Forums

Spokeshave: flat or round?

Posted by Uncle Gus on August 11, 2018 at 4:15pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

I know some people use a spokeshave to shape their necks, and I’m about to get one because my old Dremel-and-file method isn’t working for me anymore, and anyway I don’t want to get tennis elbow again if I can possibly help it, so I’ve got a Q maybe some of you can A:

Spokeshave: do I get a flat or curved blade, or does it even matter that much? There seems to be about a $20 price difference between the two, so if I can get away with the less-expensive option, I’d rather.

You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!

Join Cigar Box Nation

Email me when people reply –
Follow

Replies

  • Mark Prentice August 16, 2018 at 2:02pm

    I've been using a spoke shave since watching Chickenbone Johns neck carving video. I use a modern Stanley 151 and the key is to properly sharpen the blade. If you are not sure how to properly sharpen a blade you should watch some youtube videos on sharpening plane blades.

  • Uncle Gus August 15, 2018 at 10:02pm

    Thanks for the input, folks. I think I’m on a very different level, as an instrument-maker, than just about everyone. And I don’t mean a higher level, either.

    After all of this, I think what’s going to probably happen is that I end up huffing away with a rasp to rough out necks while the spokeshave quietly rusts at the bottom of a toolbox, having never even been sharpened. I know me.

    I had forgotten that anything related to woodworking is exactly like collecting vinyl records: you can’t just get a damn record. You gotta get outer sleeves and brushes and cleaning systems, and IKEA shelves, and by the way, what kinda stylus you using? Howzabout your speakers? Turntable looks a bit basic, too, while we’re at it...wait, you don’t have a 30-band EQ?!...

    I’ll give the spokeshave a shot once I get the rest of the New Yankee Workshop set up, I guess. I’ve got blueprints for a DIY workbench, but I might be better off with a trip to Memards.

    (Clarification, just in case: this is all written in the spirit of self-deprecating humor; I know that doesn’t always translate into text, and what with the rest of the internet being a brimming rage toilet, I’d hate for anyone to think I’m over here gnashing my teeth and making animal noises while standing on a milk crate.. I’m having a blast. Best forum I’ve ever been a part of. By the way, anybody wanna buy some records...?)

    • Taffy Evans > Uncle Gus August 16, 2018 at 2:25am

      Hi, maybe your question could  have been, " should I get a spokeshave or a bench first?" . Any old table or chest of drawers or kitchen worktop/unit or desk can be made into a cheep bench.

      Taff

      • Uncle Gus > Taffy Evans August 16, 2018 at 9:15am

        Or even more fundamentally: “How do I make a CBG?”

        (I’ve been doing this for six years. I think I may actually be getting dumber. Or I’m psyching myself out comparing my work to others’.)

  • Taffy Evans August 15, 2018 at 6:26pm

    Hi Clint, My suggestion may only apply if you also plan, at some time, to carve shapes like the heal of a guitar, or to blend the roundness of a neck into the square features of  peghead. Go for a curved style. 

    My two shave's were over 50 years old, when I dropped one [about 15 years ago] and it shattered the handle of the flat sole spokeshave and ever since I have been using the curved sole one for all my shaping. In fact I just had to go and check to see which one I had been using.

    But that is not all I use, I use my drawknife even more. See photo. However one does have to be more aware of grain direction so as to maintain a good surface. If the grain gets difficult I bring in the Spokeshave, and of course my Japanese hand cut rasp. 

    No vise?......in the photo I show one of my systems for shaping necks. Instead of the vise shown you could clamp the neck to your worksurface.

    306712694?profile=original 306713654?profile=original

    Cheers Taff

    • Kigar > Taffy Evans August 15, 2018 at 8:48pm
      • I like my spokeshave ok, but what Taffy is showing I always knew as a drawknife and I find it a much superior tool for necks.  They work great unsharpened too, and can round a neck in a couple minutes. Sometimes the grain will fight it but most oak pieces can be made smooth enough to not really need sanding. I was given a huge one and bought another smaller one at an antique store.  Both will outlive me without question.
    • Uncle Gus > Taffy Evans August 15, 2018 at 7:23pm

      Wow, you build nice ones.

      Maybe I can clamp ‘em to the lawn tractor. (In addition to a vise, I don’t even have the bench said vise would normally be attached to. I’m really winging it here. Furiously winging it.)

  • Uncle Gus August 15, 2018 at 1:06pm

    Thanks for weighing in, all.

    I got an okay-quality flat spokeshave.

    And then I realized this: I don’t have a bench with a vise. So I can’t even use the thing until I figure something out.

    I am beginning to suspect that I am not a genius.

  • John Sawyer August 15, 2018 at 1:05am

    CBJ is wise... I love my spokeshave.  Keeping the blade razor sharp is worthwhile effort.   I use mine on Maple...

  • BrianQ. August 14, 2018 at 2:20am

    Yes chickenbone, good advice. Cheap tools are just as such- cheap & no good for any kind of longevity & lack finesse 

This reply was deleted.