spoke shaves

[johnarnold]

hello all

I am planing a curve on a wood that is 1.5 inches thick, I have a couple of flat spoke shaves but each one leaves chatter marks, except sometimes if im really careful and angle it a bit I get a clean shave, any ideas on stopping the chatter

thanks

[tusses]

sharpness .. depth of cut .. quality of tool .. technique .. grain direction .. etc.

what wood is it ?

[johnarnold]

the blade is sharp i have adjusted depth of cut and going with the grain, its ash

[johnarnold]

oh one is new stanley, one is old stanley and other is an unknown wooden one

[tusses]

any photo's ?
if it's "chattering" it sounds like it trying to cut too deep.
try adjusting the blade for a shallower cut, and angle the tool as you shave, so it sort of pears/slices the wood.
do you have the blade the right way up ?

[johnarnold]

yeah i have changed for a shallow shave and blade is right way up and i do kinda slice it at an angle, this helps but still not happy with it, also i have a concaved one and this is really doing my head in, it just digs in or shaves nothing on a different part of chair im making, i tried blade up other way to check and still no go

[johnarnold]

ill get some photos next week when im back at work

[tusses]

have you used a spoke shave much ? or are you learning ?

[Pinch]

Good advice there Rich.

John, another good tip for some spokeshave work, especially with the rounded sole brigade, is to obviously make sure the blade is sharp ( yes I know, it probably already is), adjust the blade so it's in the sole's mouth and it won't cut anything. Now pass the spokeshave along your work and very slightly adjust the blade (with continuous passing) until the blade is just about making contact with your work. Keep doing this until you're happy to progress with your work. Even if it means removing ultra thin shaves, keep going, feel your way and you'll get there with great results.

[tusses]

grain direction is a big consideration.
As the work is curved, the grain ends will be exiting the ash. You want to be shaving so the blade is "slipping" off the edge of the grain
If you go the other way, it will dig in.
I'll draw a pic in a bit to show what I mean.

[tusses]

and as Paul said .. there is sharp, and then there is sharp !

have a google at "scary sharp" .. it's a quite easy technique to get a very good edge

[tusses]

the same rules apply on every piece of timber, hand or power tools. Give the grain a good look over before you start.


quick pic ..