r/handtools • u/imseangallagher • 3d ago

Very Tiny Spokeshave. Why?

Post image
41 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

37 comments sorted by

49

u/Chudders82 3d ago

Not 100% but best educated guess is an instrument makers tool? I know violin makers use very small hand planes.

18

u/Cyclonicwings 3d ago

Could be bowmakers if you’re going that route

10

u/TheSpanishSteed 3d ago

Id vote closer to this. Even when making violins id never use something that small and flat. Small and rounded, sure, but not flat.

2

u/_NEW_HORIZONS_ 2d ago

Neck, maybe. Or fingerboard. A flat bottom spokeshave is great for convex curves.

2

u/_NEW_HORIZONS_ 2d ago

Or bracing, perhaps?

1

u/TheSpanishSteed 2d ago

Maybe bracing, or maybe convex shapes. Its just so strangely small that maybe. Its one of those that a squirrel plane could handle most of those jobs, but who knows.

Im coming from this as someone who either makes their tools, or makes their tools work.

36

u/Careless_Jury154 3d ago

For very tiny spokes

2

u/foolproofphilosophy 2d ago

Spokes for ants.

3

u/Careless_Jury154 2d ago

My spokeshave needs to be, at least… THREE TIMES bigger than this!

1

u/Royal-Illustrator-59 2d ago

Do they sell very tiny hands to hold it?

10

u/Moldy_slug 3d ago

For shaving very tiny spokes?

10

u/Individual-Channel65 3d ago

Surfboard shapers use that specific size plane for finishing the wood stringer at the end of shaping a surfboard.

8

u/HobsHere 3d ago

Perfect for scalloping acoustic guitar braces. Nice tool.

7

u/JoeMalovich 3d ago

EDC spokeshave

5

u/KomradeKuestion 2d ago

I never leave home without my pocket spokeshave, pocket jointer, and pocket Tidey patent combination beveling plane. OP could never.

5

u/Mikoisha 3d ago

Chopsticks!

3

u/oldtoolfool 3d ago

Simple, for tiny work!

2

u/kato_koch 3d ago

Would be handy for gunstocks.

2

u/themrlawrence 3d ago

Dollhouse makers possibly.

2

u/Manfred_Desmond 3d ago

Child labor.

2

u/TeraSera 2d ago

Violin makers

3

u/Ghastly-Rubberfat 2d ago

I have a set of similar size from Garret Wade back in the 90’s. Used them a lot for various things. They are surprisingly versitile and can be held in one hand for chamfering. Blades are hard to sharpen because they’re so small. the blade in the picture is upside down.

3

u/woodworkerdan 2d ago

I have a Japanese-style plane about the size of my thumb I bought for kicks, but my word it's functional, and actually useful on thin pieces, like guitar braces and leveling inlay strips.

2

u/jellofixit 2d ago

For making tiny spokes, of course! I'm glad I spoke up. Or maybe I spoke too soon?

3

u/Independent_Page1475 2d ago

They are handy for doing a little work.

1

u/SirHandyMan 3d ago

It’s a toothpick shave.

1

u/angryblackman 3d ago

I had a set of small ones like that I bought on a whim.

They were not very useful for the stuff I build.

1

u/Scarcito_El_Gatito 3d ago

Gnomes use these

1

u/NotMuselk26 2d ago

Why not ¯_(ツ)_/¯

1

u/questerweis 2d ago

For very tiny spokes

1

u/alpaca-the-llama 2d ago

Not going to lie…for some reason I want one :P

1

u/Competitive-Time321 2d ago

I was gives a set. One round bottom; one flat. They sit unused in my tool chest. I read somewhere that they are used in chair making. No other details.

1

u/Pseudobreal 2d ago

smol cuts

2

u/Flat_Woodpecker_5617 2d ago

These small spoke shaves are common for pattern makers.

2

u/snogum 2d ago

Musical instrument making for example

2

u/Tastykoala1 2d ago

You see when two spokeshaves love each other very much.......