Best Tool in the Cookie Cutter Bowyers Toolbox?

[Gsulfridge]

Band saw for rough out, rasp for shaping and scraper for tillering.

+1. Same same

Yep yep

[blackhawk]

If the OP is referring to cookie cutters as laminate bows then nothing beats power tools....almost 90% or more can and should be done with the band saw,planer/jointer,n beltsander...well ya all can use your rasps n hand tools if ya want for lam bows,but not me....I live in a modern house with modern amenities and I'm gonna use that power for my benefit of much easier use of making lam bows....heck even over 3/4 of the work on self bows is easier done with power tools....to each his own

[Marc St Louis]

My brain 

[George Tsoukalas]

I am glad you find planes useful. Jawge

[Don Case]

My brain 

Where can I get one of those?

[Aussie Yeoman]

1. Bandsaw. I can bandsaw out a stave and then remove 0.6 oz to have the bow at full draw, desired draw weight.

2. Shinto Rasp. It has a fiercely aggressive side and a finer side. Doesn't clog easily, removes wood with supreme authority, or in delicate wisps.

3. File. For removing marks left by fine side of shinto rasp.

4. Chisel. A poor man's scraper. I hold it sideways. The blade geometry is excellent, and even on cheap chisels the steel is great for scraping out tool marks.

5. If you want to get a really nice finish, 300, 400 and 500 grit sandpaper, then 0000 or higher grade steel wool.

[paoliguy]

My brain 

Where can I get one of those?

I got one but it sure gets dull quicker than it used to!

[DavidV]

Blackhawk, I meant simple flat board bows, as opposed to character staves or complex designs. Not derrogotory either, I like them simple.

I'm in the beginning stages of building a collection of shop tools so a bandsaw is certainly coming soon. A big one that can resaw laminates.  Maybe I just have bad rasps  but I hate using them and I always end up missing a rasp mark when I finish it.

[red hill]

Farrier rasp, Nelson 4-in-1 rasp, and an old filet knife with a rather thick blade.  And a handsaw from time to time.

[4dog]

this coming from a guy that has none of these..and desperately needs each..and more...
a shaving horse
a good swiveling vise
a bench
a room or shed to put it all in....
not askin for much..lol
and without all of this i still manage to build bows...just...slowly..lol

[DavidV]

4dog- I agree there, I take my vise and bench for granted

[Onebowonder]

I'm a Shinto rasp fan as well.  I just keep a file card nearby to clean it off and it is ready to go again with just a moments attention.

...but I also love my stationary belt sander and my bandsaw. 

Additionally, I've come to really like having a collection of sanding sponges or various grits.  The sponge keeps me from pushing unevenly and creating divits in the bow limbs.

A scraper is a necessary tool for me as well during the tillering phase.  I'm not very good at putting a clean new edge on these yet though.  I think I need to buy one of those burnishing tools.  ...but then again, I'll avail myself of just about any excuse to acquire a new tool/toy. 


OneBow

[Arrowind]

Roughed out on the bandsaw, cleaned up on the belt sander, and then rasp & scraper to the end.

Pretty much the same for me.

[dmenzies1950]

These are nasty words to a lot of our buddies here but, I have to have my belt sander! It's not very primitive, but either is a bandsaw, and lots of guy use them!

Dale

[Gus]

Kool Thread!

Band Saw
Rasp
Scraper
Chain Saw File...

Oh Yeah... Heat Gun!



-gus