I give up, I am giving in to power tools.

[Knapper]

When I started the first purchase was a delta 14" band saw and a belt sander. Made many many bows and lams. Works great, though next I did buy a plainer and increased time per build on lams.
So go 2many go
Knapper

[osage outlaw]

I quit using my belt sander.  The ferriers rasp took its place.  My bows have improved since I switched.  I can get a better thickness taper with the rasp.

[Knapper]

As didI, after20 or so bows and my first attempt at a real long bow the Balt sander was replaced with the rasp,

[SLIMBOB]

I don't use it once I get it bending at floor tiller, but I take it all off with the belt sander to that point.  Heavy grit with a commercial model.  Rips wood off.  The sawdust is less like powder and more like rice!
I lock it upside-down in my Workmate and use it like a table sander.

[Zion]

NOOOOOOOOO! how could you? You should be banned from PA forever.

Totally joking lol. I understand the need.

[gstoneberg]

Most of my tillering is done with the oscillating spindle sander.  I almost never use the band saw any more though unless I'm cutting splices.  I do all my width work with the draw knife.

George

[okie64]

Nuthin wrong with using power tools toomany. I used to use them a lot back when I used to build a lot of laminated bows. I like a hatchet, drawknife, and ferriers rasp for selfbows. Im a carpenter so I have to use power tools all day every day at work, I dont get much joy out of using them for my hobbies.

[Shaun]

14 and 20 inch band saws, dust collector, big edge sander. Lots of fine hand work at the end but careful use of power tools is good stuff. Once past floor tiller it is all farriers rasp and scraper. My favorite tool of all is still the bowyers edge scraper good and sharp.

[Jim Davis]

I think I made two bows before ferreting out a used 14" band saw.

Chances are in the middle ages, we'd all be master bowyers and our apprentices would be doing what lots of us do with band saws and belt sanders.

That's my story aisti.

Jim Davis

[fiddler49]

As a tradesman who uses hand tools all the time, plumber, I've also fallen for the lure of power tools! Just bought a 4" x 36" Porter Cable belt sander from Lowe's. 184.00 bucks. Now my favorite tool! Just built an unusual take down Molly with it. I'll make it my first post here in years.  cheers fiddler49

[oscar3b]

I lock it upside-down in my Workmate and use it like a table sander.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that does this.  My brother's face was priceless the first time I did that in front of him the other day.  I only use mine to square up my tips, and then the take any initial saw marks off from my 14" bandsaw.  I must say that the bandsaw was the best $100 I ever spent (yay Craigslist) and the belt sander is my father-in-law's.  He stores it at my house.  I'll have to buy one eventually but for now, he told me to have at it.  I love free tools! 

[Del the cat]

Now't wrong with power tools as long as you know how to to use 'em. and how to make bows first.
I'm with JW on the ribbing, mind, I'll be using nice hand crafted ribs, none of these machined ones
Del

[sleek]

Welcome to the dark side! I only have one problem, and I know its selfish, but I know that when I buy osage staves from you, you will already have ripped them on the saw, and I wont get twofers anymore... Oh well, you will love having one. I do most all my work start to finish on the bandsaw and belt sander. Sometimes, just to clear the mind and cleans the spirit, I take my old trusty K-Bar out into the woods, fell me a sapling with it, and start to finish a bow. Right now I am working on a fire killed white oak. Enjoy it, but never forget where you came from!

[JackCrafty]

The sanders are the most used tools in my bow shop. 

[PEARL DRUMS]

Someday I may have to look at a sander. I do it all by hand after the bandsaw roughs it out. Every bit of it.