Clifton 600 Straight Spokeshave Thomas Flinn

Clifton 600 Straight Spokeshave Thomas Flinn

The Clifton 600 Spokeshave is a tool made by Thomas Flinn & Co, a British company with over a century of craft tradition to back it up. Its flat sole gives it an unusual versatility for a spokeshave: it handles broad convex curves with full control, and on flat surfaces it works almost like a plane, allowing precise and highly controlled material removal. For concave surfaces, the complementary model is the Clifton 650 with curved sole.

In lutherie, the spokeshave is the primary tool for shaping the neck: it removes the bulk of excess wood from heel to headstock, rotating the tool with each stroke to gradually define the profile. It is also useful for shaping the exterior of the instrument body and refining convex surfaces where material needs to be removed progressively. The fine depth adjustment allows delicate control over the thickness of the shaving — especially valuable when working close to final dimensions, before moving on to scrapers or rasps for final finishing.

The body is made from spheroidal graphite malleable iron, a virtually unbreakable material whose surfaces are finished and polished for maximum comfort in the hand. The weight and balance of the tool allow it to sit firmly on the wood with a simple stroking action, without forcing the cut. The cryogenically treated O1 steel blade ensures a durable edge and consistent performance across all timber types.

A tool that does the work itself when properly sharpened.

Technical Specifications

• Weight: 499 g
• Length: 245 mm
• Sole width: 80 mm
• Sole type: flat
• Cutter width: 50 mm (2")
• Blade bedding angle: 45°
• Blade material: cryogenically treated O1 steel
• Blade hardness: 59-61 Rockwell C
• Body material: spheroidal graphite malleable iron