Fettling your Record / Stanley 151 spokeshave

[Mikey R]

I was going to post this in another thread, but then thought I'd start a fresh thread as its a little off topic.

A short time ago I read an article by Brian Boggs about fettling metal bodied spokeshaves by Record and Stanley - it was in a compilation book about plane fettling but I cant remember the title.

Anyway, I recently got a replacement iron from Ray Iles, at the same time as buying a reground Stanley #7. But I noticed that the blade actually rests on the spokeshaves adjustment nuts, (stop laughing at the back!) and not on the back of the bed. This could cause some chatter and should be fixed. Then I remembered the article I read, and thought of raising the bed by epoxying in a shim. I could really do with reading that article again!

So, my question is, has anybody done this, and does the shim material actually make any difference?

I was thinking either 1.5mm ply that Ive got knocking around, or getting some 1mm mild steel - the steel seems like the better material as it will wear less over time.

p.s. Forgot to mention, Im mostly using this to shape rock maple and ash

 

[wizer]

was this the article?

http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ ... px?id=2803

 

[lurker]

IIRC it's in one of the Charlesworth books too

 

[Mikey R]

was this the article?

http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ ... px?id=2803

Cheers Wizer, that looks like the one!

IIRC it's in one of the Charlesworth books too

Thanks, I'll have a look this evening - the bookshops on the way home

 

[Mikey R]

was this the article?

http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ ... px?id=2803

Cheers Wizer, that looks like the one!

IIRC it's in one of the Charlesworth books too

Thanks, I'll have a look this evening - the bookshops on the way home

Also, whilst googling I found this thread:

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/view ... highlight=

Sorry guys, should have used the search before posting!

 

[woodbloke]

Forget trying to shim with epoxy...don't work :evil: The best way to do it is with a few layers of veneer stuck together and then stick them to the bed with some double sided tape, the veneers are easily trimmed to shape with a Stanley knife. The very best thing to do though IMHO is to bin the Record shaves at the first opportunity (nwt the 'Slope') and get hold of some LV ones. I struggled with the standard Record shaves for years :evil: ...using the LV ones (or Boggsy) is a complete revelation - Rob

 

[Mikey R]

Forget trying to shim with epoxy...don't work :evil: The best way to do it is with a few layers of veneer stuck together and then stick them to the bed with some double sided tape, the veneers are easily trimmed to shape with a Stanley knife. The very best thing to do though IMHO is to bin the Record shaves at the first opportunity (nwt the 'Slope') and get hold of some LV ones. I struggled with the standard Record shaves for years :evil: ...using the LV ones (or Boggsy) is a complete revelation - Rob

Cheers, Rob, I'll try using the ply with a little double sided tape at the weekend, and see how it goes.

Just checked your blog, yesterdays entry is spookily simular:

http://woodbloker.blogspot.com/2009/01/ ... -wind.html

 

[Paul Chapman]

Mike, I agree with Rob. It's very difficult to get the basic Record and Stanley 'shaves to work well. You will, no doubt, be able to get them to work better - but they are still rubbish IMHO (I have two and have given up using them). Veritas are light years ahead in performance.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Ironballs]

Agree, I look for reasons to use my LV flat bottomed shave it's a revelation. By comparison using a Stanley was like trying to shape curves with a breadknife

 

[Racers]

Hi,

Keep an eye out for old wooden spokeshaves they are very good or Prestons they are the ones I reach for usually out of this lot

Pete

 

[bugbear]

Agree, I look for reasons to use my LV flat bottomed shave it's a revelation. By comparison using a Stanley was like trying to shape curves with a breadknife

Yeah - the LV "woodie-a-like" is very good. The only downside is the lack of versatility. The large flat blade, that is easy (ish) to sharpen, means that the slightest concavity foxes it entirely.

The older woodies, with their super short blades, are remarkably versatile.

But - the LV is my "go to" shave, where applicable. Nothing wrong with having 2 or 3 shaves on the bench, is there?

BugBear

 

[Mikey R]

I learnt my lesson a while ago, buying new Records is a bad idea! Unfortunately I bought these shaves a while ago, just before learning this lesson

Hi,

Keep an eye out for old wooden spokeshaves they are very good or Prestons they are the ones I reach for usually out of this lot

Pete

Hi Pete, I saw this picture in a previous thread - thats a nice collection.

Ive been kicking myself I didnt buy a Preston shave from Ray Iles stand at the Harrogate show. If they are really heads a shoulders above the Records then I'll see if I can hunt one down.

Hi Bugbear, both the low angle and standard(ish) LV ones look good, the standard one like it will be perfect, but I doubt I will be buying any in the next few months, Im exercising a little slope control and cant justify the spend on a new tool, especially as Ive just shelled out for the jointer plane. I totally appreciate the Veritas engineering, but theyre out of my price range for now.

Any buying nice tools is a little pointless when I dont have a decent bench.

 

[Racers]

Hi, Mikey R

The Perstons are a lot better than the stanleys but not as good as the wooden ones. The Prestons are getting expensive a very good conditinon little one like the one on the right front went for over £80 on Ebay :shock:



Pete