Early Access Video: Build or buy a Spokeshave?
Added 2019-11-22 18:02:57 +0000 UTCFriends:
We all need a good spokeshave, but it's just a blade with a handle on either side. Why not just make one? Well, we can. But we can also just buy a new one for $20.
So, which do we value more: the time or the money?
"By hammer and hand do all Arts stand."
--Rex
Comments
You won't try; you will succeed. I am sure of it!
Rex Krueger
2020-01-09 12:12:28 +0000 UTCWill try to build this soon :)
Viktor Akoral
2020-01-08 19:46:28 +0000 UTCNow THAT is a hot tip!
Rex Krueger
2019-11-27 11:24:49 +0000 UTCJust a quick tip on the WWFH mentality - if you have a small rotary tool that you use (Dremel/Proxxon etc) I’ve found that dentists are more than happy to give you their used diamond or tungsten carbide micro burrs if you tell them a little about what you do. They’re too blunt for enamel and just get tossed in the trash, but they’re plenty sharp enough for wood or plastic. I’ve got quite the collection.
A1BASE
2019-11-27 01:57:05 +0000 UTCYou're very kind, but I think you're just reacting to the light glinting off my bald dome!
Rex Krueger
2019-11-26 11:35:49 +0000 UTCYou know what, for 20 bucks, I can just buy it myself and tried it out. And apart from the fact that part of the japanning came off when I tried to degrease it with alcohol (probably needs more burning in), it is an okay tool. Mine also has a tapered holding screw for the cap, but it seems that the hole in the cap is also tapered slightly – just enough so it doesn't come off when adjusting the blade. At least that didn't happen to me in the first two hours that I fiddled around with it today. So overall I'm lucky with it :)
Daniel Bohrer
2019-11-25 23:44:40 +0000 UTCAhhh! Back to the smiling face! All is good in the world again!
Jim Williams
2019-11-25 21:38:26 +0000 UTCI just had a note from another fellow who uses wax on the surface of the wood to prevent glue from sticking. Might try that too. Been using the wet rag and it's not bad.
William Allen
2019-11-25 17:38:38 +0000 UTCIt adds time to your build but you can try using blue tape to tape off the joint before you glue it up. Good ol' Norm just used a wet rag to wipe up the squeeze out but that isn't always effective.
WhatMeWorry
2019-11-25 17:20:16 +0000 UTCAfter watching your video on the post WWII Stanley you bought, I think your practical, hands-on approach would be interesting. It could get complicated though. As you have found with the Soba planes, there is no blanket answer. For instance, I bought a Fulton brace for less than 10 dollars that was a Goodell-Pratt 410. I have often read "Buy the North Bros 2101 because it is better made than the Stanley" Really? Why? Ive taken them both apart and see no evidence of that.
WhatMeWorry
2019-11-25 12:59:07 +0000 UTCI’ve been using too much I’m sure, messy. Problem is when finishing I get some areas where the glue has soaked into the wood, preventing the finish from soaking in. Really a pain, especially in corners or recesses. No short cuts I guess eh. Experience.
William Allen
2019-11-25 12:23:24 +0000 UTCThat's actually a great idea! I have many planes from other good makers!
Rex Krueger
2019-11-25 11:33:27 +0000 UTCThey're standard Bailey-style planes are just fine. I like them a lot. But get the Grizzly. I think they're identical, but Grizzly costs less.
Rex Krueger
2019-11-25 11:32:54 +0000 UTCIt's totally simple. 3 hour project if you take your time.
Rex Krueger
2019-11-25 11:31:29 +0000 UTCWell, the strongest glue bond is one molecule thick, so probably less glue. I typically use a lot out of paranoia.
Rex Krueger
2019-11-25 11:31:14 +0000 UTCThat's exactly what I was going to do, but I thought that all-wood would be easier for others!
Rex Krueger
2019-11-25 11:30:19 +0000 UTCI'm actually listening to music. It's built into my hearing protection.
Rex Krueger
2019-11-25 11:29:45 +0000 UTCAlso great for making tool handles without a lathe!
Rex Krueger
2019-11-25 11:29:17 +0000 UTCMaybe it's just not suited to your work.
Rex Krueger
2019-11-25 11:29:01 +0000 UTCHmm, and it's cheaper than the Tay. Might give it a shot!
Rex Krueger
2019-11-25 11:28:36 +0000 UTCI'll have a look!
Rex Krueger
2019-11-25 11:26:28 +0000 UTCI rush to the get the videos up in time for early access. Link and plans come later. Sorry for the confusion!
Rex Krueger
2019-11-25 11:25:42 +0000 UTCI can’t seem to find the link to the spokeshave. Am I missing it?
Jim Schultz
2019-11-24 19:45:56 +0000 UTCI bought a Silverline Spokeshave, got to say yes it is a budget tool, but that is all it has going for it.
Gary Meechan
2019-11-24 15:46:58 +0000 UTCHere's a thought for a slow week. In my part of the world, the cache now associated with old Stanley planes has resulted in higher prices and reduced availability. I recently picked up a sweet, pre-WW1, Sargent 414. I love it. I've also picked up a couple other "off-brand" plans that have proven themselves to be somewhat less than stellar. A Dunlap that is best suited for use as a trotline weight immediately comes to mind. How about a quick tour of the world beyond Stanley? Whether that sound interesting or not, keep up the good work. I look forward to each of your videos.
Mark L
2019-11-24 01:15:55 +0000 UTCRex, thanks for the video. I've not done much spokeshave work, but when I have used one, I've found it to be a very seductive tool. Using a spoke shave is simply great fun. Also, thank you for the Taytools heads up. I've been seriously considering a Taytools #7. Based on the two tay's that you've featured, I'm going to consider other options.
Mark L
2019-11-24 01:04:14 +0000 UTCThis is what I like. Making a versatile tool that looks complicated, but really isn't. Or maybe you just make it look uncomplicated.
Frans van Ballegooijen
2019-11-23 22:16:14 +0000 UTCI found my spoke shave in a garage sale for $10, it's a stanley. Works great. Here's a question: how much glue? I really don't like having glue squeeze out on the surface, it leaves marks when you go to finish the wood. Sometimes you can just scrap off the are with a cabinet or card scraper or chisel, but sometimes not so much. So, how do you decide, or figure out, how much glue to put on that wood on that joint? Or at least get close?
William Allen
2019-11-23 18:08:02 +0000 UTCJust a thought - instead of the rosewood for the mouthpiece, you might be able to recycle an old door striker plate.
Howard Tuckey
2019-11-23 14:47:20 +0000 UTCBoy, that Suizan must be very noisy.🙂
WhatMeWorry
2019-11-23 13:15:40 +0000 UTCIn the video, he says Amazon and eBay for less than 4 dollars.
WhatMeWorry
2019-11-23 13:08:51 +0000 UTCHmmm, it also seems to have a flathead screw to hold the cap down, judging from the product pictures. I wonder if it has similar problems like the Tay. (Also fun fact: at least in Germany, Amazon promotes it as "Energy efficiency grade A" :D)
Daniel Bohrer
2019-11-23 12:31:55 +0000 UTCit certainly depends on what you build. I guess Rex is one who uses curves in his designs very often, so there the spokeshave can really shine :)
Daniel Bohrer
2019-11-23 12:29:15 +0000 UTCIt’s weird. A spokeshave is something I’ve never felt I’ve needed. There’s one in my plane drawer somewhere but I’m not sure it’s ever been used.
A1BASE
2019-11-23 04:45:15 +0000 UTCHow about the Stanley 151? That was Paul Sellers recommended cheap New spokeshave. https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16803003021?item=9SIA5D52JJ7406&source=googleshopping&nm_mc=knc-googlemkp-mobile&cm_mmc=knc-googlemkp-mobile-_-pla-zoro-_-tools+-+other+hand-_-9SIA5D52JJ7406&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=Cj0KCQiAq97uBRCwARIsADTziyYOu70C_EmxWvL3QoNUSxjncsIZp8wzeDquPZE467ndUYfoLbGxAooaApAFEALw_wcB
Todd Fox
2019-11-23 03:43:32 +0000 UTCLink...
James Boatright
2019-11-23 03:42:12 +0000 UTCAlso, didnt you do a post on the various under $10 crappy dont work spokeshaves (the ones with red caps) that dont work and shouldnt you kink it?
James Boatright
2019-11-23 03:42:06 +0000 UTCAre you going to do a drawknife vid for the green wood series? I dont know that at this level, ither than sharpening, any of the zillion cheap ones on ebay out to be fine, ir, i could be wrong :-)
James Boatright
2019-11-23 03:39:22 +0000 UTCUhm, its not clear if you put the pan head screw on BEFORE you reamed out the countersink. I think you substantially reduced the area to have friction hold the cap on. If you somehow drilled a small indent, deep enough to catch the pan head screw then the top cap couldn't slide off. Or, hmm, could we put a rubber o ring washer under the pan head on an undrilled cap to increase the friction? But the fact that you didnt try the pan head until after you countersunk really bothers me.
James Boatright
2019-11-23 03:21:11 +0000 UTCIncidentally, the video has a minor editing error at 1:40. It's not a big deal, and could probably be ignored, but I did a double-take when I watched it.
Yohann_M
2019-11-22 23:25:53 +0000 UTCGreat video, Rex. I like your approach to the spokeshave, and I think the one you built looks excellent. I think I have about a half-dozen spokeshaves at the moment, so I don't need to build one. However, I like building tools, so maybe I need another one. :)
Yohann_M
2019-11-22 23:23:49 +0000 UTCOk, where do I get the blade for this spokeshave please?
Adrian Abshire
2019-11-22 23:21:23 +0000 UTCHock actually has a kit that you can buy right now from woodcraft for $84, so it's also out of the $20 range but might be cheaper than the Lee Valley kit, idk never really shopped Lee Valley before.
The Poor Man
2019-11-22 20:33:47 +0000 UTCIt's funny that you just made this video, I've been thinking for the last couple weeks that I need to make something similar to this for my homemade scrapers. My thumbs always end up sore within 10 min and I figured make one that I can change the scrapers out so I can put in the crazily shaped ones I use for molding type patterns on antiques that way I can scrape all the old shellac and stain off and not fight tiny crevices with sandpaper.
The Poor Man
2019-11-22 20:31:19 +0000 UTCOr you could do what I did: buy one *and* take the time to make it. :) Lee Valley sells (or at least sold - it isn't on their website at the moment but I know some of their products just haven't been transferred to the new website yet) a couple of spokeshave kits. I put one together earlier this year and it works great. Quite a bit more than the $20 option though. I *really* like your idea for this one though. Simple, effective, and not a big time sink to make.
Kris Towson
2019-11-22 19:35:55 +0000 UTCI usually remove the adjusters and the posts. I cant get them to work. To adjust I first put the mouth of the spokeshave on my bench. Then insert the blade and cap iron and tight the cap iron screw. After that I slightly tap the top of the iron with a small hammer. If I advance it to far, I re-flush the blade with the mouth on my bench.
Aaron Sprague
2019-11-22 18:42:06 +0000 UTCI didn't know until today that I really need a spokeshave, one way or the other .... Thanks.
Mark Petersen
2019-11-22 18:27:26 +0000 UTC
