Main Discussion Area > English Warbow
some advice on knots
Ruddy Darter:
:D thanks JW_, yep just doing a bit at a time with no rush to keep it pleasurable. I'm really happy I read up on the internet about tuning spokeshaves, I got a Irwin record flat bottom that was a bit rough and a Stanley round bottom that I gave up on using. I did all that was recommended, cleaning out the factory paint from the bed and clamp with a chisel, filing around the jaw, and getting the bottom flat and smooth like a mirror etc...now they are a dream to use and cut like a knife through butter...I much prefer shavings to dust, nowt wrong with with a little man glitter though. :D
R.D.
JW_Halverson:
I picked up a fine spokeshave from Lee Valley Tools, a Veritas flat bottom spokeshave. I had tuned half a dozen Stanleys by that time, their toolbed is horrid, the rest of the quality control all but nonexistent. I was expecting a little work on the Veritas, but was happily mistaken! I did open the throat a little to take thicker curls when I am setting the D2 tool steel blade deeper, though.
I think many people that dislike spokeshaves have mainly had to deal with a poor tool. Making sure the cutting blade is wedded flawlessly to the tool bed eliminates a lot of chatter. Dead flat sole with relief at the toe and heel also contributes to a smooth pull. And then you gotta beat it into people's heads that the bevel faces DOWN to give you a good sharp angle to the cut!!! Never mind how you gotta keep the blade razor sharp!
I know, I know, it is a poor workman that blames the tool. But how many violin makers use a sharp edged rock and another rock to build violins, huh?
Ruddy Darter:
Those Veritas have got some great reviews I see and they look the business, but a little pricey for me for the little I'm doing at the moment, I may invest in one or two when I can find a source for bow wood (yew,wychelm, elm ,good European ash kinda woods if anyone can help :D). I am very happy to have got the spokeshaves I have working nice now after some tinkering, the Stanley round bottom would just clog and chatter straight away no matter what I did until I gave it some attention and filed the bottom of the front plate down, not a problem at all now and they have become my favourite tools instead of being a headache. Happy days :).
(I did read that Veritas make a blade that fits in Stanleys and was recommended, might look into that.)
R.D.
JW_Halverson:
I was afraid the spendy Veritas would end up like so many Stanley's....falling to the floor and breaking. So far, so good. And not just because I am more careful with it, but it seems to be from a better grade of cast iron as well! I consider it well worth the money. Besides...it's pretty.
Lucasade:
I've got about 3 more elm staves than I'm likely to use in the next five years if you can get to Warwickshire, and I can show you plenty of straight elder and hawthorn too...
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