tool holder also? – it is really neat and I would like to make one like it.

Don

[Sean Hughto]

Thanks, Don. Yeah, sometimes I don't really have shop time for working on bigger projects, or am too tired after a day of work to risk it, so I might putter for a half hour or so making something for the shop. All the holders are essentailly bits from the scrap bucket I puttered together. You should have no problem duplicating or exceeding my efforts. Post a picture when you do!

[Derek Cohen]

Hi Sean

That spokeshave cabinet is beautiful ... but not enough shaves! :)

Hi Joel

I would look out for these two: the LV LA spokeshave - this one is excellent on endgrain.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Spokeshaves%20and%20Drawknives/Veritas1.jpg

And find a vintage Stanley #53 - this has an adjustable mouth and you will be able to use it for both rough work and finishing.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Spokeshaves%20and%20Drawknives/Stanley53.jpg

I'd say that the alternative in a new spokeshave is the LVs. They use a shim to open/close the mouth. The LN Bogg (which I have and really like) is more of a finishing spokeshave, and it will frustrate you it this is all you had. At the other end of the spectrum, the Stanley #151 (with adjuster) or #51 (minus adjuster) are useful for hogging but not finishing.

Avoid buying any round bottomed spokeshaves at this point. They are the devil to use and you need experience first.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Workbench%20and%20Workshop/Spokeshavesincabinet1.jpg

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Sean Hughto]

As I say, Derek, I have more shaves, they just have other homes that this cabinet. I love them all - such a simple tool, but very satisfying to use.

I have a 54:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3482/3905800570_f4c6bf3162_b.jpg

Is a 53 the round bottom version?

I got this 54 for a song because it's pivot rods had been poorly replaces with bits of finish nails. I used an old drill bit of appropriate size to replace those and was rewarded with a perfectly functioning wonderful tool.

[Richard Jones]

..... the 51 is perhaps the worst user without further fettling....

And IMO, without the thicker replacement blade, is really bordering on bad..........

I'm glad this thread started, as I have an LV/LA kit that is in need of building. Today would be a good day to start. Now to pick the proper wood, whatever that is..........

Rich

[Joel Goodman]

I did a little searching on the net for a Patrick's Blood and Gore type site on spokeshaves and I came up with this -- http://peterrobinson.galootcentral.com/spokeshaves/
but no pix. It seems that the 53 and 54 are the same except for the handles.

One more question -- do the wooden shaves work ok in long grain or are they primarily useful for end grain?

Thanks to everyone for all the great advice.

[Robert Rozaieski]

One more question -- do the wooden shaves work ok in long grain or are they primarily useful for end grain?


They work very well in long grain as well.

[Derek Cohen]

Is a 53 the round bottom version?

.... and was rewarded with a perfectly functioning wonderful tool.

Hi Sean

The #53 and #54 are identical (and flat bottomed) except for the handles, whoch are curved up for the #53 (see 7th piece down in my picture). A great user. It would be a natural for either LN or LV to add to their ranges.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Brian Kent]

Brian,

The contour planes look interesting -- are they sort of low angle spokeshaves? On the Stanley you have -- is it a #51 (without adjuster) or a #151 (with the two knobs)? Does the adjuster add anything? I see that LN left it out on theirs.

Thanks,

Joel

Joel, sorry about the delay. I was just given a couple more shaves last summer and had to look more closely to see which I had used before. It is the 151. I used the twin knobs, but could easily have adjusted without them.

The contour planes are small, low angle spokeshaves. They are finger-tip instead of whole hand, and very easy to control on both fine and moderate shavings.

Brian