Melbourne MTC-10643 User manual

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FLAT AND ROUND
SPOKESHAVES
Owner’s Manual
Record the invoice number and date of purchase in your manual for future reference.
Invoice Number: ................................................................
Date of Purchase: .............................................................
V15/12/22

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RoundFlat
Overall Width 290mm
Sole Dimensions 72 x 25
Weight 375g
Blade Bed Angle 40°
Blade Bevel Angle 25°
Blade Steel M2 HSS
Blade Width 51mm
Blade Thickness 3.2mm
Sole Radius 62.5mm
Flat & Round Spokeshave Specifications
Flat: MTC-10643
Round: MTC-10650
Spokeshave Replacement Blade
Product Code Description
MTC-10667 Suits Flat
and Round

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CONTENTS
Introduction 4
Melbourne Tool Company 4
Section 1: Safety 6
General Safety Rules 6
Section 2: Component Diagram 7
Section 3: Operation 8
First Use 8
Sharpening Blade 8
Setting The Blade 9
Concave & Convex Curves 10
Grain Direction 10
Section 4: Maintenance 11
Section 5: Troubleshooting 12
Ensure The Blade Is Sharp 12
Tear-out 12
Spokeshave Leaves Tracks On A Board’s Surface 12
Blade Chatters 12
Section 6: Warranty 13
Melbourne Tool Company Warranty Statement 13
Disclaimer 14
Manual Accuracy 14
Technical Support 14

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INTRODUCTION
Melbourne Tool Company
The most human thing you can do is make things.
And there is no more natural way to-do this than work with wood.
Yet wood working is not without its challenges it takes focus and discipline to
learn the craft. Good makers stick at it and work hard because nothing else
really matters.
Woodworking also requires great tools.
Tools that are simple, authentic and accessible. Knowing this led to the
creation of the Melbourne Tool Company. Designed and developed in
Melbourne Australia, for all you passionate woodworkers out there.
MTC Spokeshaves
The MTC Flat and Curved sole Spokeshaves are the perfect companions for
when your work moves beyond the square. Combining the comfort and control
of the wooden spokeshaves of old with modern quality and easy blade
adjustment, you will be looking for excuses to add a curve to all your future
projects.
Welcome to the MTC family.

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SECTION 1:
SAFETY
General Safety Rules
For your own safety, please read and understand this instruction manual
before installing and operating the tool.
Owner’s Manual:
Read and understand this owner’s manual before using the tool.
Handle With Care:
Hand tools include sharp blades that will cause serious injury if handled
improperly. Dropping the tool will likely cause damage to the tool and anything
it lands on, including but not limited to your toes.
Keep the Tool Sharp:
A blunt tool will require excessive force to be used, which greatly increases the
chance of injury.
Awkward Positions:
Keep proper footing and balance at all times when using the tool. Arrange the
workpiece so that you can bring the tool to the work in a comfortable manner.
Experiencing Difficulties?
If at any time you experience difficulties in performing the intended operation,
stop using the tool and consult this owner’s manual. For further technical
support, please contact [e-mail] or the retailer from which
you purchased the tool.

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1. Body
2. Sole
3. Lever Cap Retaining Screw
4. Blade
5. Blade Adjustment Thumbwheel
6. Lever Cap Thumb Screw
7. Lever Cap
8. Blade Bed
SECTION 2:
COMPONENT DIAGRAM
Diagram
3.
2.
8.4.
1.
7.
5.
6.

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SECTION 3:
OPERATION
First Use
Sharpening the Blade
Your spokeshave ships with a coating of rust-inhibiting oil to ensure it arrives to
you in good condition, but this must be removed prior to use.
Remove the lever cap and blade, taking care with the sharp edge of the
blade.
Note: If the blade appears stuck it may be retracted hard against the central
boss - try advancing the blade a couple of turns (see ‘Setting the Blade’).
Using a rag, wipe all components to remove all but the lightest coating of oil,
being careful to avoid the cork handle inserts.
The blade is ground to the correct angle but will require sharpening before
use. The back of the blade may also benefit from final flattening.
Reassemble the Spokeshave, noting the correct orientation of the blade
(bevel facing down) and taking care not to damage the edge.
Do not overtighten the cap iron thumbscrew – it only needs one 1/8th of a turn
or so once the slack is taken out.
Periodically check the condition of the blade and resharpen as required – a
sharp blade is the single biggest factor in enjoying the use of your spokeshave
and the quality of the surface it produces.
When replacing the blade check the bed is free from wood shavings and any
build-up of wax or oil.

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The Depth & Lateral Adjustment Wheels control both the projection of the
blade below the sole and the lateral angle of the blade.
Turning the wheels clockwise advances the blade, while turning them
anticlockwise retracts it. Turning each wheel a differing amount skews the
blade left or right.
Setting the blade
1. Loosen the lever cap thumbscrew just enough so that adjustments can be
made without excessive force.
2. Place the spokeshave on a flat surface and advance each side of the blade
evenly until it just touches the surface.
3. Tighten the lever cap thumbscrew (about 1/8th of a turn - do not
overtighten!) and take a test cut.
4. If a heavier cut is required, repeat the procedure advancing the blade a
small amount.
5. If a lighter cut is required, retract the blade more than necessary and then
advance it again to the desired position. This will ensure the blade does not
retract in use.
Depth & Lateral Adjustment
Blade Mouth Adjustment
Note: You may wish to set the blade so that it takes a thicker shaving on one
side than the other. In this way you can quickly move between removing waste
in bulk and refining a surface without re-setting the blade.
Top ViewFront View
Front ViewSide View

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Concave & Convex Curves
Melbourne Tool Company produces two spokeshaves – a flat sole model and
a curved sole model. Generally speaking, the flat sole will handle straight
edges and convex (or ‘outside’) curves, whilst concave (or ‘inside’) curves will
require the curved sole model.
Flat sole
Flat sole
Curved sole
Curved sole
Grain Direction
As with all plane work, to achieve a smooth surface it is important to work with
the grain wherever possible. When working on a curved surface, this commonly
means that the best direction to work from will be different at either end of
the curve. The MTC Spokeshaves are designed to be comfortable to push or
pull towards yourself, reducing the need to rotate your workpiece as you move
along a curve.
Side View
Side View
Side View
Side View

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SECTION 4:
MAINTENANCE
Maintenance
• After each use, disassemble the spokeshave and clean off accumulated dirt,
grease, resin and rust, especially from the threads and blade bed. An old
toothbrush is ideal for this
• If the spokeshave is stored in damp or humid conditions or when overnight
temperatures drop significantly, it should be stored wrapped in cloth or in a
plane sack
• A light layer of paste wax with rust inhibiting ingredients is ideal for
protecting the raw metal parts of the spokeshave. Alternatively, a light
machine oil can be applied. In either case ensure that any excess is
removed leaving only a very light coating on the tool
• It is a good idea to also wipe off finger marks after use to minimise the
chance of surface rust
• Protect the cork handle insert with a light coat of cabinet wax. The cork
handle insert will darken over time.

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SECTION 5:
TROUBLESHOOTING
Ensure the blade is sharp
Tear-out
The spokeshave leaves tracks on a board’s surface
The blade ‘chatters’
The first step of any troubleshooting is to ensure that blade is sharp.
If sharpening the blade does not resolve the issue please see below for further
suggestions.
• Most often caused by shaving against the grain – try shaving in the
opposite direction
• If it is not possible to shave with the grain due to the nature of the design or
difficult grain, take the lightest cut possible with a freshly sharpened blade.
• Examine your blade for damage and sharpen if required
• If the tracks occur at the corners of the blade when you are shaving a
broad, nearly flat surface (such as a paddle) you may want to round the
corners of your blade with a diamond or oilstone.
• Ensure the blade is sharp
• Reduce the depth of cut
• Hold the spokeshave at an angle to skew the cut, reducing the effective
cutting angle
• Lubricate the sole with wax or oil.

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SECTION 6:
WARRANTY & SUPPORT
Melbourne Tool Company Warranty Statement
The metal parts of this Plane carry a Limted Warranty against manufacturing
defects. The warranty does not cover modifications, willful misuse, accidental
damage, or damage arising from the owner’s failure to reasonably maintain the
product.
Non-metal parts carry a two-year warranty against defects. The warranty does
not cover modifications, willful misuse, accidental damage, or damage arising
from the owner’s failure to reasonably maintain the product.
If your Melbourne Tool Company product has a warrant-able fault, please contact
the retailer that it was purchased from.
Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian
Consumer Law. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure
and compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. You
are also entitled to have the goods repaired or replaced if the goods fail to be
of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure.

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Disclaimer
Customers should ensure that they take all reasonable safety precautions when
operating MTC products. MTC will not be held liable to you in respect of any
personal injury (including without limitation serious injury or death) that you may
suffer or sustain directly or indirectly as a result of the use of products sold by
us. Nor will we be liable to you in respect of any other losses arising as a result
of any such personal injury.
Nothing in this disclaimer shall: limit or exclude our liability for death or personal
injury resulting from negligence, limit or exclude our liability for fraud or fraudulent
misrepresentation, limit any of our liabilities in any way that is not permitted
under applicable law, or exclude any of our liabilities that may not be excluded
under applicable law.
Technical Support
If you have a question about your MTC product that isn’t covered in
this manual, please email us directly at [email protected]om
Manual Accuracy
We have made every effort to be exact with the specifications, instructions,
drawings, and photographs in this manual. Our policy of continuous
improvement can sometimes mean that sometimes the machine you receive is
slightly different to that shown in the manual.
If you find this to be the case, and the difference between the manual
and the product leaves you confused or unsure about something, check the
retailer’s website for an updated version. Alternatively, you can
contact us directly at [email protected]om

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Notes:

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Notes:

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www.melbournetool.com