STANLEY 55 mm Flat 151 Spokeshave

Product Information

Some tools come covered in paint on the whole surface, including on the bottom which is, of course, the area that’s going to be doing the heavy lifting. This is a problem not only from a flatness perspective, but also, the paint can leave residue on your work as you’re using the tool. Make sure to sand or dissolve it before starting to take off material. Flatten After receiving the Kunz first, I set it up and took it to an off cut to see what it could do. It was surprisingly good. However after receiving the Stanley, I was blown away by the difference! There are four types of spokeshaves. The flat spokeshave, round spokeshave, concave spokeshave and convex spokeshave. The flat spokeshave is the most frequently used and the most versatile.

Spokeshaves in 2023 - Top Picks by Woodsmith Best Spokeshaves in 2023 - Top Picks by Woodsmith

Despite what you might be expecting, only the most expensive brands deliver their products ready to use out of the box. The price you pay for an affordable tool is that you’ll need to spend a little time fine tuning it before putting it to work. The Stanley is much heavier, making the work easier. The Kunz is very lightweight and I often had to fight it to get the shavings I was after.The handles of a spokeshave extend like wings from both sides of the tool and they’re an important part of maintaining control and stability when angling a cut. If the handles are too long they can be uncomfortable to work with but if they’re too short they’ll make it hard to judge the angle. Blade Every single screw minus the adjustment knobs for the blade were machined with slots for a screwdriver on the Stanley -not so much on the Kunz. The cap iron screw is some sort of elongated machine screw with an enormous knob that just feels cheap! This tool is a great buy if you’re willing to put in 30 minutes or so of work before you use it. It’s affordable and has all the functionality you would expect from a flat base spokeshave. You can adjust it pretty easily but this is not the kind of tool you’ll be able to put to work straight out of the box.

Stanley Spokeshave - 51 / 51R - Review - Find My Tool

By using the screws on the top of the spokeshave’s body you’ll be able to adjust the depth of the cut, making for bigger or smaller shavings depending on how much material you’re looking to take off. These screws should be easy to turn and feel sturdy. It’s important that you get a handle on them before digging into the wood as different spokeshaves can have slightly more or less intuitive adjustment mechanisms and you want to make sure you’re in complete control of the shaving size. Preparing a spokeshave If you’ve got a bit of knowledge on how to prepare and care for it, this Swpeet spokeshave will do its job just fine for a fraction of the price. Flatten the sole, sharpen the blade and wax between uses to avoid rust and you’ll find shaving with it is an enjoyable experience.

Adjust the tool for the desired shaving size before getting to work and make sure that the blade is nice and sharp. Although the spokeshave isn’t as demanding as a drawknife and can be pushed or pulled, always go with the grain when shaving. Sign up to receive the long and short of it. The latest STANLEY product info, special offers, and more at your fingertips. In an ideal world, all spokeshaves would come perfectly flat out of the box, smooth to control and pristine. Unfortunately, reality doesn’t measure up, especially for more budget friendly options. Spend some time flattening and polishing the sole with sandpaper and you’ll make almost any tool usable. Sharpen