Thread: Assistance with old Spoke Shaver

Made by Edward Preston. Up there with the best tookmakers. Looks OK for around 100 years old.
EP were bought by Rabone in the 1930s and some of their planes were eventually made by Record.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Preston_%26_Sons

A similar (simpler) EP spokeshave was good enough to be copied by Lee Valley for a modern version:
Cast Round Spokeshave - Lee Valley Tools

There is a similar model for sale here (albeit not at a price that I would pay):
https://www.toolexchange.com.au/our-...on-planes/9145

Postings with Rare in the description are a bit like countries with Democratic in the title.
If you have to say it, it's probably not true.
Plenty here:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?&_...shave&_sacat=0

Worth keeping just as a 'show' tool, Crowie! Those decorated castings Preston made were the pinnacle of the casters' art but what you read about them says they are a very decent working tool too. The single adjuster screw isn't as convenient as the double-screw system on other versions, according to one user, but it does the job, apparently.

Good score.....
Cheers,

Originally Posted by hiroller

...... Postings with Rare in the description are a bit like countries with Democratic in the title.
If you have to say it, it's probably not true.....

But it sure adds a heap to the asking price!

And only ten quid for a Ray Iles replacement blade - looks like you can have a really top-notch little shave for next to nothing, Crowie.
Cheers,

Originally Posted by IanW

Worth keeping just as a 'show' tool, Crowie! Those decorated castings Preston made were the pinnacle of the casters' art but what you read about them says they are a very decent working tool too. The single adjuster screw isn't as convenient as the double-screw system on other versions, according to one user, but it does the job, apparently.

Good score.....

Agree good score.

regarding the single adjuster screw, my go to shave is the LN copy of a Preston that didn't have an adjuster screw. I much prefer it to the double adjuster screw version from Veritas.

Thank you gents, I'll show my neighbour the information received BUT may have to return it as it's such a good tool...Cheers, crowie

Originally Posted by ian

.......regarding the single adjuster screw, my go to shave is the LN copy of a Preston that didn't have an adjuster screw. I much prefer it to the double adjuster screw version from Veritas....

Ian, it just confirms that we all have our personal preferences when it come to what we like & which tool to use for what, and though the logic of our own choices may be plain to ourselves, they can be obscure to others.. Quite a while back I 'upgraded' from my Stanley/Record 151 type shaves to a pair of Veritas (which took me a while to get used to, but now much prefer to the 151s), so one way or another I've lived with twin-screw shaves for more than 50 years now. That's enough to get anyone rusted onto any tool, I reckon, but I will claim one advantage for the twin screw system. It's very easy to dial up a slightly twisted blade 'on the go', which is really handy in some situations where you want to remove a fair amount of material quickly, but still be able to leave a good finish. I read this in a FWW many years back & thought it sounded a bit suss, but tried it, & blow me down if it doesn't work quit well - not in every situation, but enough to make it worthwhile trying. Once that job or part of the job is finished, it's a simple matter to return the blade to an even exposure & carry on....

Cheers,

Originally Posted by hiroller

Postings with Rare in the description are a bit like countries with Democratic in the title.
If you have to say it, it's probably not true.

Nicely put. I am thinking of making a collection of quotable quotes for 1918. That is the first quote .

Regards
Paul

I wasn’t around in 1918 but I’m keen to see the list!

It's a retrospective!



Make that 2018

Regards
Paul

I have a couple of my Dad's old spokeshaves. The one in the best condition is a wooden one with a curved bottom - sole presumably. It was set with one side of the blade cutting deeper than the other when I found it and I kept it like that once I cleaned it up. There aren't any screws or anything. Just wedged bits of metal up through the body.

Except for chisels it was the first hand tool I used and it is so easy to use. Seriously the easiest tool as a beginner.