The Kansas City shave is a lightweight, graceful tool that was razor sharp and fully tuned out of the box. The blade is hollow ground on both its bevel and underside-a unique design that made honing a breeze. On the downside, the thin handles are a bit difficult to grasp, particularly if you have large hands. Also, to reset the depth of cut, you need to adjust screw jacks between the blade and body, an inconvenient task. On top of that, the opening between the blade and wear plate is so small that thicker shavings had a tendency to jam in the throat.

Reviewed by Curtis Buchanan on 1/1/2005

Excellent New Spokeshave

It used to be that when you spent a few dollars on a new spokeshave, you still had several hours of tune-up time ahead of you. Not so with this new spokeshave made by Kansas City Windsor Tool Works. The A-2 steel blade is sharpened before it’s shipped, and the tool is tuned for optimum performance. The first things I noticed about this spokeshave were its beautiful maple body and its light weight. The position of the cutting edge can be finely adjusted in relation to the inlaid brass sole, or wear plate. The low-angle blade makes it easy to maintain the edge because the bevel side is hollow-ground. This spokeshave excels on end-grain cuts.

You can buy one from either the maker (816-523-8745, www.kcwtw.com) or from the Tools for Working Wood catalog (800-426-4613, www.toolsforworkingwood.com).

-Curtis Buchanan makes chairs and teaches woodworking in Jonesborough, Tenn.

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