It’s a tool that’s great for furniture legs but also for working on musical instruments or really, anything else that can use a curve. 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. The bottom of the tool is made from wear resistant material, aiming to give as much use out of the tool as possible. However, if you’re a complete beginner with absolutely no experience in preparing your tool, you might want to spend a few more dollars for something that needs less TLC before first use. Arm yourself with patience and spend some time practicing to gain control and gauge whether you prefer pulling or pushing and assess what’s the most comfortable work position for you.

STANLEY Hand Planer, SpokeShave, Flat Base (12-951) STANLEY Hand Planer, SpokeShave, Flat Base (12-951)

In an ideal world, all spokeshaves would come perfectly flat out of the box, smooth to control and pristine. They’re used to smooth out edges and create round shapes for objects such as chair legs or bows and arrows. 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. Pro tip: Adjust one of them for a more aggressive cut and the other for a finer shave for maximum comfort. 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.Although the spokeshave isn’t as demanding as a drawknife and can be pushed or pulled, always go with the grain when shaving. It’s affordable but effective and will allow you to comfortably learn how to adjust, sharpen and shape. Check and compare the thickness between suppliers to find the best spokeshave and remember that bigger is better in this regard. It will be easy to use, easy to adjust and you won’t have to worry about the blades getting dull or repurchasing for quite a while. Equipped with carbon steel blades and comfortable handles, the Astitchin spokeshave made runner up because of its durability.

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

If you’re looking for a quality spokeshave but you’re unable or unwilling to pay top dollar for the most reputable brands, this is the tool for you. The Useluck spokeshave pack needs pruning, as most budget tools do, but the manufacturers really went the extra mile with hard blades that hold an edge and a solid build that will take some abuse. It’s handy enough that it won’t give beginners any headaches, but high quality enough that it will make a good addition to any seasoned woodworker’s collection.By continuing, you consent to the collection, use and sharing of the communications in this chat for the purposes mentioned above and as provided in our Privacy Policy. Most blades come barely sharpened so you’ll need to give it some elbow grease before judging whether it can do a good job or not. The sole is machined much better than competitors and it feels well made and sturdy enough to handle whatever you throw at it. There are multiple types of spokeshaves available but the most popular and adaptable one is the flat bed so that’s the one we will be covering in today’s guide. Spend some time flattening and polishing the sole with sandpaper and you’ll make almost any tool usable.