The best spokeshaves, compared.
Top pick: Spear & Jackson SSCON Best value: Swpeet 10 inch pair – About £4.44 buys two named flat-base shaves. That does not mean spare blades were supplied, or that the edges are sharp. Updated October 2026.
A spokeshave is a short-soled hand plane for curves. You use one to ease a sticking timber door, round an edge, or shape a chair part without the dust of a sander. Judge it by a sole you can make true, a blade that will take an edge, and screws or a cap that hold the depth. The usual first tool is a flat-sole adjustable shave in the 151 pattern, for a door edge, a chamfer, and a gentle hollow. Common rule of thumb puts a round bottom mainly on radii under about 6 inches (152 mm). A concave-and-convex set, such as the &, uses curved blades. Sole, adjustment, spares, and budget are in the [spokeshave buying guide](/hub/diy-supplies/spokeshave/sub/spokeshave-buying-guide). A straight blade and two nuts suit convex work, chamfers, and gentle hollows.
A spokeshave is a short-soled hand plane for curves. You use one to ease a sticking timber door, round an edge, or shape a chair part without the dust of a sander.
42 products checked · 58 hrs invested · +21,400 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you shaping?
The Spear & Jackson SSCON pairs concave and convex cutters for shaping rounded components, rather than combining a flat shave with a round-sole shave. Its 4.5-star rating from 106 reviews is the strongest well-supported average in this set, and the cast-iron bodies with precision-ground carbon-steel blades are coherently described. Reviewers report a single locking screw that requires the blade to be positioned and then clamped, so adjustment differs from twin-screw budget tools. One UK reviewer estimated the curve at about a 5 cm radius, but that is an individual measurement rather than a manufacturer specification. At £26.74 it is the most expensive listing here and too specialised for a first door-edge tool. It is the better fit when you already know you need concave and convex blade profiles.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Chair parts, handles and other rounded work that specifically needs concave and convex cutter profiles.
Less suitable: Door edges, general flat work, or buyers looking for a flat shave plus a round-sole shave.
Specifications
Common questions
Is SSCON a flat spokeshave and a round one?
No. The listing is a concave and convex set with curved blades. A round-sole shave in this batch is SSROUND, B0H2Z5N6SS.
How do you set the blade?
The listing says the carbon-steel blade is adjustable. Reviewers describe one locking screw: you place the blade, then clamp it. They do not describe twin screws.
What is it made of, and what does it weigh?
Cast iron, made in India, with carbon-steel blades. Listed size 32.5 x 14.5 x 3.5 cm and 570 g.
The Lumanious 10-inch shave has the right basic geometry for straight edges and gentle curves: a named flat base, twin screws and a claimed heat-treated SK2 blade. Its 4.5-star headline looks strong, but it comes from only five ratings, so it carries much less weight than a slightly lower score backed by hundreds of buyers. The title promises four metal blades while the included-components line lists only the spokeshave, leaving the actual box contents unresolved. Seller claims of 58–60 HRC should be treated as specifications, not independent test results. At £8.59 it is competitively priced and may be a sensible gamble for someone comfortable with sharpening and setup. It is not the evidence-backed top pick despite having one of the highest raw star averages.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Buyers wanting an inexpensive named flat sole who are comfortable accepting a thin review sample.
Less suitable: Anyone choosing mainly by star rating, or requiring confirmed spare blades.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it include four blades?
The title says four metal blades. Included components and the item count say one spokeshave. Those listing lines do not agree.
What is the sole?
The bullets say an intuitive flat base.
How many reviews are behind 4.5?
The listing line is 4.5 from 5. Two written reviews sit under that line.
The Glarks G2657 is an eight-piece woodworking bundle rather than a simple spokeshave purchase: two adjustable shaves, four spare blades, a small plane and a four-way rasp cost £16.99. Its 4.2-star rating from 152 reviews gives the package a useful volume of buyer feedback. Reviewers mainly use the spokeshaves, while the small plane draws criticism for its narrow blade and a wedge that may not hold. The listing does not name either shave's sole shape, so the bundle cannot be confidently chosen for a specific flat or hollow surface. Blade dimensions also conflict within one bullet, including an implausible 1.5 by 8-inch line beside millimetre figures. Buy it if the assortment itself is useful, not because it is the best-specified shave.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Beginners who want an inexpensive mixed shaping bundle and can tune the useful pieces.
Less suitable: Buyers seeking one precisely specified spokeshave for a known curve.
Specifications
Common questions
What is in the G2657 set?
Two adjustable spokeshaves (240 mm and 212 mm), four spare blades, one small plane (103 x 45 mm), and one four-way rasp (200 x 23 mm).
Is the sole flat or round?
The listing does not name the sole shape. It gives two lengths and two blade sizes.
What do reviewers say about the extra plane?
In 44 reviews the spokeshaves are the part people use. The small plane draws complaints about a narrow blade and a wedge that does not hold.
The GIONAR is a 10-inch shave with dual-screw adjustment and a claimed carbon-steel blade, priced at £9.98. Its 4.2-star rating from 35 reviews is respectable for a small listing but does not resolve basic specification gaps. Most importantly, the sole shape is not named, so the tool cannot be confidently matched to a flat edge or hollow. The title promises four replacement blades while the included-components field says no, and one reviewer says the four spares were missing. A listed weight of 10 g is impossible for a tool of this size and further weakens confidence in the catalogue data. Consider it only if returns are straightforward and you are prepared to inspect exactly what arrives.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Buyers prepared to verify the delivered tool and return it if the sole or blade package is unsuitable.
Less suitable: Anyone needing dependable dimensions, a confirmed sole shape, or guaranteed spare blades.
Specifications
Common questions
Are four spare blades in the box?
The title says four replacement blades. Included components say no. One of 14 reviews says the four spares were missing.
What does it weigh?
The listing says 10 g. That figure is not credible for a 10 inch tool, so treat it as a bad field.
Is the sole described?
No. The listing does not say flat or round.
The MHYMX is a 10-inch adjustable shave with an alloy-steel material claim and a plausible listed weight of 480 g. One UK reviewer says it removed about 3 mm from a door, showing that the tool can tackle a real household edge rather than merely decorative shaping. However, the sole shape is not named, and the listing does not explain whether depth is controlled by twin screws or another mechanism. A reviewer also found the blade very difficult to set, which matters on a job where one heavy pass can remove too much timber. The 4.2-star line comes from 23 reviews, so the evidence is still limited. At £9.99 it may work after setup, but a named flat sole is a safer choice for a door.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Practical buyers willing to tune an inexpensive shave for occasional edge work.
Less suitable: Precision door easing where a confirmed flat sole and predictable adjustment matter.
Specifications
Common questions
What did a buyer use it for?
One UK review says it took about 3 mm off a door between a kitchen and a living room.
How is the blade adjusted?
The listing says you can control the depth. It does not name twin screws or a single lock. A review calls the blade very difficult to set.
Is a case included?
The listing does not mention a case.
The Glarks package includes two 10-inch flat-base shaves and two extra blades for £12.99, giving you a clearer spare provision than most budget listings. The claimed 45 mm SK2 blades are 2 mm thick, while the 4.1-star rating is supported by 225 reviews. That combination makes the set more convincing than cheaper pairs when you specifically want replacement cutters in the box. It is not ready-made precision tooling: reviewers repeatedly mention paint on the sole and blades that need sharpening before the shaves cut cleanly. The later listing wording of four blades in total is consistent with two fitted cutters plus two replacements, but the paper box offers little long-term protection. Choose it for the useful package, not to avoid setup.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Buyers wanting a pair of flat shaves with stated replacement blades for workshop or door-edge use.
Less suitable: Tight hollows, or anyone wanting a finely finished tool straight from the box.
Specifications
Common questions
What is in the box?
The first bullet says two spokeshaves and two extra blades, packed in a paper box.
How long is the blade?
The bullet says 45 mm long and 2 mm thick. The table’s 2 mm cutting width matches the thickness figure, not a 2 mm cutter.
What setup do reviewers describe?
Across 40 reviews, paint on the sole and a blade that needs sharpening come up repeatedly before the tool will cut cleanly.
The Spear & Jackson SSROUND is the clearly identified round-sole option in this comparison, intended for hollows that a flat sole bridges over. Its cast-iron body, adjustable carbon-steel cutter and 380 g listed weight provide more coherent specifications than many generic listings. A 4.1-star rating from 93 reviews gives it a reasonable, though not huge, user sample. The listing does not describe twin adjusters, so do not assume it sets in the same way as the inexpensive Stanley-pattern flat shaves. It also includes no stated spare blade. At £13.33 it is a focused second tool for concave work, not the best first purchase for door edges, chamfers or broad convex curves.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Woodworkers shaping tighter concave curves that a flat sole cannot enter.
Less suitable: Door edges, broad flat work, chamfers, or buyers seeking an all-round first spokeshave.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this the concave and convex set?
No. SSROUND is one round spokeshave. The pair is SSCON, ASIN B0H2YW8WKL.
What is it made of?
The listing says a cast-iron body and an adjustable carbon-steel blade, made in India. Listed size 32.5 x 10.8 x 3.6 cm and 380 g.
Does it include spare blades?
Included components list one round spokeshave. No spare blades are named.
The Swpeet pair gives you two 10-inch flat-base spokeshaves for £4.44, with a claimed 46 mm carbon-steel blade and twin-screw adjustment on each tool. That makes it the clearest best-value option if you want a spare shave or plan to keep two different blade settings. Its 4.1-star rating comes from 66 reviews, which is useful evidence but far less extensive than the busiest Swpeet listing. The listing claims SK2 steel at 58–60 HRC, although those are seller specifications rather than independently verified measurements. No spare blades are promised, so the second tool should not be mistaken for a replacement-blade set. Expect to check the sole, sharpen the edge and set both screws before judging the cut.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Budget buyers who want two flat-base shaves for door edges, chamfers or gentle curves.
Less suitable: Tight hollows, buyers wanting confirmed spare blades, or anyone expecting a ready-honed premium tool.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this one spokeshave or two?
The title and the item count say two 10 inch flat-base spokeshaves. The listing does not promise spare blades.
How is the cut set?
The bullets describe a double-screw adjustment for planing thickness.
What is the blade?
The bullets say a 46 mm carbon-steel blade and claim SK2 at 58–60 HRC. That hardness figure is a listing claim.
The single Swpeet flat shave is the most evidence-backed general-purpose option here, with 3.9 stars from 1,928 reviews and a claimed 46 mm carbon-steel blade. Its flat cast-iron base and twin adjustment suit door edges, chamfers and convex work better than the specialist round or curved-blade tools. Reviewers repeatedly say it can complete practical jobs once the blade is set, including easing door edges. The compromise is preparation: painted or uneven soles, a blade that needs sharpening and fiddly adjustment recur in the review sample. No spare blade count is stated, and the SK2 and 58–60 HRC figures remain listing claims. At £8.99 it is our top pick for a first flat shave if you accept that inexpensive cast tools commonly need tuning.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A first flat spokeshave for door edges, chamfers and convex shaping when you can tune the sole and blade.
Less suitable: Tight hollows, buyers wanting supplied spares, or anyone expecting a ready-to-use premium finish.
Specifications
Common questions
How wide is the cutter?
The bullet says a 46 mm carbon-steel blade and a tool length of 25.5 cm. The table’s 10 inches matches that length, not a 254 mm cutter.
Are spare blades included?
Included components list one spokeshave. The listing does not state a spare-blade count.
What do reviewers repeat about setup?
In the first 50 reviews, a painted or uneven sole and a fiddly adjustment come up often, alongside door-edge jobs that worked once the blade was set.
The Wjelet 9-inch shave names a flat base, a 44 mm high-speed-steel blade and twin-screw adjustment, all useful details for a first general-purpose tool. Its listing also claims four spare blades, although one UK review says the spares arrived and another says only the fitted blade was supplied. The 3.6-star rating from 17 reviews is a weak signal beside better-established alternatives in this comparison. Two catalogue fields are plainly unreliable: 54 g is implausible for the described cast tool, and a manual spokeshave is not corded electric. At £7.69 it remains inexpensive, but the listing errors make it harder to know exactly what will arrive. Buy it only if you are prepared to verify the contents and tune the blade and sole.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A low-cost flat-sole trial where you can check the box contents and carry out basic setup.
Less suitable: Buyers who need dependable specifications, confirmed spares, or strong review evidence.
Specifications
Common questions
How wide is the blade?
The bullet says 44 mm wide and 21 cm overall. The table’s cutting width repeats 44 mm.
Does the listing say it is electric?
The power-source field says corded electric. The bullets describe a manual spokeshave. Treat the electric field as a listing error.
Are four spare blades included?
The bullet says four spare blades. One UK review says they arrived; another says only the fitted blade was in the box.
The Voskilon is a 9-inch adjustable shave whose title claims four carbon-steel blades and whose dual screws should allow basic depth setting. The listing does not identify the sole as flat or round, so you cannot confidently match it to a door edge or a tight hollow before buying. Its 3.5-star line is based on only three reviews, too little evidence for a dependable performance judgement. Of the two written reviews available, one is satisfied while the other says every blade arrived blunt and calls the tool badly made. The stated 7 cm cutting width is also difficult to reconcile with the rest of the listing. At £8.19 it is cheap, but the uncertainty is greater than with alternatives that name their sole and blade width.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Experienced buyers willing to inspect and tune a very low-cost tool after delivery.
Less suitable: First-time buyers, precise sole selection, or anyone wanting reliable out-of-box sharpness.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the sole flat or round?
The listing does not name the sole. It does say the tool is meant for curves, rounded edges, and edge trimming.
How many blades are claimed?
The title and a bullet say four carbon-steel blades. The included-components line instead says blade gauge assembly.
What do the two written reviews say?
One reviewer was satisfied. The other called it badly made and said every blade arrived blunt. The listing star line is 3.5 from 3.
This Wjelet 9-inch shave claims a cast-iron body, a high-speed-steel blade and four extra blades, with dual screws for adjustment. The listing does not say whether the sole is flat or round, which makes the tool difficult to choose for a specific curve. Its 3.4-star rating from 14 reviews is among the weakest user signals in the comparison. One bullet promises tool-free blade replacement, but a reviewer reports both a faulty fitted blade and missing spares. The £8.99 price is low, yet it buys more uncertainty than the similarly priced flat-base Swpeet. It is best treated as a tune-up project rather than a dependable first shave.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Tool tinkerers willing to verify the sole, spares and fitted blade after delivery.
Less suitable: First-time users, or anyone who needs a clearly specified flat or round sole.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this the same tool as the other Wjelet 9 inch?
No. This ASIN is B0DT6XB176. B0DK2VMLRW is a separate listing at £7.69.
Can the blade be changed without tools?
One bullet says tool-free quick blade replacement and four spare blades. A review says a faulty blade arrived and the spares did not.
What is the sole shape?
The listing does not say flat or round. It does say curved work such as chair legs and seat surfaces.
Scores use the amazon.co.uk listing data and review signals collected for this comparison. No spokeshave was lab tested. User evidence is weighted at 40, job fit and specification clarity at 25, value and package at 20, and setup and reliability at 15.
User evidence
40%Star average, review count, and repeated review themes. A high average from only a few ratings receives less weight than a slightly lower average from a substantial sample.
Job fit and specification clarity
25%Named sole geometry, credible blade dimensions, and an adjustment method that can be matched to the intended work.
Value and package
20%Price in GBP, number of tools, and clearly stated replacement blades. Contradictory box contents do not earn full credit.
Setup and reliability
15%Deductions for uneven or painted soles, blunt blades, adjustment faults, missing parts, and implausible catalogue fields.
Start with the sole, then the adjustment, then whether any spare blade is actually promised. A flat sole covers a door edge, a chamfer, and a gentle curve. A round sole, or a curved-blade pair, is for a hollow you already know a flat shoe cannot enter. Prices in this amazon.co.uk set run from about £4.44 to about £26.74. Expect to hone and, on many cheap castings, to true a painted sole before you judge the cut.
A spokeshave is a short-soled hand plane for curves. UK buyers use one to ease a sticking timber door, round an edge, or shape a chair part without the dust of a sander. You judge it by a sole that can be made true, a blade that will take an edge, and screws or a cap that hold the depth. The usual first tool is a flat-sole, bevel-down adjustable shave in the Stanley 151 pattern. A straight blade and two nuts suit convex work, chamfers, and gentle hollows.
A door edge, a chamfer, and a gentle hollow are flat-sole jobs. A round sole is for tighter hollows, mainly radii under about 6 inches (152 mm) on Common Woodworking’s rule of thumb. A second flat shave is a spare edge, not a concave tool.
UK reviews here say both that an edge was sharp on arrival and that it needed honing first. Paint and a rocky casting are common on cheap tools. Set the screws, flatten the sole, and put an edge on the blade before you decide the shave cannot cut.
Several tables print a cutting width of 9 or 10 inches, which matches the tool length. Bullets in this set often put the cutter near 44 to 46 mm, and the Glarks pair states 45 mm by 2 mm thick. Record’s A151 page quotes 60 mm, and that tool is not in this amazon.co.uk set.
Flat sole for convex work, chamfers, and gentle hollows. Round sole, the 151R pattern, for tighter hollows that a flat shoe bridges. Common Woodworking’s rule of thumb keeps a round bottom mainly for radii under about 6 inches (152 mm). A concave-and-convex set such as the Spear & Jackson SSCON is curved blades, a different tool from a flat shave paired with a round-sole 151R. A UK reviewer put the SSCON curve at about a 5 cm radius.
Twin screws set depth and a slight skew. A single lock screw means you place the blade, then clamp it. Screws that walk out are a fault. Some Glarks and Swpeet bullets claim SK2 at 58–60 HRC. Treat that as a seller claim. UK reviews say both that an edge was sharp on arrival and that it needed honing first. Count spares only when the listing promised them, and still expect to sharpen. Paint and a rocky casting are common.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a flat sole and a light cut, which is the job that dominates the UK reviews here. The Swpeet 10 inch flat is about £8.99, with 3.9 from 1,928 ratings and a claimed 46 mm blade. Plan to true the sole and hone the edge before you judge the cut.
A flat sole bridges a tight hollow. The Spear & Jackson SSROUND is the named round sole in this set: cast iron, made in India, about £13.33, with 4.1 from 93 ratings. It is a second tool, after you already have a flat shave for edges and chamfers.
A door edge is a flat-sole job, and a second flat shave is a spare edge. The Swpeet pair is about £4.44, with 4.1 from 66 ratings, twin screws, and a claimed 46 mm blade on each tool. No spare blades are promised.
The top pick is the Swpeet 10 inch flat at about £8.99. It combines a named flat sole and a claimed 46 mm blade with 3.9 from 1,928 ratings, the largest review sample here, and it still needs the sole and the edge set. The best value is the Swpeet 10 inch pair at about £4.44: two named flat-base shaves and 4.1 from 66 ratings, with no spare blades stated and no promise of out-of-box sharpness. A round sole, or the Spear & Jackson concave-and-convex pair, is a second tool once you already know the hollow is too tight for a flat shoe.
Swpeet 10 inch pair
About £4.44 buys two named flat-base shaves. That does not mean spare blades were supplied, or that the edges are sharp.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public sources named in the research digest for this spokeshave comparison. Listing prices and star counts are amazon.co.uk figures from that digest. Prices move. Sources checked 15 October 2026.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Scores use amazon.co.uk listing data and review signals. No spokeshave was lab tested.
