I have used a wooden body travisher for years to shape my pine seats. The curve of the blade is not too tight so I can do some fairly flat contour work with it. Its a nice tool.
Recently, I was looking at Curtis Buchanan shaping a seat with Roy Underhill(pod cast from 2006 season) and he was using a Snell Atherton Heel Shave. OK don’t cringe. They work very well on shaping the seat at the back.
Question: which curve(they are numbered) works well? I don’t want to get too tight but I don’t want to get too flat.
Any users out there?
Replies
Danmart,
I attended class with Curtis last year and he had about 3 of those shaves. I don't know the number but it seems like they had app. 3" diameter. He is great about answering questions if you message him at his website.
Stevo
Stevo
Thanks for the feedback. I have sent a message to CB and hope to hear soon. The reason I would like to get a couple is my travisher from Jim Wright(wooden one) is a bit flat. When I shape out the back of the seat, I always wish I had a curved shave that would carve the tight radius at the back.
Seeing Curtis use his metal shaves looked like the solution. I've been looking and finally found one(#5) that I got at an auction. I hope to find some other sweeps. I'll be reporting back.
BTW check out Peter Galberts site. He has a really nice site and an ongoing blog with tons of info on windsors.
If you see any for sale send along a word.
thanks
dan
Curtis also cuts the handles shorter which enables you to maneuver the shave a little better in tight spaces. There is a twice yearly old tool auction and flea market in New Hampshire http://www.mjdtools.com/auction/auct_main.htm where I usually see a couple at the flea market portion. Perhaps there are some old tool flea markets in you area. It helps to be able to see the item in person as you are correct that there seem to be many different configurations to choose from
Danmart,I also would like to find a heelshave. As Curtis said in the show, they take a bit to find the edge, but they do cut sweetly was you get the hang of it. I know of Pete Galberts site and enjoy it too. He is going to be with Curtis in the fall at Highland Hardware in Atlanta doing conttinous back rockers. Curtis is a great instructor and really adds the little things that make the difference.
hey stevo
Well I'll keep my eye out for a heel shave if you'd like. I just found a #5 out there for a fair price. Talking with CB, he likes he 4,5,6 for shaping the seats.
I will shorten the handles much like CB or heat them and bend them up a tad. You don't need the long handles and they do seem to get in the way.
I don't see CB using the compass plane too much?? I have one and I use it some but nothing like I use the inshave and travisher. Whatever it takes.
I see the influence of CB on the turnings in the picture. I love the continuous arm and when I started making windsors that was the one I thought I needed to master. Turns out I have made tons more bowbacks and combbacks. How do you figure?? Seems like every time I made a set of maybe 4 bows the customer came back and asked "do you make tables?" There goes the table. I'm not against tables, I just don't keep a catalog of tables I made/make. Folks see a curly maple rifle and they want a table top made of that "tiger stuff" and bingo I'm makin' another trestle table. Next question: can you make 2 arm chairs for the ends? Sure. Secretly I hope for a continuous .. oh please. Nope. Another comb. How do you figure that?? business. Its all good as the kids say.
Edited 4/9/2009 5:29 pm ET by danmart
The Snell and Atherton heel shaves generally need the handles to be cut off in order to get down into the steep back end of the Windsors chair seats (the curvature that Curtis uses). This because of the curvature of the seat and also because fat (even thin)( fingers get in the way on the intact handles. I have a bunch of these shaves but am reluctant to do this!
Check out http://www.handtoolwoodworking.com for a series of travishers that shave radiuses matching the range that Curtis Buchanan employs in his seats. These range fro 7 1/4" down to 5 5/8" radii (for the front and the back of the seats respectively).
Dan and all
I came across a really interesting conversion of a #151 Stanley spokeshave into a travisher. This was published by Country Workshops. The link for the article is: http://www.countryworkshops.org/newsletter4/
View Image
Incidentally, I bought one of those Snells off ebay some time ago. The blade is totally shot. Useless. It did strike me that as they wear the mouths would then open progressively.
Regards from Perth
Derek
Thanks Derek
I have done a bit of heating and bending on this type of shave with mixed results. The angle of the blade just does not perform like the flat cutters you see on the snells.
Many of the heel shaves are "beat" so you have to go slowly in the search mode. I have found a couple that are like they were not used at all but they are rare as hens teeth.
I am talking with a couple toolmakers who have travisher blades made in the US with threaded posts and special adaptations. I don't want anything but the curved flat blade you are familiar with on the S/A heel shaves. With a little luck, it might be possible. If they are unwilling to make small runs, its back to the forge and anvil.
I prefer the wooden body tools to the heel shaves but the do make nice tools if you can adapt them for the work. In my case, I use them to get the back of the windsor chair seat carved out quickly. I have a #5 that does a nice job but I'm going to do some modifications to make it better. It ain't pretty but it works project. I'm backed up on chair orders and I've been sitting on a big project with delays.
When I get this straight I'll post a photo or two.
Dan
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