Does anyone use a spoke shave tool to shave down their stringer. I have one and its brand new and its doesn’t work well at all. The normal plane shaver works great but can’t reach in a steeper nose rocker on the deck. I used a spoke shave in a shaping class once and it worked like a charm. Thats what turned me one to buying one. Doesn’t work like it did in the class. Just rips the foam doesn’t even cut the stringer. Is it just me or has anyone else had this isse before because they are a sweet tool, I want it to work.
Ahmmm- could be it’s misaligned or duller than hell - I’d bet on the latter.
Twenty minutes with a good sharpening stone* should cure that. They are often shipped horribly dull so nobody will hurt their little bitsy fingies on them in the store.
When properly sharp and adjusted it should bring up fine, effortess shavings.
Hope that’s of use…
doc…
Option B, see the archives for ‘Scary Sharp’, done with wet and dry silicon carbide paper and a very hard, flat surface.
Doc is right. The standard spoke shave that you buy at most supply houses for $8 or 10 bucks is duller than a rock. You'll have to sharpen it. I use my Stanley mini plane to get As close as I can before I go to a spoke shave. If you got balls you can also use your sander/polisher with a hard pad.
If you got the litle 3.5" Spoke then it does take some technique to use. The blade isn’t the sharpest like the other guys said but it still works great if used correctly. Check out this video for some tips http://www.foamez.com/spokeshave-p-156.html .
I like the old pre 1950’s Stanleys. The quality is superb. Very common on Ebay for around $30. You have to sharpen any edge tool that you buy new. I spent over 4 hours fine tuning my Record low angle block plane when I bought it new.
Sharpening is almost an art form. I learned how from a Master Luthier named Randy Wood. All he uses is a fine grinding wheel and a hard felt wheel with rouge. “If it won’t shave hair off your arm it ain’t sharp” I never forgot that.
High grit sand paper stuck to something dead flat: 1/8" plus glass, marble counter top, table saw top. Maybe 600 wet or dry paper
Use a sharpie to ink up the bevel edge
Rub blade on sand paper, trying to match bevel
Check the edge, sharpie should be rubbed off on just the cutting edge. If not use a steeper angle.
Get a nice razor edge, using very consistent strokes and not changing the angle of the dangle.
make a back bevel: Flip blade over with a business card under the tail end of the blade. flat on the paper. Rub a few times
Touch the blade to your thumb nail: if it sticks it’s sharp. If it drags its not that sharp
Spoke shave blades are tricky because they are so short! There are more than a few ways to achieve a sharp edge. This method requires minimal equipment. Back bevel helps get you there quick.
Also set the blade to take very light shavings, almost nothing, then increase depth of cut from there .
It’s funny you say that, i’m a carpenter as well and after i sharpened my spoke shave and saw how clean it cut, I went into work and brought home my chisels and started shaping them. I think I know what your talking about. Plus I’m a bit of a perfectionist.