The Underrated Spokeshave Thrives in Our Video Q&A

The Q&A on the spokeshave results from almost a hundred questions you sent in and it’s just up on YouTube now. I’m really hoping that our efforts will answer many of the common and not so common questions you sent in. I hope to that as a result you will never consider this tool an archaic remnant with no real value to the modern world of woodworking. No CNC equipment will replace its versatility and functionality and you too can become a master of it in just a few hours of practice. I cannot imagine life without it. It is truly a punchy little Haflinger of a workhorse.

10 Comments

  1. Hey Paul. thanks for this, this is great. I have an old record curved bottom spokeshave that I bought 30 years ago. I didn’t know exactly what to buy at the time but I figured curved made sense since I was going to make curved table legs. Now that I am trying to build up my hand tool kit I would like to either get a flat bottom spokeshave or modify this old curved bottom like you did in this video. COuld you please give more detailed instruction on how to modify? I like to have a minimal tool kit where possible. Or maybe you could make a Common Woodworking guide on this modification?

  2. Hi Paul….thank you

    When you sent out your questionnaire on the spoke shave some weeks ago……I asked “how I could control a round bottom and get fine shavings …without chatter” on a, say, 4″ radius …..not sure if you covered that?.or if you did perhaps I missed it

    I have just sold 7 wooden type on eBay…..although I sharpened as you suggest….I just could not get on with them, for various reasons.

    Thanks John
    I will keep to my Stanley flat and round sole.

  3. Thank you Paul!

    For me the spokeshave is the hardest tool to demistify and this video did just that. Could not really find this elsewhere. Every question was valuable for that! Think I finally understand how to tilt and use my wooden spokeshave now. And I am glad you shared the bit at the end about fiddling with the Stanley to get it ready. Great video!

  4. Funnily enough when I was at school and in woodwork class our teacher, Mr Pook, was keen on spokeshaves. I guess small boy cannot do a lot of damage to the wood or themselves with a spokeshave. I have struggled with mine, maybe I have the blade in wrong even.

    1. Checked it out, blade upside down, now sharpened it cuts beautifully. Maybe I’ll leave it handy as it can do the odd little trim or shaping job a block plane would be used.

  5. Thanks again Paul. What would be really nice would be a video or blog post about making new bodies to fit irons fron old cream crackered wooden spokeshaves. I’ve got loads of them and it seams such a waste of that good steel. Main difficulty in my mind is making the holes for the tangs a good fit.

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