Spokeshave

[Christian Soldier]

I've decided my Bow tool collection needs one of these and I have an amazon gift card burning a hole in my pocket so do any of yall have suggestions for a spokeshave?

Also, any advice in use or technique?

[Pat B]

I don't like a spokeshave for building bows...except maybe for yew or ERC. My go tools are a draw knife, a rasp or 2 and a scraper.

[Pappy]

What PatB said,I know folks that use them,I think their is a learning curve to them that I just haven't taken the time to master. 
   Pappy

[Stefan]

I like spokeshaves a lot, dont know how much you are willing to spend...

I have had succes with the older stanley spokeshave (nr 151 if I am correct), not so much with the newer ones. You definitly need one with a flat bottom but I bet you already knew that, I dont have experience with low angle spokeshaves.
 
When using a spokeshave on the belly of a bow (lets say a flatbow) try to make the belly a little round, that way you wont experience any chatter of the blade.

Stefan

[richardzane]

spokeshaves seem to be best for...well uhh...spokes!  tapering jobs.
not as good on surfaces where grain rises and falls,because unless they're razor sharp they can dig in and rip chunks.
If I had one of those gift cards I'd be tempted to get one of those heavy duty perferated rasps
where the material can exit through the diamond shaped holes....  what are they called? i obviously don't have one

[autologus]

spokeshaves seem to be best for...well uhh...spokes!  tapering jobs.
not as good on surfaces where grain rises and falls,because unless they're razor sharp they can dig in and rip chunks.
If I had one of those gift cards I'd be tempted to get one of those heavy duty perferated rasps
where the material can exit through the diamond shaped holes....  what are they called? i obviously don't have one

I believe you are referring to the Shinto rasp.

Grady

[Pat B]

...or a Surform.

[LimbLover]

My inlaws just bought me a Stanley for Christmas. Unfortunately my father-in-law sharpened the blade up for me 

I'm sure there is a learning curve, as you say, but I'm a lot more comfortable with a scraper and a Sureform at this point. I can't control the spokeshave as easily and it tends to chatter. I probably have to dull the blade a bit and mess with the depth. I have the least amount of blade showing right now but it still wants to cut too deep.

I would go the rasp or Sureform route if I were you.

[ionicmuffin]

i had a spoke shave. but i broke it. In my opinion, get yourself a cabinetmakers rasp. a 6-8 grain is what id use for rough tiller and shaping, and because thats the main tool i learned to use along side the cabinet scraper when i learned from bryce. simply put, you can get a very nice tiller using the rasp and scraper, and with a surform rasp and drawknife you can get the rough shape of the bow.

[Stefan]

@limblover  Why should you dull a blade?  it will increase chatter. Are you sure that  have inserted the blade correctly?

[Pat B]

Like Stefan suggests I think a very sharp spokeshave is the way to go..and very fine setting also.  A spoke shave is useful wth even wood. Because of the foot of the spoke shave it doesn't handle uneven wood for me.

[richardzane]

Grady, yep! the Shinto rasp!
 thats where MY money would go, though i've never used one. just how good are they compared to a standard rough cutting rasp?   
I've just never enjoyed using sureforms, though i have two....they take off too little, and sometimes its like fingers on a chalk board

[Will H]

The best spokeshave type tool I have found for making bows is the bowers edge from dean torges. Its different in that the angle of the blade is not set at a 45 its straight up and down. I've found it works well on lots of different woods. It's like a scraper on steroids

[Patches]

I like the Shinto rasp. Takes alot of wood off though if you really bear down on it .  I bought a spokeshave, but so far it has been used for working on arrows and debarking saplings.   

[tom sawyer]

The best spokeshave type tool I have found for making bows is the bowers edge from dean torges. Its different in that the angle of the blade is not set at a 45 its straight up and down. I've found it works well on lots of different woods. It's like a scraper on steroids

+1 to the Bowyers Edge, although I can do about as good with a good sharp cabinet scraper.  To me, the best way to go for tillering is a Nicholson 49 cabinetmakers rasp and a cabinet scraper.  I do like the Shinto for bringing a piece down to floor tiller in a hurry.  I have a couple of spokeshaves and have never found them to work for my purposes.  Pat's right about them working on straight-grained wood though.