Smoothing curves: spokeshave or cabinet scraper?

Re: Smoothing curves: spokeshave or cabinet scrape

Dan Donaldson

>I would use a spokeshave. In this case, since it has been roughed out on a bandsaw, there will be saw marks and possibly unevenness in the cuts. (at least there would be if I did it ;-)). To smooth this out, you will be removing at least some stock. I would think that a spokeshave would be better for this. I use scrapers for smoothing out after forming, but have never had much luck actually trying to shape anything with one.

Re: Smoothing curves: spokeshave or cabinet scrape

John, NY

>I'm not sure you'd get the #80 to do anything on the inside curves...

Re: Smoothing curves: spokeshave or cabinet scrape

William Duffield on the Cohansey

>I use a series of rasps and files, starting with a #50 cabinet rasp, and finish with a card scraper. If your bandsaw works really well, and you are working with surfaces that only curve in one direction (like your examples), you can often start with a half round 8" bastard file instead of the rasp. The advantage is you don't have to worry about an "Oops" caused by misreading the grain direction, as you would with a spokeshave.

L-V's major advancement to the #80 cabinet scraper still has a flat sole, and therefore is not the right tool for this job.

Re: Smoothing curves: spokeshave or cabinet scrape

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

>With curves that uniform, I would first try my Stanley #20 compass plane. If the curves were too tight (but they don't look it in the pics), then I would use a spokeshave.

Regards from Perth

Derek

In this case I meant card scrapers;-)

Dan Donaldson

>

Re: Smoothing curves: spokeshave or cabinet scrape

Chris Knight

>I have been working a lot of curves lately and use a combination of the Boggs spokeshaves (two of my all time favourite tools with the curved sole shave being appropriate in this case),the small LN spokeshave with curved bottom (it has a smaller radius than the Boggs) rasps and card scrapers .

Because my curves are rather complex, I find I am using all these tools in no particular order - just picking up whatever is needed for the curve and grain at that moment.

I like spokeshaves because they leave such a good surface (although I confess to not finding the LV LA shave so good in this respect) and I would use a shave for the curves you have shown but if I had to, I could also manage with just rasps and scrapers.

Chris

Re: Smoothing curves: spokeshave or cabinet scrape

Greg B�tit, Vergennes, VT

>I've got both the LN and LV curved bottomed shaves, as well. The LV's throat is open a little wider, but it comes with two different thickness shims to narrow it down if you need a finer cut.

I like the open throat when I'm in the shaping mode, the tighter throat when I'm in the finishing mode. If I had to choose one, I'd pick the LV because it can do both (plus the thumb wheels make the iron easier to set).

But I don't have to choose one, they're both a joy to work with!

Greg

PS Although the LV Low Angle Shave (I'm talking about the shave discussed in the original posting) front piece can be turned around for working curved surfaces, it is slightly more fussy than either of the (shaves I have just previously mentioned) curved sole shaves. When in the curved sole mode with the LV LA you have to hold it in such a way to prevent its tendency to somersault (a skill you learn quickly if you use any of the "cigar" style shaves that have comparatively nothing in front of the cutting edge).

But on a cost/versatility value scale, the LV Low Angle is probably what I would recommend anyone who only wants to own one shave. The throat is easily adjustable from fine to heavy cut, you can go from flat cutting to concave fairily easily and its price is cheap by comparison. There is also the alleged advantage of the low angle blade, but that's another debate...

Mis-read Chris' posting

Greg B�tit, Vergennes, VT

>I was confused about the shaves Chris was talking about. But in general, a fine throat allows finer cuts. If you have a tool that comes with a tight throat, fine cuts are all you can make.

If you are disappointed with the finish an open throated shave gives you, try shimming behind the blade to close the throat. If you own a shave with a small toe in front of the blade, learn to counter the tendency for it to roll as you use it. This is the motion of twisting a motorcycle throttle for the right hand, (and a helicopter's collective throttle for the left hand, for all you old piston popper rotorheads.)

Well...

Scott in Douglassville, PA

>...I never said I knew what I was doing!

Looks like the LV LA spokeshave (which I've been looking for an excuse to buy for a while), along with some files and rasps I already have, will get the job done. I might could get by with the old wooden spokeshave I already have, but, like I said, I've been looking for an excuse. The other LVs will be on the birthday/Christmas lists for the next few years. Have to find a suitable project to justify the cabinet scraper, or better yet, the scraper plane...

Now, I've just got to figure out which of the leg profiles I want to go with. Hmm...

Thanks for the input, everyone.

Scott