@derekcohen mentioned in the General Woodworking forum about a dresser he had built that was featured in the current issue of Fine Woodworking magazine.  I didn't want to detract from his topic my post, since his work was so beautiful, so I am posting here.  In that same issue is an article about spokeshaves, written by Peter Galbert.  Since I know nothing about spokeshaves, I thought his article was quite informative.  I have been interested for some time in purchasing a spokeshave, (no I am not going to build a wagon wheel), so I looked to see what he recommended as a first purchase.  He recommended a Stanley 151, which he said could be had from the used tool market.  I'm not in the mood lately to rehab used tools, so his next recommendation was the Lie-Nielsen Boggs spokeshave.  I checked on the L-N website, and of course, they were out of stock.  I knew Highland Woodworking also sold L-N tools, so I check there.  Out of stock there also, and they plainly stated they weren't taking back orders for this tool.  Oh well, back to the computer and start looking at EBay.  Tried Craig's list, no luck there.  Anyone have any recommendations on other used tool web sites?  I can always get one from Lee Valley, but I would like to stay within the article's recommendations if possible.

 

I should have done this first.  Just checked Ebay, and they have a lot of them for sale.

 

Edited October 15, 20205 yr by PostalTom

I have a couple of Record spokeshaves (one flat bottom, one convex bottom).   I don't use them a lot but they seem to work just fine.   I've also got  vintage Stanley.  And another one, whose brand I don't remember, but think it's called a "cigar spokeshave" -- it's a little trickier to use.  I think it's a recreation of a Miller's Falls #1

Ebay has plenty 151 shaves listed and some look quite nice.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-STANLEY-No-151-Adjustable-Spoke-Shave-No-reserve-auction-9-99/392979651325?hash=item5b7f699afd:g:MOAAAOSwZ2Bfh-IQ

 

 

Yes I know.  No offense meant Dan, but I already posted that.  In fact, I am already bidding on one.  A different one than the one you linked in.

9 hours ago, PostalTom said:

Just checked Ebay, and they have a lot of them for sale.

let us summon the one who finds such gems @steven newman

Tom, what do you intend to use the shave for? Lets start there.

Keep and eye out for Seymour Smith & Sons spokeshaves.....just as nice, and sometimes will cost you less...

That "Cigar Spokeshave" is a No. 1 from Millers  Falls....$$$$

3 hours ago, John Morris said:

Tom, what do you intend to use the shave for? Lets start there.

John, I don't really have an immediate use for one.  I just wanted one on hand in case a project came up that the spokeshave would be good for.  What brought it to mind was that I am working on the second saw bench.  I mentioned before that I wanted two in case I needed to work on a larger board that needed more support than would be offered by one saw bench.  I started thinking that the spokeshave would be good to smooth the inside edges of the large V notch that goes in the end of the top.  On the first one, I had to smooth it out using a rasp and a card scraper, and I never really got satisfied with the results.  Beyond that, nothing else for now, but I'm sure I will use it in the future.  So far, I'm still the top bidder on one on Ebay.

I won the auction for the spokeshave.  Someone was bidding against me, just hope it wasn't the owner trying to drive up the price.  I quit bidding until the final 5 seconds, and then went in with my final bid.  I am supposed to receive  the tool on Thursday.  The description said NOS, but the pictures showed a bit of tarnish or rust.  That's OK, it has probably been in storage for years.  I'll know more when I receive it.  I'll post some pics when I get it, and then later when I do whatever rehabbing I decide to do.  I'm not really into restoring old tools, but "a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do", as the saying goes.  I assume it's somewhat like restoring a plane, but on a smaller scale.  

Funny thing about ebay and other such sites is you get wound up and some folks push the bid up before the last minute. I wait for withing the last 10 seconds. If you ever look at the penny auctions on Bud's Gunshop they add time if it looks like you have won in the last 10 seconds and that is a real bummer.

 

I bought my #8 on eBay and felt like I got a deal from watching other #8's that I dropped out and it went up over 150.

I promised some spokeshave pictures, so here they are.  I'll start out with how it looked when I received it, and follow up with how my re-hab turned out.

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry about the picture placement.  I couldn't get it to work consistently, but at least they are all there.  It is probably not as good as Steven Newman would have done, but it does look better.

Looks like a great rehab to me Tom.  Now, post up some pip's to give @steven newman a challenge!

Cleaned up tuned up looks great.

I love it!!!!

How she cut Tom?

Actually not bad John.  I tried to set it up for sharpening in my Veritas honing jig, but the blade was too short to mount in the jig, so I had my first experience with free hand sharpening.  I must have done something right because once I got the depth of cut set right, it cut pretty good.  Of course that was with a piece of scrap douglas fir, but still not bad.  I had an older model Dremel, the one with the flex shaft permanently mounted to the motor instead of an add-on, and the internal part of the flex shaft broke as I was cleaning up parts of the spokeshave.  Looking on eReplacements, the part I needed is no longer available, so I am going to have to buy a new Dremel.  That's OK, I have had that tool for about 30 to 40 years, so I got my money's worth out of it.  Since my efforts at hand sharpening were at least moderately successful, I am going to start practicing with a couple of junk chisels until I get the hang of it. 

13 hours ago, PostalTom said:

Since my efforts at hand sharpening were at least moderately successful

Right on Tom!!!!!!! And congrats on the great find and wonderful work.