Tips and handles from a log?

[Bitterguy]

I might be putting the cart before the horse here a bit but rps3 offered me a hickory stave since I was in the area and I wanted to pick it up sometime once im done with the red oak bow im working on now. I also have this hunk of black walnut, its about 6" in diamater, but not long enough to make a bow (i'll post pictures to clarify when I get home) and its just been sitting in my garage taking up space as of recent. My question is since I don't have a bandsaw how could I cut up this log into something that I can get a handle or two out of and some nocks for this stave I will probablly be getting in the near future?

[Slackbunny]

Old fashioned hand saw would work, might be a fair bit of work, and you'd probably need to clean it up with a hand planer, but it would do the job.

There is an old thread around somewhere in which a guy shows how to get a long straight cut with a handsaw. I think all he does is tack a straight board to the log and then cut along the straight edge.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Split it with an axe or hatchet and then use hand tools to square up a chunk.

[Bitterguy]

Would it be possible to use a table saw?

[Weylin]

I like a good, sharp hatchet

[hedgeapple]

Bitterguy, of all the tools in my shop, the table saw scares the begeebees out of me.  Tables saw are designed to be used to cut dimention lumber.  Even when using lumber the saw can bind and kick ones hands onto the blade.  Splitters and irregular edge of a log made them more likely to bind and kick.

That being said, I have used my table saw to cut dimentional lumber for handles and overlays from small logs.  I split them in half then split them in half again to get as near to a 90 degree angle as possible.  The I square them with a shurform or rasp to remove all the splitter and make a flat surface for the "log" to lay on the table and against the fence.  Mind you, I'm not cutting anything over a couple inches tall.  USE THE PUSH POLE TO KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM THE BLADE.  Wear safety glasses.

I DO NOT RECCOMMEND OR ENDORSE USING A TABLE SAW IN THIS MANNER. 

[rps3]

Bring it with you and we will see what works best if you want. I have a band saw and wedges.

[BOWMAN53]

Go to lowes/home depot and pick up a miterbox and saw, youll get straight flat cuts with that.

[k-hat]

You could also square up roughouts with a belt sander.  All you really need is one flat side for glue up anyway.

[bow101]

Split it with an axe or hatchet and then use hand tools to square up a chunk.

X2 

[Bitterguy]

Ill be sure to remember it rps, this bow will be an early b-day present to my dad, which gives me a couple months, hopefully I can get it done by then