How to Use a Round Bottom Spokeshave

[@robertfraley8407]

I'm a 63 year old dog trying to learn a few more new tricks, the round bottom is quite tricky. Thanks for the help.

[@Xgecko66]

I’m a Wooden Boatbuilder, I’ve used a No51 for 6 years now because I find the increased weight of the No151 to be a real deal breaker ( I also use a No3 bench plane instead of the more common No4 for the same reason) All that said I tried the Taytools round bottom spoke shave and while in concept I understood how to use it the heavy weight of the tool made if difficult to use precisely…..thankfully I found a No63 round bottom spokeshave at a local recycle shop and it’s been a real game changer for me. It’s even lighter than my No51 and floats in my hands making beautiful curls. I never would have considered such a tool without your video thanx

[@arthurjackson]

I have a spokeshave addiction. I use them for making guitar and banjo necks. That Millers Falls one is the absolute best ever made! I have a standing order to my wife that if she sees one at a garage sale she’s to buy it. The other one I use a lot is the dual concave and flat bottomed spokeshave. It makes getting the curve in the guitar neck shape easy. Sure it takes me a while to carve a neck, but there is no noise and no sawdust.

[@plemieux7237]

What did Freddie say? Flat bottom curls make the world go round!

[@danielbatts9386]

I found an vintage set of spokeshaves that was a set. One flat bottom and one rounded. They are tricky to set up because they are the "tap" to adjust style, but they are great to have.

[@bobbennett2075]

This gave me the confidence to modify the radius of my round bottom spokeshave and to adjust the bevel angle. I can now sort of use the spokeshave whereas before it would "dig in" or "touch nothing" with no sweet spot (shaving the wood) in between. I still have to have the blade jutting out quite far but at least it is working.

[@justplanebob105]

I got a round bottom for Christmas, and I've been afraid to try it out. Thanks. It's time now.

[@joeleonetti8976]

Thanks for the tips on this. I've gotten quite comfortable with a flat bottomed. The round bottom one I own has perplexed me. Will take it out this weekend and practice it on some scrap.

[@egbluesuede1220]

Great tip on sharpening with the vice grips! I've got a beater I think I'll keep in my sharpening kit. I'm giddy with excitement and head to the shop to sharpen up my new MF#1 and I WILL MASTER THIS!

[@criswilson1140]

My second spokeshave was a rounded one. It took me a long time to learn use it properly, but once I learned it, I rarely use the flat spokeshave any more.

[@jameszaino5930]

Excellent video. The 151 is my favorite as well. I also have a Millers Falls cigar shave that I have yet to master. Thank you for the very helpful information.

[@johnbesharian9965]

Great tip regarding the hunched shoulder's & sloping forehead - "Why didn't I think of that", Vice Grip sharpening trick/jig/whatever.

[@MCsCreations]

Fantastic tips, James! Thanks a lot! 😃 Spokeshaves are another tool in my wishlist. 😬 Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@kennethbezanson4266]

I'd love to see you make a wooden wheel! My grandfather used to have an old one resting by his driveway.

[@kencarlile1212]

I lust after those Millers Falls ones...

[@PedroPereira-ut6pp]

that little hammer...... its so fluffy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! cheers

[@MortimerSugarloaf]

Not sure if you're on the Can I Have It group on Facebook, but one of those hammers by Eric Meyer is up for auction as we speak. You can have the same fluffy little hammer James uses, and you help support a fellow woodworker make a name for himself. Happy bidding!

[@MrDNG55]

Thank you, great explanation 😊

[@Leiter85]

Great video! Thanks for the info.

[@ianpearse4480]

Nice simple overview. Cheers. Practice+++.Great advice.

[@athmostafa2462]

I don't have the rounded bottom yet but I have the flat one and I love it 😊

[@Suicaedere666]

Beautiful video, thank-you very much for sharing this. Ya'll rock!! Keep up the sensational work😄🙌🤘💥

[@triune_blades]

Great video. I hope I can get ahold of a Stanley No 67 in the near future.

[@niedzviedz13]

Hey James, You forgot about third type - concave spoke shave. :) I started from one and now I have six of them (from Veritas) :). Flat, round, concave and 3 chair devils. Mostly I use concave to round some short sticks. Could You record some video about setting up Stanley 50? There is little information on KZbin about it. How to set depth, how to use the smallest blades (1/8", 3/16"). Nowbody show this, I have figure out something, but maybe my way is bad?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I have two of those, but I have only used them once. I find they work ok on the one trick of round shapes, but that is kind of a rare job, and I find the flat bottom to do just as well, so I do not use mine. but it might make a good video.

[@karledman4625]

Thanks for sharing. My mind sees a concaved surface using rounded spoke shave and posdible a flat but very narrow. Your thoughts.

[@artswri]

OK we will start with the 'quick and easy' and practice with that for a while... Then maybe go for the round bottom...

[@garybalcom2751]

Long time subscriber of your videos, and even met you at the GA MWTC meetup a while back. Thank you for posting this video. I've used a 151 for years, and recently purchased a Veritas Round bottom for some tighter curves that I was on the verge of sending back. Now it's apparent it's me, not the tool. Time for some practice. BTW, that is a gorgeous Adjusting hammer. Where'd you get it?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Thanks Brian. It is one of those tools that can be really frustrating up front but once you get it it's so much fun. Just takes a lot to get there. The plane adjusting hammer was made by a friend of mine. I told him he needs to start selling them.

[@WolfPawArmoury]

As a broke woodworker on SSI, I bought a 151 flat bottom clone off Amazon and I can confirm that they work just fine. Clear the paint off the bottom and hone the iron like any other bladed tool. In my case, I had to deepen the knurling on the adjuster knobs with a triangular needle file, but it works great and I use it every chance I can get.

[@nicofinfinaud]

Came here for the spokeshaves, left wondering how come you wear watches on both wrists

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

at that time I was testing a Fit bit. the Garmin is my daily driver.

[@BeatPercussion52]

so I was about to make fun of you saying "concavities" and then I had the thought that I should check to see if it was a word and realized it was a word and I just needed to learn a new word.

[@troyj3292]

What's the purpose of a spokeshave? I've never seen a spoke with hair.

[@HandlebarWorkshops]

So the rounded bottom, the bevel is up? I have a rounded bottom spokeshave that looks a lot like the Stanley 151. I think I have the bevel down just like the 151.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

No the bevel is down. You may be seeing the cap iron on mine. Almost all hand tools are bevel down

[@Kara_Sahin]

Bütün Dünya'da Araçlar, Gereçler ve Ağaç, ahşap fiyatların çok artışlar var. Hobi olmaktan çıktı zenginlerin hobisi oldu ahşap işleri.

[@murphchris5670]

Hi I want to make a Harry Potter wand for my friends birthday, I was wondering should I use the flat bottom to make it?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Either one. A flat bottom is easier to learn.

[@murphchris5670]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo thanks 😊

[@ZeoCyberG]

What's your opinion about flexible sole or universal spokeshaves?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Honestly, they're trying to fix a problem that doesn't exist. But that's just my opinion.

[@tommyroberts9889]

Once you got comfortable with a round bottom shave, do you reach for it more often than a flat bottom? Even when not on curves? I like using my MF cigar more than any others I have and thought of ordering a nice new one and just getting a round bottom. But it may be because the MF is my best spokeshave.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Generally, yes. I'll use the brown bottom more than the flat bottom. But generally, if I'm doing large flat areas, I'll use a block plane rather than a smoke shape.

[@Russ0107]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo Brownbottom Smokeshape. I feel like there's a funny joke there but I can't find it.

[@tomengel8833]

If you want to see how some large spokes are made and used in a large wheel, watch this! kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3u5lHhunM2ias0

[@sebcsaba]

How about making a wooden round bottom spokeshave?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I actually have a video on that. It was 4 or 5 years ago. So not great quality, but a fun video.

[@andrewbrimmer1797]

At my age I don't get muscle memory all I get is arthritis

[@nickloy2107]

I am afraid I did not find using spoke shave so simple to use that any kid can use them. I also found spokeshafes that were so baddly made as to be unusable. The problem is they can jam with wood shavings. I bought a #151 made in China and it was unsuable until I smoothed and reshaped the mouth. I also bought a old style spokeshave with the very low angle blade. If you go with the grain it works great, you get this supper smooth surface. But if the grain dives down, even a little, you have a real problem as the blade is also drawn down. As for a round bottomed spoke shaft, yes you are right you can control the cut and also make concave cuts. But here I found it was not so simple. Using the spokeshave to cut downhill works great, but not uphill. Of course you can turn the spokeshave over and cut downhill from both sides but to get the base of the concavity smooth is something I struggle with. I often need to use a round rasp and some sandpaper to finish the job. One final thought. For making a concave curve, I find sometimes a draw knife works better than a round bottom spokeshve.

[@brianbarrows6087]

A whole video on shaving and not once did you make a joke about using it on your beard...color me disappointed. Actually, this was very informative and I think I'll have more success with my round-bottom spokeshave in the future.

[@jessealanis7443]

Skew it to clear the shatter. Wow, totally makes sense. I've used it a few times but never came to mind if doing that. That little simple but brilliant technique will definitely make it more fun. Thank you for sharing, really appreciate what you do sir.

[@cmmake]

You're right! Spokeshaves... It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

[@ping170]

Everybody 's crazy about spokeshave, but what about hubs ? ô_0 Great video, once again ;)

[@davidozab2753]

Just got a Millers Falls cigar spokeshave to pair with my old reliable 151 😁

[@ruthydoodledoo]

Can you say beginners instead of kids 😅😅🙈 although i am still a kid at heart even thoe im 30😂

[@user-du2of3lh1g]

I took a 151 and rounded the bottom on a belt sander works great!#

[@GreenShiva-Lightfoot]

Giggidy...

[@anpr5309]

Good one!

[@andregiroux5199]

Hey James! What's the model number on your millers Falls? Thanks :)

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

This is a number 2. Far less common than the cigar smoke. Shave number 1.

[@kennethnielsen3864]

I think I am beginning to master my round spokeshave, but sometimes it still just.......!!! Wel yet know.

[@edwardwilson990]

I like round bottoms. 😁 I've been waiting for this video since I bought my Millers Falls round bottom. Thank you

[@lynxg4641]

Never had the chance to use a rounded bottom spoke shave, can't even find them to buy here, one store recently bought in some cheap asian flat bottom ones and I got one, tuned it up and works decent. Have been thinking of purchasing a second and filing round to see if it will actually work and help when doing more intricate curves. Don't know if it's because I grew up always outside, building, carving, making stuff, but using tools like these has never been difficult, think that's why when I actually did wood shop in secondary school it came so easy to me. Thanks for the link to the Taylor tools option, really good price, hopefully when things get a bit more back to normal and work comes back, I'll pick up a couple, along with a good few other things you've encouraged me to lust after, like custom stitched rasps :-D

[@tuxbanjo]

Thank you for posting these tips on using the round bottom spokeshave. This is the only channel I have found which actually addresses this. The proper use of the tool is not intuitive. I never get anything out of it but grabbing, chipping, chattering and gouging. I had given up on it, but I will try some of these tips to see if I can figure it out.

[@cyrilheslop6917]

I remember that frustration of first using a spokeshave, and just like he said it suddenly clicked and is a joy to use. Also, I notice the frame saw behind him - that's just the kind of thing a round spokeshave was designed be used on.

[@warrenmunn3224]

Which do you use before the BLO and hard wax for your head?

[@iankrom510]

Very well rounded discussion, quite well spoke

[@markhinds1361]

Love your videos. I have both and a concave shave too. Round bottom is the go to.

[@craigsherrill7070]

Awesome video! Thank you!

[@iainmcculloch5807]

My first experience of using a round-bottomed spokeshave was on a bow-making course. We shaped a piece of yew to make the bow using drawknives and spokeshaves. I learned a lot about using the spokeshave. (The less said about the bow, the better). I really wish that I'd known about that sharpening tip back then! Have you thought about making a bow to demonstrate the techniques for spokeshaves and drawknives?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I want to make an English long bow some day. it has been on my list for a long time.

[@jonway7845]

Instead of a Stanley 151, I got a Stanley 51. Same concept as the 151 but adjustment isn't as easy but it works fantastic.

[@Xgecko66]

I find tightening the center screw with the sole flat and the iron unexposed to be a good starting place then with a small jointers hammer tap the back of the iron to expose a cutting edge…..also you can advance of retract the iron by talking the front of back of a handle on your bench much the same way you adjust the iron on a wooden body plane. The latter method takes some practice but is my goto adjustment method these days

[@ga5743]

Bevel up or bevel down ???

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Bevel down. Almost all hand tools are bevel down.

[@th34lch3m1st]

I was planning to buy a round bottom one with two screws adjustment (a kunz spokeshave, cheap and fair quality). Paul Sellers suggest to file a flat surface of about 5-6 millimeters right in front of the blade. That way, he says, you can use it either with flat or rounded surfaces. What's your thoughts about it? Thanks for sharing.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I saw that one but I did not find it to help. I do flat surfaces with a round bottom all the time. No need to flatten it.

[@th34lch3m1st]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo Good to know, one less worry 😄 Thanks for your help.