Author Topic: spoke shave and plane blades  (Read 1215 times)

Offline smylee grouch

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7896
spoke shave and plane blades
« on: April 24, 2022, 07:11:46 PM »
Just curious how every one adjusts the blades on their spoke shaves and planes. One old timer told me he puts various amounts of paper under the rear of the plane between the base of the plane and a flat surface then runs the blade down to the flat surface and locks it in place. I haven't tried that yet.
« Last Edit: April 24, 2022, 07:15:08 PM by smylee grouch »

Offline borderdogs

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 730
Re: spoke shave and plane blades
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2022, 07:25:00 PM »
I haven't tried that but in the past I bought old planes that old paper or cardboard in that place so there might be something to it. I have used planes and spokeshaves in woodworking for many years but only recently tried using them when building rifles. I have a violin plane that I find I am using a lot but I also use a couple of different spokehaves in building rifles. I find that at least for me I am constantly adjusting the blades on the spokeshaves and even on the planes more than I ever have done in furniture building. Maybe that's because I am using curly maple?
Rob

Offline P.W.Berkuta

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2212
Re: spoke shave and plane blades
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2022, 08:28:43 PM »
I adjust the irons by eye - try it and if needed readjust it - simple --- ;)
"The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person who is doing it." - Chinese proverb

Offline Craig Wilcox

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2527
Re: spoke shave and plane blades
« Reply #3 on: April 25, 2022, 06:31:26 AM »
I'm with P. W. - set by eye/feel.  Make sure that your blade is VERY sharp, and even across the blade.  Then adjust to just take a thin sliver off the length of whatever you are planeing.
Craig Wilcox
We are all elated when Dame Fortune smiles at us, but remember that she is always closely followed by her daughter, Miss Fortune.

Offline 45-110

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 542
Re: spoke shave and plane blades
« Reply #4 on: April 25, 2022, 05:26:38 PM »
My grandfather was a master carpenter from the 1880's era, and showed me how to sharpen plane blades, router planes, draw knives, spoke shaves etc. Sharpness to him was if the blade could easily slice a piece of paper, he set plane blades and such by eye and feel.

Offline Wingshot

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 229
  • Brand new NMLRA member
Re: spoke shave and plane blades
« Reply #5 on: April 25, 2022, 10:33:38 PM »
I just restored an old spoke shave that I used years ago to shape primitive self wood bows. It was a flea market find. This go around I flattened and polished the sole and then stoned the back of the iron flat. The iron/ blade in a spoke shave is very short and won’t fit into my Veritas jig so I honed it by hand. It’s scary sharp.