STANLEY 55mm Flat 151 Spokeshave with Adjustable Blade and Twin Thumbscrews, 1-12-0151

Excellent spokeshave and good value for the money. Despite some apparently dissenting reviews this is the genuine Stanley product: no it is not shrink-wrapped or 'carded'. Stanley shaves never were: I've been selling them for 25 years until a few years ago and the product supplied was exactly as expected based on my experience. The blade needs honing before use, as is the case with all edge tools. Likewise it needs setting correctly for ease of use and effective cutting. If you don't know who to do these things, then check up in a decent book or verified on-line source, but please don't blame the product if you haven't bothered to learn how to use it. It's a tool and needs skill to both set up and use to best effect - but it isn't magic. It can be learned and the tool will be a joy to use once you have.

Works well, it’s a good piece of kit for a very good price. It does work well but not right out the box. My ones iron was was a bit chipped and wasn’t very sharp so it needed a good sharpen. The foot/base is good but I did need to lap it flat a bit first. It’s a solid and simple tool though so with a little TLC out the pack it’s a great bargain that will do the job well and last years of use.

The Stanley 151 spoke shave is a handy tool for woodworkers. It provides good value for money, and should last a lifetime (with possible exception to the blade). Do not expect it to work perfectly out of the box though. The blade will require sharpening if you want the best from it, but 5-10 mins on diamond stones and a little set up, and it will perform brilliantly. The finish is a bit hit and miss - I accidentally ordered two: one was fine with a couple of small scrapes in the paint (I guess from transport), but nothing to worry about; the other had paint runs on the blade cap and a patina on the blade adjusters. Nothing that would affect the performance of the tool, but a little disappointing.

Excellent tool at a great price. Definitely genuine - stamped on the casting and the blade. I was a toolmaker in my youth and these are made to a very high standard. I am into making wooden walking poles at the moment, and this is great for my needs. I did consider buying an vintage one and restoring it, but at this price why bother. It could possibly use a slight honing, but pretty sharp as it is.

You only know it is a Stanley by the paper label. Looks identical to Chinese versions a fraction of the price. I suspect they are made in the same factory. Sad to see great brands from the past sink down this route...

I was a little surprised to find the tool loose in the delivery box with no packaging, blade exposed and no information about it at all. OK, I'm all for reducing waste but this did seem spectacularly lacking any! Meanwhile, it did the trick and handle and fork are now one. No spare blades, so hope this one lasts. If the opportunity ever comes along again , I think I'd buy a different make / supplier

I am that guy who thought he’d buy cheaper tools as there won't be that much difference, they all look alike. This is my fifth spokeshave, which compared to many isn’t a lot, and my experience is limited. Because of that lack of experience I’ve always bought cheaper than Stanley thinking there isn’t much difference. My first was almost a direct copy of the flat spokeshave I'm now reviewing, which I like but it is tiny and difficult to adjust precisely. I have three from a fairly well know company for making useable cheap tools. Again I liked them but the blade needed stropping frequently or you’d have to do a full sharpen, though even a strop can take five to ten minutes depending how temperamental the spokeshave was going to be getting it re-setup. But if these tools are 'OK' is it worth spending another eight quid on a Stanley? The answer is a most definite yes! To begin with it only took me about five minutes to 'flatten' the sole and another five get the blade ready for use. It’s very easy to adjust and the mechanism works exactly as you’d expect. The blade remains sharp and I used it all morning on Sapele which is a relatively hard wood. Even though the copies try to make the shape tool they just don’t feel as comfortable or for want of a better word as intuitive as the Stanley. Somehow its balance feels better to me and I was taken totally by surprise by how different it feels. If like me you’re a newbie and inexperience with how a spokeshave should feel in your hand I strongly suggest the Stanley, you won't regret it.

Was somewhat concerned by some of the reviews and the clearly very poor quality castings that had been supplied in past. Purchased direct from Amazon as I figured would be the easiest way to return the spokeshave should I receive similar product. However it has arrived and I am delighted with the quality and ease of use. The casting quality is good, cutting area is flat and no defects - while Stanley is not the Rolls Royce of tools what I have received is as good as if not better that what I have grown to expect from Stanley tools. All in all I am happy with the tool quality and value for money - this tool will certainly fulfill my requirements for year to come.

J'en suis vraiment contente, il m'a rendu de bons services.

Herramienta solida y con peso, de materiales nobles y bien construida. Cumple su funcion correctamente. Para poder comenzar a usarla bien, toca afilar bien la cuchilla. La verdad que en muchos productos, la marca Stanley esta dejando un poco que desear en cuanto a la calidad de fabricacion ... pero con este Bastren en especial no tengo ninguna queja. Es una buena herramienta que estara muchisimo tiempo en mi taller. Recomendable.

Recieved in very good time and condition, but the planer it self needed about 2 hours in removing excess metal and tuning to be ready for use. It is expected from Stanley to be more perfect than that. After tuning it is very efficient and satisfactory.

The spokeshave is completely satisfactory. All it needed was a little sharpening.

I purchased 2 of these spokeshaves and both were in excellent condition. They were basically without fault and a genuine Stanley product.