Thread: Which Spokeshave Is Best?

Hi Mike

I am not sure if you want one for inside or outside curves?

For inside curves steer clear of all spokeshave bar Veritas, LN and HNT Gordon. A Stanley round bottomed spokeshave is just asking for trouble!

The above are great for outside curves, but the Stanley that you should look out for, and which is one of my favourite all-rounders, is the Stanley #53 (and #54). These have adjustable mouths, so are good for both fine smoothing shaves and roughing out.

Look also at HNT Gordon - they will tame any timber.

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolRev...OKESHAVES.html

Regards from Perth

Derek

...and to add to Derek's post, a good old wood spokeshave if in good condition can be a very nice tool. I have several metal spokeshaves and several wood ones. I am a huge fan of modern tools, but I almost never use the metal shaves.

I haven't been to a flea market for a few years...you might still find some around, or on flea bay

Greg

...and to add to Derek's post, a good old wood spokeshave if in good condition can be a very nice tool. I have several metal spokeshaves and several wood ones. I am a huge fan of modern tools, but I almost never use the metal shaves.

I haven't been to a flea market for a few years...you might still find some around, or on flea bay

Greg

Wood spokeshaves rules!!! I Like Gordon spokeshaves.

Thanks for the replies guys, I will keep my eye out for a Stanley 53 or 54 in my travels. I don't have any specific need for one at the moment but thought it would be good to start keeping an eye out for a better one before I actually need one and am forced to pay a higher price for a lesser beast.

Cheers,
Mike

Mike

based on comments overheard at the Sydney Working with wood show, a new Veritas shave, especially if bought from Lee Valley, may cost less than a 2nd hand Stanley 53 or 54

For final finising of outside curves (and gental inside ones) I particularly like my Veritas scraper shave



ian

Mike

I know that Derek likes the Stanley 53 or 54.

I prefer the Record 151 - I haven't had a Stanley version, but I like being able to move the two sides of the blades independently and I haven't had the problems with my 151s that Derek reported that he experienced - I was probably just lucky with the examples that I got.

I note that Planecraft also suggests the 151 over the others (but that was written by the Record people, so that may say something).

Hi Jeremy

I once had a Stanley #151 but sold it - not because it did not work... it worked quite well ... but because I find that style of spokeshave quite top heavy. It is just a "feel" thing for me. I would probably prefer the #51, which from memory does not have the adjusters. I have a few interesting Stanleys, such as the #55 (hollow) and #65 (bevel).

The Stanley I dislike, and not for its balance but because it is very difficult to use, is the radiused version of the above. I have a Stanley #51R that I included in my review of the HNT Gordon spokeshave (see on my website under "Reviews"). I could get mine to work because I tuned and fiddled with it, swore some and intimidated it into submission.

I prefer simple spokeshaves. Ones that you need to adjust with a mallet. The HNT Gordons, in spite of their apparent bulkiness, are well-balanced and probably the best spokeshave I have used on hard, interlinked grain. There is nothing that Stanley has made (not even the #53) that can keep up in this regard.

I like the Veritas LA spokeshave for endgrain areas. It cuts smoothly and just feels so right. Interestingly (for me), I have not acquired a second blade and attempted to use it at a high angle.

I have not tried the Veritas versions of the Stanleys because they do not fit in with my perception of their balance. These receive superlative reviews everywhere and should be trialed. I must do so as well. I have my eye on the LN shaves because they look like the type I will enjoy (low centre of gravity).

The ones that I have tended to avoid are the LA woodies in the markets. The problem with most is that they arrrive well-used and with worn and wide mouths (these cannot be adjusted). I like the concept, but that is why I use the Veritas.

Regards from Perth

Derek

I've had quite a few antique wooden shaves and several Record/Stanley 151/951 adjustable shaves, and the non adjustable version No. 51. I've got fairly big hands and I could never imagine what size of hands the inventor of the 51/151/951 shaves must have had. I also found them awkward and 'top heavy' to use.

The one I preferred above all was the No. 64 for the majority of convex and concave shaping and if I need to pare off particularly fine shavings, I used my No. 53 shave.

Having owned a set of Veritas spokeshaves, I can confirm they are fine shaves. The do have however a higher centre of gravity and were prone to rolling during the cut. In addition the handless are only screwed into place and were prone to coming lose at times which can be annoying. However outside of that they are a fine spokeshave.

The HNT Gordon I have is a really nice shave, and can handle almost any task. It took me some time to get used to it, however the grip is far more comfortable then the smallish wooden handles on the Veritas.

I would like to try the Lie-Nielsen.