I have a couple of questions for the spokeshave users out there.  I am considering buying one of the Veritas spokeshaves from Lee Valley.  While acknowledging from the beginning that I have absolutely no experience with spokeshaves, here are my opinions.  It would seem to me that the most used configuration would be concave, so that is what I am thinking of starting with.  Also, when considering flat vs block planes, what can a flat spokeshave do that the block plane can't?  Comments?

I see the February 2020 issue of Fine Woodworking has a pretty detailed article on building your own.

Edited December 31, 20196 yr by lew

Are you fixin to build a covered wagon and wheels too?

Tom, I'm out in the field right now, I do have an opinion on this, when I get in tonight I'll chime in.

while the lee valley is probably nice, the plain old inexpensive stanley will do the job if you sharpen it right and set to a nice light cut.   years ago, my two youngest daughters were interested in making their own suburito (a type of bokken) and i ripped some ash i had into generic blanks for them and turned them loose with the tools.  Even with the cheaper tools which were on hand at the time, they both were able to follow the lines and make nicely shaped instruments.  

 

That said, I think you would do fine with what you have in mind using.   Remember your grain and take nice light cuts.   This isn't a drawknife.

7 hours ago, Smallpatch said:

Are you fixin to build a covered wagon and wheels too?

Why?  Do you need one?

7 hours ago, lew said:

I see the February 2020 issue of Fine Woodworking has a pretty detailed article on building your own.

I'll have to see if I can find it on the news stand.  

My experience has been limited but as to the question of plane vs spoke shave:

        for a plane you will need open surface area as in a flat board without obstructions

        for a spoke shave it can get into areas close to obstructions such as chair legs or close to corners on casework.

 

Also note a bullnose plane is a different kind of animal and can get all the way into corners where other planes and spoke shaves cannot get all the way there.

A drawknife will take off bark. A plane won't. Drawknives eat knots. Planes don't. Spokeshaves round out rough green wood. Planes won't do good on greenwood.

Spokeshaves for round wood, block plane for flàt and with a guide, square can be achieved.

Tom, for your first shave I would not purchase one with a concave blade, the reason is you are limited to only shaping rounds. I would purchase a flat shave, with a flat shave as your first shave, you can shape wood to round, and you can shape wood in the flat as well. Whereas the concave shave can only serve one purpose, the flat shave is multi use. I own the Veritas concave, round and flat, and I also have the Veritas Chair Devils too.

 

With the flat shave, even though the sole is flat, you'd be surprised how much use you can get out of it shaping curvy shapes, it does curves actually pretty good. The concave shave can be a tad temperamental to use for your first shave, I would rather get familiar with the flat shave, use, sharpening, adjustments etc.

 

The Veritas shaves are excellent as well in that they come with thin shims, that you can use to adjust the pitch of the blade, for complicated and figured woods.

Then when you get accustomed to the flat shave, my second purchase would be the round shave then the concave last, since again, the flat shave can do anything the concave shave can do, but the concave shave can only do one thing, shape round.

 

Your choice for the Veritas shaves is an excellent choice, they are wonderful tools! And a joy to use, and handle.

 

The flat shave v the block plane, the block plane can only flatten a surface, yet an argument could be made I guess, you could also use any plane to shape with, such as turning square stock into round. But the sole of the block plane will not allow you to cut curvy shapes, as the flat shave can do to an extent. Even though the flat shave has a flat sole, it does do curves quite well depending on the radius of the curves, because of the short sole.

 

I have now been to class on spokeshaves.  Already in 2020 I have learned something, my bank account is bracing for impact. 

Thanks all for the feedback.  I think February is going to see a purchase.