Sharpening a Concave Spokeshave Blade

[Keegan Shields]

Picked up a LN Boggs concave spokeshave yesterday after getting an email it was back in stock. Looking for suggestions on the best method to sharpen the blade.

I see that LN recommends putting a matching profile on the edge of a board and using PSA sandpaper. Others have suggested sharpening only the back, then removing the burr on the bevel with a slip stone. I’m curious what other methods work. Maybe the rounded leather wheel on my Tormek would be useful?

Thanks!

[Edward Weber]

The Honing the back method only gets you so far. If you need to reestablish/repair the bevel, the LN method certainly works. If you need heavier repair, some type of rotary sanding method can speed up the process

[Jim Koepke]

Honing the back has very limited results. Slip stones are work well.

If you like water stones, Lee Valley has a nice selection > https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/sharpening/stones/33013-traditional-water-slip-stones?item=60M9003

And > https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/sharpening/stones/33012-water-cones

Dan's Whetstones is a good source if you like oilstones > https://danswhetstone.com

Sharpening supplies carries a coarse Chrystolon stone > https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/Norton-Crystolon-6-Round-Edge-Slip-Stone-P269C206.aspx

Using a wood form (Lee Valley carries some) with various grades of abrasive paper works, but it can become expensive over time.

jtk

[Edward Weber]

I was going to mention Sharpening Supplies. Here is the section on sharpening curved blades. They also invite you to ask questions about sharpening different shaped blades
https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/How-do-I-sharpen-a-curved-knife-W83.aspx

[Jimmy Harris]

If you can make a dowel with the same diameter and curve as the concave blade, then you can wrap it in sandpaper and use that to sharpen the front. Then finish the burr off the back with a flat stone. I don't know if you could use the spokeshave to make that, like if it would create the same arc as needed, but it seems like it might. I haven't tried it. But sandpaper and a dowel would be the easiest method.

[Tom M King]

You need to allow for the thickness of the sandpaper, so just making a tool with the spokeshave doesn't work the best. A slightly smaller dowel works fine.

[Keegan Shields]

Thank you all for the great suggestions! I have some 3M film left over so that likely the initial method.

Seems like there are some radiused water stones in my future.

[Warren Mickley]

Thank you all for the great suggestions! I have some 3M film left over so that likely the initial method.

Seems like there are some radiused water stones in my future.

I have had a concave spokeshave for about 25 years. I have always sharpened it with India and Arkansas slipstones. If I used it more often. I would get a scythe stone to do the rough sharpening. I am thinking of the kind that has a straight shaft with an eliptical cross section. refining the edge can be done with slip stones, but rough sharpening takes time.

The stone does not have to match the radius of the spokeshave and it is better if it is significantly smaller.

[Keegan Shields]

Honing the back has very limited results. Slip stones are work well.

If you like water stones, Lee Valley has a nice selection > https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/sharpening/stones/33013-traditional-water-slip-stones?item=60M9003

And > https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/sharpening/stones/33012-water-cones

Dan's Whetstones is a good source if you like oilstones > https://danswhetstone.com

Sharpening supplies carries a coarse Chrystolon stone > https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/Norton-Crystolon-6-Round-Edge-Slip-Stone-P269C206.aspx

Using a wood form (Lee Valley carries some) with various grades of abrasive paper works, but it can become expensive over time.

jtk


The slipstones from Lee Valley work great on this concave spokeshave blade! Thanks for the recommendation Jim.

[Jim Koepke]

The slipstones from Lee Valley work great on this concave spokeshave blade! Thanks for the recommendation Jim.

Glad it helped. Just be careful to keep your eye on what you are doing and keep the fingers clear of the blade.

jtk