Wooden Spokeshave recommendation

[seth lowden]

Regarding the metal low angle LV shaves: it is possible to blow the blade right out of it when going to town on heavy shaving. It is a good value. If you work green wood, it will not swell like a wood shave, which may change adjustment with changes in moisture content. FWIW

[Archie England]

My vintage wood shaves are low-angle and take super thin wisps everywhere. My 4" blade hogs off the wood, nearly like a draw knife. My vintage metal shaves have higher angles and work just great; but, they don't work so well on end grain. I find both to necessary, depending on what my needs are. As for adjustment, the metal shaves are much easier to adjust but even then, it depends on the make. My LN Boggs is a tad finicky to set but once set is fantastic--though it only wants thin shavings--never hoggy ones.

[Steve Branam]

If you're interested in trying some vintage wooden ones, with or without wear plates, watch this video by chairmaker Peter Galbert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJHSPSxfrTc. He's actually talking about wooden travishers, but halfway through he uses a wooden spokeshave to demonstrate the technique for controlling the depth of cut. My favorite spokeshave is my LN Boggs shave, but watching this video totally transformed my old wooden ones. You can go light or hog off giant chunks with them, no adjustment required. It's all in the handling.

[David Keller NC]

Say George, where can somebody get boxwood without finding a pile of cuttings in a ditch?

Trevor - I didn't see an answer to this question in the thread. You can get boxwood from a few sources. The most readily available is a company in Turkey called Octopus: http://www.octopus.com.tr/store/
They sell many different grades and sizes, but don't be shocked - boxwood is very expensive (more expensive than ebony).

Tropical Exotic Hardwoods of Latin America sometimes has English boxwood in stock: http://www.anexotichardwood.com/pricelist.html

And, Gilmer Wood Company occasionally has English or French boxwood: https://www.gilmerwood.com/

[george wilson]

Actually,rosewood makes a poor wearing throat repair in a wooden plane. Done that!! Try lignum vitae,or inlet brass. My boxwood shaves wore quickly like Ryan's. Ivory is too soft for wear plates as I mentioned. Just as well with the cost through the roof!! Brass wear plate is a must.

Pinnacle just introduced a stainless steel spoke shave,but the LV still can be set for straight or curved cuts.