A fast, efficient and surprisingly subtle tool for hollowing surfaces, the Travisher is essentially a big wooden convex spokeshave traditionally used to remove wood when shaping Windsor style chair seats.
Designed in conjunction with Peter Tree, a renowned Windsor chairmaker, it is made using hand selected pieces of air dried beech, the mouthpiece is treated with hardener and then the completed item lightly finished with linseed oil. The design of the Ray Iles Travisher minimises cutting resistance and makes it particularly comfortable to use for production work with an adjustable 01 high carbon tool steel blade that forms the sole of the tool and allows the shavings to exit from the back.
Traditionally used away from the body, the nose is used in much the same way as the heel of the bevel on a carving tool allowing you to alter the depth of cut. Work across the grain, driving and controlling the process with the pads of your thumbs, beginning with a light cut and gradually allowing the blade to bite as you develop a working rhythm. As you approach the finished shape, slow down, transition back to lighter strokes with the travisher and concentrate on clipping the tops off the ridges left by previous strokes to minimise the amount of finishing preparation required.
- Cutting edge: 50mm
- Blade angle: 25°
- Blade thickness: 4mm
- In-cannel grind - sharpen with a slipstone
