Definition
A small hand tool with a short cutting blade held between two handles, used to shave and shape curved or rounded wooden surfaces. In aircraft work, spokeshaves are used when fabricating or repairing wooden parts such as wing ribs, propeller blanks, and longerons, where smooth, controlled removal of thin shavings is needed to bring a surface to its final shape.
Plain English
A two-handled hand tool that shaves thin curls of wood off a surface to smooth and shape it, especially on curved pieces.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft maintenance, repair, or restoration work involving wooden aircraft parts.
Derivation
From 'spoke' (the wooden rod in a wagon wheel) and 'shave' (to cut thin slices). It was originally the tool used to shape wheel spokes, and the name carried over to any similar small shaving tool.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots and owners of wood-structure or vintage aircraft may see spokeshaves used during repair or restoration of wooden ribs, spars, or propellers, where surface shape directly affects airflow and structural fit.
Intuition Check
Do not read “spokeshave” as a tool used only on wheel spokes. In aircraft work, it means a hand tool used to shave and shape wood.
Example Sentence 1
The restorer used a spokeshave to fair the leading edge of the wooden wing rib before covering.
Example Sentence 2
After gluing the wing rib, he smoothed the capstrip with a spokeshave until it matched the airfoil contour.