Veritas low-angle spokeshave

[Paul Chapman]

Until now my only spokeshaves have been the Record A151 and A151R. I've had them for years and they are probably the two tools I dislike most. The problem with them is that they are so crudely made, with such poor blade seatings, that they chatter - no matter how tight I do them up. I've tried flattening the blade bed but it's very awkward to file. Not to put too finer point on it, I hate using them.

Anyway, a few weeks ago I was in a second-hand shop and I saw a Veritas low-angle spokeshave that had never been used and it was going for £6 :shock: :shock: Alf did one of her excellent reviews on it here https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/view ... hp?p=36032 so I won't bother repeating what she said, but just give you my impressions.

First, it's very well made - a real precision tool like all Veritas stuff. The blade is very small so I treated myself to a Veritas small blade holder. It's very easy to hone the blade with this clamped in my Eclipse honing guide and because the honed edge and opposite edge of the blade are parallel, it's easy to flip it out of the blade holder to wipe off the wire edge and to replace the blade in exactly the same position. The back of the blade was very flat and required no work on it.

In use it's really nice, once you get the hang of it - which doesn't take long. I particular I like the fact that you can adjust both the blade depth and the width of the mouth - an important feature I think when doing precision work on small pieces.

Setting it up is a bit of a fiddle at first - but quick once you know how. You can reverse the toe piece so that the same shave can be used on concave and convex pieces. However, rather than do that I will keep my eyes open for a second one and keep them set up for the two types of work.

Overall, a cracking little tool - highly recommended

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[woodbloke]

Paul Chapman wrote:

the Record A151 and A151R

I agree with you Paul, they're not particularly inspiring tools to use - I would like a couple of those LN Boggs type shaves, but at about £60 a pop its a bit out of my leauge at the mo'. I tried to DC modify my Record shaves by packing out the bed of the shave with some veneer. This does work as it makes them far less chattery to use as the mouth becomes very fine. DC advocates making a false bed by using epoxy which I tried to no avail. This way ain't perfect, but it does make a bad tool (in my view) slightly better. Trouble is though, that as the blade is now raised by about 2mm from the original bed, the adjusters don't work :x , so the depth of cut is more difficult to set. Couple of pics to show what I mean - Rob

 

[Paul Chapman]

Thanks for that, Rob - really helpful :wink: I was getting a bit paranoid about my 'shaves, so I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one to think they are rubbish. Ideally, you would file the bed flat but the mouth of the shave gets in the way and I found that it was all very slow progress.

Now that I've got the Veritas low-angle shave I am really starting to enjoy using a spokeshave. The only trouble is that to buy new, all the good spokeshaves are very expensive when compared with other tools. Couldn't believe my luck when I saw one going for £6 8) 8)

Bought a nice Sorby pig sticker for £5 in the same shop this morning 8) 8)

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[woodbloke]

Paul - saw a Record T5 in Penny Farthing Tools yesterday, similar to mine, going in again this pm. If I remember correctly, did you want one? Interested? - Rob

 

[Lord Nibbo]

Couldn't believe my luck when I saw one going for £6 8) 8)



Cheers :wink:

Paul

Lucky git :wink: I think I paid about £25 off ebay. They are a joy to use, I was thinking of car booting all my other shaves, they just ain't used anymore. :?

 

[Paul Chapman]

Paul - saw a Record T5 in Penny Farthing Tools yesterday, similar to mine, going in again this pm. If I remember correctly, did you want one? Interested? - Rob

Yes, still interested. If they still have it could you give me a ring on my mobile 07799684804, please, and let me know how much? How interested depends on the price :wink:

Thanks :wink:

Paul

 

[woodbloke]

Paul - will have a look at it this pm and give you ring later on from the shop, have made a note of your mobile number - Rob

 

[David C]

Rob,

If you can taper / thin down the top edge of your wooden frog surface , it should be possible to get the adjusters to engage again.

Apart from the bed the best thing to improve stan and record shaves is a thicker better quality blade from Ron Hock or Ray Iles.

In my view low angle and regular pitched shaves have two distinct functions. Low angle better for end grain and regular for surface grain.

I have included 3 articles on spokeshaves in Book 3. They are difficult tools at the best of times. The Boggs L-N is undoubtedly the best for the fine finishing of difficult hardwoods, but I am sure that serious users have a whole range at their disposal.

Brian Boggs DVD is incredible, and shows that my complicated adjuster is probably redundant.............though it helps me to reset after sharpening.

David Charlesworth www.davidcharlesworth.co.uk

 

[woodbloke]

David - many thanks for that. As you and Paul have said, the Record and Stanley shaves are fairly tricksy things to use but can be made to work better than the standard offering with a little tweaking.
I have solved the adjuster problem on my shaves by removing the blade/cap and placing the shave in a mechanics vice. The adjuster nuts are at the end of the threads - smartly tap the adjuster nuts with a 'birmingham screwdriver' to bend them up about 2mm so that they then engage in the slots in the blade - simple and it works - Rob

 

[Paul Chapman]

I have solved the adjuster problem on my shaves by removing the blade/cap and placing the shave in a mechanics vice. The adjuster nuts are at the end of the threads - smartly tap the adjuster nuts with a 'birmingham screwdriver' to bend them up about 2mm so that they then engage in the slots in the blade - simple and it works

Thanks for that tip, Rob :wink: I must admit, I've often felt like taking a hammer to mine, but that's usually been out of frustration :lol: :lol:

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[woodbloke]

Paul Chapman wrote:

usually been out of frustration

Paul - know how you feel with these shaves - try packing out the bed with veneer/thin cardboard to narrow the mouth, (also helps to flatten/true the sole) - it does make a difference but they still probably won't be as pleasant to use as your low angle Veritas - Rob

 

[MikeW]

Another nice way to spend an afternoon is to make one of the LV low angle shave kits. I've made two, one I gave away. These both had finely set mouths.

I'll probably make a second flat bottomed one to keep with a little wider mouth I can use for ranker cuts. This one I'll deviate from the plan and make it a higher angle one for ranker cuts.

And I still have to make a curved sole one ala Alf, but that's in the works as well--when I find more shop time that is.

The finished shaves work wonderfully. Easy to adjust. Great single day project.

Take care, Mike

 

[Paul Chapman]

Another nice way to spend an afternoon is to make one of the LV low angle shave kits.

Thanks - good suggestion, Mike :wink: Just had a look at them on the LV and BriMarc sites. Could be a way to get really good 'shaves at a reasonable price.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Derek Cohen (Perth Oz)]

Hi Paul

Keep an eye out for a Stanley #53. These have an adjustable mouth and so can be set for a very fine cut as well as a rank one. One of my favourite spokeshaves.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[bugbear]

Another nice way to spend an afternoon is to make one of the LV low angle shave kits...

As ably demonstrated/photographed/written by Alf

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3794

BugBear

 

[Paul Chapman]

Keep an eye out for a Stanley #53. These have an adjustable mouth and so can be set for a very fine cut as well as a rank one.

Thanks, Derek - I'll keep a look-out. Do you have any pictures of yours?

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Derek Cohen (Perth Oz)]

Hi Paul

Not the best picture - this came off eBay.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[Paul Chapman]

Many thanks, Derek :wink:

Cheers

Paul

 

[Alf]

Hmm, sounds like someone needs to bookmark Patrick "Blood and Gore" Leach on Spokeshaves - with picture links.

Cheers, Alf

 

[Paul Chapman]

Oops Thanks Alf :wink: I did look at the Blood & Gore plane site but they weren't there :? :? Didn't know that he'd done one on spokeshaves as well.

Cheers :wink:

Paul