Making a Spokeshave

The process of building a wood-body spokeshave, shown in detail from beginning to end.
A good source for the blades is Hock Tools. Their website has instructions and advice as well as high quality blades: www.hocktools.com/
A good source for brass bar stock is Online Metals. They are much easier to use than Amazon, and have a much larger selection. This link will get you started: www.onlinemeta...
A very reasonable, moderate-price Japanese dozuki saw: amzn.to/2FFjGof
Digital caliper: amzn.to/35MX5Rc

[@bradroon5538]

I made a spokeshave while working at a living history state park in West Virginia. I made it out out of apple wood and forged the blade out of a Volkswagen Rabbit torsion bar. Air hardened steel, and forging it hurts your elbow. Red hot and hard as cold steel. My tangs were bent up 90° to the blade, and small wooden wedges held it in. I did my final sharpening with a fine file and oil, then wiped the oily rag on the apple wood to oil it. This made the wood look old. A guy had been coming by a couple times every week and he had 3 full sized barns of antique tools and housewares. Two 2-car garages of antique wheelbarrows, seeders, and man powered gardening tools. He looked it over and thought it was a 1700s design executed in the 1800s before 1820. It was 3 weeks old - AND pure joy to use. The best way is with a shaving horse. By FAR the best way, easiest, most control, most ergonomic and fun. I liked Roy Underhill's plans...

[@suecollins3246]

Your sense of humour is _marvellous_ !

[@bid6413]

If locks are important, you, pardon the expression, “nailed it.” I find your methodical explanation soothing and easy to understand. A pleasure. Thank you, Will

[@Devon.Martin]

Great step-by-step video. Very relaxing. Beautiful work.

[@hazembata]

Mr. Sullivan, I REALLY enjoy your videos. Informative and just the right level of humor. Good pace too. And you have nothing to apologize for on the videography.

[@sxstrngslm]

Like pretty much all of your videos, I learned a lot from this one. I, too, am afflicted by what I have started calling tool mania. I love tools. I love learning about them, their history, and have recently delved into making tools myself. You are absolutely right, it is supremely satisfying to use a tool I’ve made myself. Thank you, Mr. Sullivan, for a wonderfully informative video!

[@homemadetools]

Beautiful work. We shared this video on our homemade tools forum this week 😎

[@brianjordison2910]

Your videos are ALL amazing.....your precision and finish are impeccable.....thank you.

[@mpart_woodlathe-stuff]

Nice tool Patrick. "In the shallow world I live in ..." -gotta love it 😁 Always wanted a spokeshave but made do without 🤷‍♂️ Excellent vid too! -Mike

[@jporterfield]

Was going to remark about the same comment. Love it. Also love the voice over so these old ears can understand what's goin' on. Thanks, Patrick. Very instructive.

[@mikecurtin9831]

Another way to measure the spread between the studs is to measure the outside to outside, write that down, measure the inside to inside, then add that to the other measurement and divide the number by 2. That will give you the center to center to within the accuracy limitations of your measurements. Thanks for the video, beautiful work. Thumbs up to crush a troll.

[@davidclark1793]

You are a true pleasure to listen to and to watch. Concise, informative, encouraging, and just funny enough. I am slightly in awe of how you make tiny, fussy adjustments, cuts, thisses and thats seem easy. As always, the design is simple, but beautiful; the artisanship, wonderful. Thank you. Excellent work. (You wouldn't want to sell one, would you?)

[@peirob]

Very nice to hear again from you. Very nice video and very nice tool. Congrats from Switzerland

[@MrHooper521]

I love your videos. You are both thorough and concise. This joins the list of your projects I will be revisiting when I can get back in the shop.

[@Josh_Luijsterburg]

Love it. This remembers me of the stories of my father who, as a young boy, helped his grandfather in his workshop. (Around 1930) He was a carriage maker. Thanks

[@bobbysilver272]

Very professionally made.

[@glencrandall7051]

You do good work.👍👍Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂

[@genardusfaberus6514]

Excellent video. I love the precision in your work.

[@christopherharrison6724]

I finish with oil followed by shellac very nice finish ,remember danish oil is a mixture of boiled linseed oil and shellac.

[@gerreilly5580]

That made my evening. Pretty class video.

[@rolandkuhn9066]

Patrick great video. I have a couple metal spike shaves and a wood body I picked up at a tool swap. Unfortunately I can't get the wood one to work properly and have dreams of ordering the Hock blade as well and like you it will be curly maple. Thanks for explaining the process so well.

[@jasonrobinson9524]

Glad to see a new video, Patrick. Thank you.

[@miketownsend6108]

awesome job

[@jamestaulbee4791]

Thanks Patrick. Excellent video.

[@brantlamb4122]

I have pull spokeshaves, and think that pull would allow greater control to lessen the shaving thickness as you go along; have you made any as 'pull' spokeshaves?

[@beverlyturner8418]

The best how to build on utube

[@gentlemandude1]

Metric land a.k.a the rest of the world. Thanks for another fantastic video. I always look forward to viewing your content.

[@shahbazkh2885]

Your work is beautiful

[@МаксимЗубов-с4д]

Patrick, thank you for your amazing videos! This spokeshave is a masterpiece:) I will definitely make one

[@green_building]

Beautiful spokeshave.. you are smart engineer 👍 👍

[@CarlWinter-oy8uf]

I can see its non adjustable --so when blade is worn down --do you make another ?

[@scottb.2022]

You make it look easy, though I'm sure it wasn't. I will need to make one (or two). Thanks.

[@rubenlazarte1512]

FANTÁSTICO PATRICK EXCELENTE HERRAMIENTA, MUY BONITA Y CON UN FINO ACABADO, ESPERO HACER UNA SIMILAR, ME CONFORMO CON UN 60% PARECIDA A LA TUYA. UN ABRAZO Y MUCHAS GRACIAS

[@MikeBramm]

Nice job.

[@bobbobertbobberton1073]

You should try casting brass, very easy to cast vs harder metals.

[@Josuefprado]

Nice job! I'll try to do my own. Tanks!

[@CarlWinter-oy8uf]

I really wish I knew how this blade (flat on top --not angled 45 deg or 30 deg ). cuts wood like a Stanley spokeshave ?

[@jamesalsup9135]

Excellent!

[@fngrusty42]

Let's make a wheel with spokes. Would love to see the video. Maybe a garden cart.

[@CarlWinter-oy8uf]

What is the major difference between this wooden DIY tool --and the original Stanley 151 SPOKESHAVE?

[@erniehenshaw4161]

Excellent.

[@rodneykiemele4721]

Excellent Video, Thank you very much!

[@fritzer5151]

Any intentions of making a round sole spokeshave? Thanks

[@osgeld]

welcome back!

[@pjhalchemy]

Beautiful tool and satisfying shavings! Patrick, did you make the long handle kiridashi and did you do a video on it? Just made one for my son but with a shorter curved handle...used O1 and walnut...but your longer handle is appealing! Thanks for all your great quips and wonderful work! ~PJ Looks like Hock is just up the road...nice personable website!

[@stekiboy]

Great video!

[@JamesSmith-su3oz]

Diy spoke shave demistafied. Thank you sir.

[@NicksStuff]

So...you never ever use it pulling towards you?

[@mass4552]

Ahh. I'll watch this later. 19:06 minutes later. Well that was great.

[@hang-on4807]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@CarlWinter-oy8uf]

WHY do you show this tool upside down ? or what is the correct way to use and hold the tool ?upside down ? weird !

[@ZackariahCombs1]

Great vid! I made 2 after watchin this vid. Nothin like useing ur own tools too make other tools for yourself ;) lol

[@mercoid]

😮

[@billgiles3261]

A great tool for kids to get started in woodworking. (Using the spokeshave, not making one!)

[@sethbracken]

lol “Stanley No -5000”

[@montewoods4766]

Remember Imperial not Metric measurements took us to the moon.

[@tungsten_carbide]

Sure about that? The Apollo Guidance Computer was programmed in SI, but displayed and accepted data in Imperial for the convenience and unconscious understanding of the astronauts.

[@sethwarner2540]

shallow world? Ha,ha 16:13

[@bobbobertbobberton1073]

In all honesty for a flat spokeshave you could just hold the iron between your fingers and scrape.

[@mercoid]

If all you intend to work is balsa wood, I suppose your way is just fine.

[@ramiro_pires]

Thank you! Amazing video, but, PLEASE invest in a microphone the sound is terrible!

[@AsrafulIslam-hw5xl]

Des.make ne.mrp