Stanley No 51 Spoke Shave Tune Up

I tune up a Stanley No 51 spoke shave. Like all planes, once the iron is sharp then it's pretty simple to get the tool working great.

I picked up a used No 51 thinking I'd eventually have a use for it. Then when I needed it, I figured I'd tune the edge. That's when I discovered the iron had never been flattened and likely never sharpened.

[ellflynn]

Thanks! I got one of these as a bonus in the box when I purchased a #45, looking forward to getting it running.

[davidjennings]

I love spokeshaves and have many in my tool cabinet. They are by far the best tool to shape a guitar neck and so controlable. I hate to see so many guys hacking away at guitar necks with rasps and files, when, if they used a spokeshave they would achieve a better job much quicker. Its all down to what you have done, Tuning! and once thats done they are a fine tool. Great video!!!

[greenbudzzz]

If you smack the center of the iron with a rubber mallet on the crown side of the bow on a flat surface it evens out the bow and makes flattening a lot quicker.

[williamdavis]

Nice tune up on the spoke shave. Older Stanleys don’t need much tuning newer tools most do. Holding the work is as important as the planes tune. Most important tool in my shop is solid workbench with vises and bench dogs. Work moving around the plane can’t do it’s job well.

[sandytooks]

There is the old running debate about loading a toilet tissue roll down in front or down in back. Whoops, wrong debate. There is an old debate about whether to set planes down on their blades or on their sides. I am pretty sure that even if you are in the "set them down on your wooden workbench on their blades" camp, you probably should not do that on a cast iron table saw. Thoughts?

[Nanomachinist]

I wonder whether leaving the tool in tension with the cap screw might have bent it over time. I have noticed the same problem with old spokeshaves I've bought to restore and they were all left cinched down tight by their previous owners.

[_BigLife_]

I didn't know spokeshaves were used Bevel down. Good to know. I thought the person I just picked one up from had it in backwards.