Thread: Spokeshave advice

Originally Posted by Mr Brush

...... I think IanW was on the right track with his homemade ones.....

Well, it's interesting, there was much whingeing & grumbling not long after the Veritas spokeshaves were released, on several forums that I was following at the time. There were a few "likers" but the "haters" were in the majority, or at least more vocal. I was very much in agreement with the "haters". Whether or not it was the hoo-ha that prompted LV to bring out the "kit" to make replacement handles I don't know, but it probably was responsible to some degree at least, Rob Lee obviously monitored a few forums back then & used to chip in on discussions quite frequently, so he would've been well aware there were a few campers that were not happy.

Since then, there has been only sporadic mention of the Veritas s/shave handles that I've seen. Either folks all bought the kits & made their own & got happy, or like Mr. B, they got used to the round things and the kits languished in drawers. I suspect that if I'd only ever used the flat-bottom version & especially if I hadn't been used to the handles on my old Stanleys I may have just accepted them myself after a bit of use. But I bought the round-bottomed version first, mainly because I thought I'd be able to follow a tighter curve (it can, but the difference may not be very significant, I really must give them a head-to-head comparison while I've still got a 151, just to satisfy my own mind). But after having been a 151 user for quite a few years prior to the Veritas, I found the round handles very hard to manage, it was like being a beginner all over again. In retrospect, I think that had I persisted I probably could have adjusted my technique a bit & my mindset a lot & gotten used to them, but as I said before, I'm an inveterate re-handler and rarely hesitate to re-handle a tool to my personal taste. I have not met a single Veritas handle I liked, as a matter of fact & every one of the 4 or 5 Veritas planes or shaves I have bought over the years got new wood within the first week or two after they came into my possession. I absolutely loathe the "totes" Veritas put on their planes - I tried to get on with the first one I got, but it didn't last long. I wrote up my "cure" here.

'Twould be interesting to know how many people actually have made new handles for their shaves & what designs they chose. I did see a few back at the time. One bloke made his at least twice as long as the originals and with a sweep that would've made a Texas Longhorn jealous. Maybe one of us should start a thread asking who's dunnit & what design they chose? You never know, Mike, you might see something that really tickles your fancy, mine are pretty conservative.....

Cheers,
Cheers,

Dunno about shaves Ian, but I'm with you - I tend to re-handle to my own tastes - I have a Bad Axe large tenon saw on which I find the handle both a bit cheap looking, and too small - that'll be the next project. It isn't just tools - here's the result of my wife complaining about the coffee pot handle a few years ago!

coffee (1).jpg

Originally Posted by KahoyKutter

.... I've just got to get my hands on some She-Oak. Alternatively, I may use Hairy Oak or Buloke, which to my un-trained (and colour-blind eyes) are very similar in appearance......

Well we share the curse of Daltonism, Mike. Being colour-blind in a colour-sighted world can be a right pita at times.especially when you chose a profession where colour is very important. But I managed to bluff my way through to the end...

Putting a different Casuarina on the other S/S could make a nice "pigeon pair" but my own form of OCD like matching pairs. If you want to match with she-oak I can help you there. I would have pieces of bull oak of suitable size, but if you wanted hairy oak I don't think I have any suitable bits left. I would strongly recommend hairy oak if you want a darker wood - it's way easier to work than bull oak!

If you are going to the Maleny show, you might be able to pick up a bit of hairy oak, there's usually someone there selling a bit. And you don't need colour to separate the two, it's quite easy, they have a very different grain structure. If you're ever down my way, drop in & I'll show you how to pick the difference...

Cheers,

Originally Posted by jpdv

Dunno about shaves Ian, but I'm with you - I tend to re-handle to my own tastes - I have a Bad Axe large tenon saw on which I find the handle both a bit cheap looking, and too small - that'll be the next project. It isn't just tools - here's the result of my wife complaining about the coffee pot handle a few years ago!

coffee (1).jpg

One look at that Moka pot and there's no doubting that the owner's a woody !! Me like !!

Ian,


We are in complete agreement when it comes to Veritas totes and handles, and I applaud Rob Lee for listening to his customers.

Thank you for the offer, but I have Hairy Oak and Buloke covered. I think I may even have some She-Oak somewhere, I just got to find it. Let me know if you need some Buloke and Hairy Oak for your infill planes and I may be able to repay one of the favours I owe you.

As to the shape of the handles, even if my OCD would permit to explore different shapes, generally speaking, I'm a man of simple tastes who favours function over form. IMHO, your handles strikes the perfect balance between aesthetics and function and I will endeavour to replicate them to the best of my ability.



Cheers,
Mike