Clico Clifton 550 Concave Spokeshave Review By: I.Ball
Category: Old Spokshaves
Manufacturer: Clico (Sheffield) Tooling Ltd
Tool Type: Spokshave
Model No: 550
This Clifton spokeshave review is of the old Clifton concave spokeshave
manufactured by Clico (Sheffield) Tooling Ltd, Sheffield, England.
Clico made the spokeshave for over 20 years until the Clifton tools
part of the business was taken over by Thomas Flinn and Co in 2014.
Thomas Flinn and Co continue to make this tool, please see the
new Clifton concave spokeshave review
for more information about the Thomas Flinn and Co Clifton concave spokeshave
(virtually identical other than the type of box it is packaged in).
The 254mm (10 inch) long Clifton concave spokeshave is constructed from
virtually unbreakable spheroidal graphite / malleable iron and weighs a hefty 15oz.
The Clifton spokeshave is one of the heaviest spokeshaves of all of the iron spokeshaves
made by the main manufacturers in the past 100 years.
The spokeshave has also been designed to give the tool a good balance. The weight
and balance helps maintain an anchored connection between the mouth and workpiece
making the use of the tool easy to use.
The spokeshave has a concave mouth and is fitted with a 2 1/2 inch diameter concave
cutter which is bed at a 45 degree angle.
The cutter is locked in place with the use of the lever cap. The lever cap has whispers
of a decorative design based upon the old Edward Preston spokeshave lever caps.
The spokeshave is classed as being a fully adjustable spokeshave due to the tool
being equipped with a blade fine adjustment mechanism.
The blade adjuster is controlled with a wheel nut which locates with a slot in the
top of the cutter. The depth of cut can easily and accurately be adjusted by turning
the adjuster wheel nut.
Note: ensure to loosen the lever cap before making adjustments to help avoid damage.
The chunky, curvy arms are raised and arched and finished with a polished finish
offering comfort and control.
The spokeshave can be used by pushing or pulling the tool, generally the tool is
used by pushing the tool.
The hollow sole / concave bottom is suited to rounding work such as on a shapely
chair or table leg, and suited to quickly round any nosing or edge. The shave allows
different parts of the sole to be used to form different degrees of convexity.
Examples of use given in the Clico tools catalogue include 'cabriole legs or blending
in curved surfaces made by machine - such as posts and stair rails'.
The spokeshave was supplied in a good thick blue cardboard box with a meshed texture.
The box has a white outline diagram of the tool on the lid along with the core tool
details.
The Clico Clifton concave spokeshave was also available in the
Clifton convex spokeshave no. 500 version.
Body:
spheroidal graphite / malleable iron
Blade Adjusters:
steel
Spokeshave finish:
natural
Construction Origin:
Sheffield, England
Length:
254mm (10 inch)
Width:
64mm (2 1/2 inch)
Weight:
425g (15oz)
Curvature:
64mm (2 1/2 inch) (diameter)
Clifton Spokeshave - Concave Blade / Cutter
Cutter Width: 38mm (1 1/2 inch)
"Clifton" - found on the lever cap face.
"550 Clifton" - found on the underside of one arm.
"England" - found on the underside of the other arm.
<1991 - 2014
Clifton concave spoke shave
Clifton concave pull shave
Clifton concave shaving tool
....
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- Clico (Tooling) Ltd - Sheffield, England
(i) This review/article may give warning(s) / advisory notes / cautions / guidelines given
in good faith, any such information should not be solely relied upon and seen
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for the good health of your tool and property.
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