Part of the woodworking process is to finish the job to the best of your ability. That means that you use the appropriate tools to smooth out and finish your surfaces. After all, when people are paying for goods made of wood, they certainly don’t want them to be splintery and rough.
This process is done with a spokeshave. The spokeshave is a handheld tool that is used for both shaping and smoothing purposes. If you’ve done much in the way of woodworking, you know the value of this tool. But you also know that some options are better than others when it comes to finding a good one to have on hand.
We’ve compiled a list of the 3 best spokeshaves on the market, complete with a simple buying guide for your reference. There’s no need for you to spend a ridiculous amount of time searching for the best spokeshaves, we’ve done that for you!
Keep reading to find the best spokeshaves on the market and choose the one that is right for you!
Table of Contents
View The 3 Best Spokeshaves on the Market Below
1. Anndason 2-Piece Adjustable SpokeShave Hand Tool
Key Specs
| Size: | 9 x 1 3/4 |
| Blade Hardness: | 58-60 HRC |
| Blade Material: | 44 mm carbon steel |
| Weight: | 5.3 ounces |
This spokeshave from Anndason comes in a 2-piece set. It’s affordable and well-made, making it our top pick overall on the market. This plane is perfect for beginners but can work well for experienced users also. It works quite well for shaping and smoothing surfaces.
The blade is adjustable and works well with curved surfaces, including chair legs and seats. It’s a comfortable size and it is lightweight, giving you complete control as you work. The blades are nice and sharp and are made with durable carbon steel to last.
The handles are contoured to make your job more comfortable. These are designed to operate smoothly and efficiently for you. They are also designed to be strong and steadfast, with materials that were made to last for the long haul.
- Reasonable size and weight
- Strong and sturdy materials
- Blades are sharp and durable
- The handles are contoured for comfort
- Works well with curves and rounded pieces
- The blades take quite a bit of prep to prepare for use
Why do we like this product?
We loved this spokeshave tool because it is reliably sturdy and durable. It works well and it’s not terribly expensive for what it does. It comes in a 2-pack and it’s nice to have 2 on hand for whatever your projects may be.
2. Kunz Spokeshave , Half Round
Key Specs:
| Size: | 10 inches |
| Blade Radius: | 45 mm |
| Material: | Cast Iron |
| Weight: | 9.6 ounces |
This spokeshave from Kunz is another really great option. This one does cost quite a bit more but it has the materials and quality to show for the price overall. It’s well-made and it won’t let you down or fall apart easily. It’s sturdy and reliable.
This spokeshave is a half-round design. It is made to work with curves and rounded surfaces. The concave face blade makes shaving round stock easily. This cast iron beauty is made in Germany. It is heavy-duty but not overly heavy or bulky in size and weight.
This tool is reasonably comfortable to use with a sharp and reliable blade. It is slightly challenging to put together when you pull it out of the box but it’s not impossible. This tool is painted a bright green and red color to make it look nice as well.
- Made with sturdy cast iron materials
- The blade is designed for rounded surfaces
- Easy to use
- Comfortable and lightweight
- Durable materials that are built to last
- More assembly work required than expected when you get the product.
Why do we like this product?
You can’t beat cast iron materials and this one is nice and lightweight. You need a spokeshave that can stand up to the pressures of the job. This does take some extra work to get ready for use but it holds up well when you get to work.
3. Timber Tuff TMB-05DC Curved Draw Shave Tool – 5”
Key Specs:
| Size: | 9 x 6.1 x 3.75 inches |
| Blade Length: | 5 inches |
| Blade Material: | HRC 30 steel |
| Weight: | 1 pound |
This spokeshave tool from Timber Tuff is made slightly different. This gives you a unique design and setup compared to the other options but it works in much the same way. This particular option is a curved blade, which is the most popular. The company also has straight shavers available.
These are designed a bit differently but they work very well. They are sturdy and reliable and comfortable to work with. The handles are long and point downward instead of outward. This tool is designed with a 5-inch curved blade.
The blade is 5 mm thick and curves at a 30-degree angle. You can move smoothly and quickly over any curved project with this design. The blade is made with durable steel and has an HRC 30 rating for hardness. This tool also comes with a 1-year limited manufacturer’s warranty.
- Unique design that works well
- Durable blade and materials
- 30-degree curved angle
- Simple and smooth to work with
- Includes a warranty from the manufacturer
- The blade will have to be sharpened regularly for the best results
Why do we like this product?
This one made our list because it’s unique in design and yet totally reliable for the purpose. This option is well-designed for moving quickly and efficiently. The blade will require frequent sharpening but you can also upgrade your blade if you prefer.
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Spokeshave Buyer’s Guide
We think it is important to know just what you are looking at and what qualities are superior compared to other options. In this buyer’s guide, we will share with you some things to know about choosing the best spokeshave for your woodworking needs.
These are all things that we kept in mind while choosing our favorites.
Why Use a Spokeshave Tool?
The spokeshave is used to shape and smooth wood surfaces. It is a woodworking tool and is not necessary for metal works and other materials. This tool is typically used for rounded surfaces, something that many might use a lather or similar tool to complete.
This tool allows you to complete it by hand without firing up or purchasing a lathe. You can smooth curved surfaces simply. Some of the surfaces that these are commonly used for include wheel spokes, chair legs, bows and arrows, paddles, and more.
You can do some intricate curve work with a spokeshave and smooth your surfaces to a perfect finish.
Now, let’s talk about some features we think it’s important to look for.
Overall Design
Most spokeshave tools are designed with a curved or straight center blade. This blade is set between two handles so that you can hold a handle on each side and move down the surface you are working with.
The handles typically stick out to the sides but you will notice that one of our options has the handles set in a downward position. You can work with either setup, whichever you find more comfortable or useful for the cause.
What you want to watch is that the design is comfortable and that the tool is not overly heavy. Look at the length and be sure the handles are a sufficient size.
Blade
Next, you want to review the blade and ensure that it is a durable blade. Look at the blade thickness and materials to determine this measure. Every spokeshave tool should provide this information and if they don’t, then it probably isn’t worth your time and money.
You want something sharp and something sturdy that can hold up against the pressures of the job.
Prep Work
When you purchase a spokeshave tool, it’s a given that you will have to do a bit of work to get it set up just the way you want it. You may have to grind the blade or even the tool itself to get it set just right. This is an expectation.
However, some of the tools require more preparation than what should be required. Just be sure to watch for those details and be prepared for possibly having to do some shaving, grinding, and adjusting to get your tool ready for use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Make Your Own Spokeshave?
Some woodworkers make their own spokeshave tools using wood. You can make them and they will work well enough but it also created more work for you. You will have to measure and plan your tool specifically and hope you get everything angled and measured and cut correctly.
Can You Use a Flat Shaving Tool?
Flat spokeshaves and shaving tools can be used for some flat surfaces as well as surfaces that curve outward instead of inward.
Conclusion
To wrap things up, our top pick for the best spokeshave is the Anndason 2-pack option. It’s reliable and simple to work with. It doesn’t take a ton of extra prep work to get ready for use. The blades are well-seated and sturdy as well.
Just remember to choose an option that will suit your needs as you make a decision.
Expert Tip
Don’t press down or hold your spokeshave too tightly. Instead, hold it gently and use just your thumb and forefinger on each hand. Turn the tool slightly as you move. These tips will help make your efforts smoother and more efficient.
Amazon Recommends:
- 【Complete SpokeShave Set Package】This set includes 2 sizes of an adjustable spokeshave and 2 replaceable blades, and 1pc 4-Way Wood Rasp File. The adjustable SpokeShave comes in 10" and 9" sizes, with blade lengths of 43.8mm/1.72" and 52mm/2.05". The Portable Woodworking Plane is 44mm/1.73" in total length.
- 【Sturdy Materials & Precision Cutting】The blades are made from SK2 material and are heat-treated for added durability. The knife edge has long wear resistance and a blade hardness of 58-60HRC. A precision ground cutter allows for cutting with greater accuracy and confidence.
- 【Comfortable Handles & Easy to Use】The comfortable contoured handles provide a comfortable grip and the corrosion-resistant epoxy coating ensures long-lasting durability. The Spoke-shave tool has an intuitive flat base and a good weight for the handles, making it easy to use and giving better precision for finer cuts on the woodworking project at hand.
- 【Ergonomic Design & Double-Screw Adjustment】Both pieces have a user-friendly shape, providing suitable ergonomics that fit comfortably in your hand. The use of a double-screw adjustment screw makes it easy to adjust the planing thickness and lock the stable planing smoothness.
- 【WOOD RASP FILE --- Length】7.87''/200mm, Width: 0.94''/24mm. This Wood File is Made of high quality carbon steel. This Wood Rasp is a 4 in 1 tool: fine teeth flat file, coarse teeth flat file, fine tooth semi-circular file, coarse tooth semi-circular file. The metal file's teeth are clear, which is Sturdy and promote the cutting efficiency.
- Large Spokeshave for Larger Projects
- 65mm (2 1/8 inch) Blade
- 17 3/4 inch overall length
- Flat Sole
- Made in Germany
- Durable material: the adjustable spokeshave is made of manganese steel, after high-tech assembly line heat treatment, the spokeshave has good hardness and toughness; The blade features corrosion protection performance, pointed and durable
- Suitable size: the adjustable spokeshave is measured approx. 22 cm/ 9 inch in length, 5.5 cm/ 2 inch in width, the metal blade is 4 x 4.4 cm/ 1.57 x 1.73 inch (L x W), comfortable contoured handles and protective epoxy coating, more convenient to use
- Convenient design: the use of double-screw adjustment screw, you can easily adjust the planing thickness lock stable planing smooth; You can fine-tune the depth of the spokeshave by twisting the 2 screws to facilitate your work
- Good for work: the adjustable spokeshave is a good tool, you can plan corners and arcs, as well as all kinds of plastics; Amateur woodworkers can adjust the angle of the blade to be easy and accurate; You can use the blade to grind the angle with a talc, which can be applied to various hard and soft wood
- What you receive: you will receive 1 piece adjustable spokeshave with 5 pieces metal blade in the package; No need to worry about them becoming dull for we have prepared 4 replacement blades, which is convenient for your work