Making a Spoke Shave, Lee Valley Class
Jim Shaver Oakville, Ont.
>Hi,
A week ago I had the pleasure of teaching a class at the Burlington Lee Valley store, making a Low Angle Spoke Shave.
The shave was made using the Veritas kit. It is similar to but different from the popular Hock kit in a few ways. It does not rely on set screws in the base to control blade height, also, the thread posts are removable, allowing easy sharpening on a water stone.
Depth adjustment with the Veritas shave is controlled on top of the shave, a lock and set screw control the depth with a simple set and lock of the screws. The depth screw is controlled with a brass insert that is tapped into the wood with a wood tap that is included with each kit.
I had a class of 6 students, all with a wide variety of woodworking skills and interests. The pleasure of this kit is that you are making a very functional hand tool that also can be customized by shaping and sizing for specific or general uses.
Almost all of the work was completed using hand tools, with the exception of the drill press and a small router to clean out the throat plate location.
The class also had the chance to go one step further, we customized the shave with a rosewood throat plat rather than use the brass alloy plate provided.
And the results, I supplied the class with figured cherry and flame birch cut off�s from my shop..
The proof is in the shavings�.
The class used a shellac finish and wax top coat.
I have to thank the students for being so helpful and kind, Walter did not cut his hand in the class, he said it was an encounter with a jointer. I also had a father and son team, it was the son�s Christmas gift to his dad, they were a lot of fun!
I have made about 4 of these now and I know I will be making more, and every one in the class said the same thing as well. A great kit, class and day, there is something special about making a custom hand tool that you know you will use.
I would like to thank the kind and wonderful staff at the Burlington Lee Valley store, in particular Syl.
Take care,
Jim