Recently I purchased a curve-bottom Kunz spokeshave for planing concave surfaces. I sharpened the blade good and sharp–I know sharp. I filed the paint off the spokeshave on the flat where the blade rests and set it for a fine cut. In spite of all the tuning I could muster in my short experience with curve-bottom spokeshaves I can not keep the mouth from clogging up. I hold it so that the back end of spokeshave’s mouth rests on the curved surface I attempt to plane (in this case the top side of a rocking chair rocker) and the best I get is chatter marks and shavings that in a few seconds clog the mouth.
I use a flat bottom Stanley spokeshave that I bought for $3.00 on convex surfaces and the tool works great in spite of the fact that I have to set the blade with my hand–no adjustment screws on this one.
Is this a question of experience or a question of the spokeshave?
Replies
Jose
A curved bottom spokeshave is by far the most difficult to use. The way I use it is to apply pressure on the leading edge of the tool. I start the stroke contacting the front edge of the spokeshave only and roll it back until the blade makes contact with the wood and begins to cut. Also, I find it much easier to use a straight handle design such as the Veritas or Lie Nielson (I have the Boggs shave and love it) vs handles that curve up from the sole of the shave.
As far as the clogging...it sound like you may be taking to heavy a cut.
John
Jose,
FWW had a good article by Brian Boggs that explained how to get good performance from inexpensive shaves. I did it to my Records and they worked quite well. I even replace the iron with a Hock.
That being said I bought one of the new Lee Valley spokeshaves and it outperforms even the tuned Records straight out of the box. Better control, really comfortable and more easily adjusted. The handle position does make a difference as well.
You can make the Kunz work, it will just take some work. And some practice if you aren't used to working with round bottom shaves.
I think using shaves is just about the most fun I have while woodworking.
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