Author Topic: red oak bow, draw knife fail  (Read 3869 times)

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Offline mikebarg

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red oak bow, draw knife fail
« on: September 29, 2016, 01:20:35 pm »
One of my bows developed a small crack last week so I started a new one this past Saturday. Well, I was starting to thin down the limbs with my draw knife and it caught the grain and pulled out a piece about 6 inches long . Now the tip is too thin. Not a good week for my bows.

Offline wizardgoat

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Re: red oak bow, draw knife fail
« Reply #1 on: September 29, 2016, 01:27:10 pm »
Never use a draw knife unless your 100% sure of which way the grain is flowing.
Even if your sure, tear outs happen pretty easy.
A rasp and scraper are much safer, better luck on the next one

Offline PatM

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Re: red oak bow, draw knife fail
« Reply #2 on: September 29, 2016, 01:28:27 pm »
When it starts diving in you're supposed to stop.. You can very easily underlay and thicken it again though.

Offline bow101

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Re: red oak bow, draw knife fail
« Reply #3 on: September 29, 2016, 01:29:15 pm »
You need a good fade transition and glue on a 1/8" tapered lam on the back about 12- 14" long
"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are."  Joseph Campbell

Offline PatM

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Re: red oak bow, draw knife fail
« Reply #4 on: September 29, 2016, 01:37:51 pm »
You need a good fade transition and glue on a 1/8" tapered lam on the back about 12- 14" long

  Belly works better I would think.

Offline mikebarg

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Re: red oak bow, draw knife fail
« Reply #5 on: September 29, 2016, 01:49:48 pm »
I might shorten it a bit and make a light weight kids bow from it . But, I'm going to put it aside for now and look for a new board to start again.

Offline bow101

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Re: red oak bow, draw knife fail
« Reply #6 on: September 29, 2016, 01:54:56 pm »
You need a good fade transition and glue on a 1/8" tapered lam on the back about 12- 14" long

  Belly works better I would think.

Good point but the back works for me,  Bubby does the back lam as well.. most pronounced R/D bows are built that way usually having 2 colored lams.
"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are."  Joseph Campbell

Offline Badger

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Re: red oak bow, draw knife fail
« Reply #7 on: September 29, 2016, 01:59:57 pm »
  Are you using bevel down on your draw knife? On oak I have had better luck using spoke shaves. They take a little practice but once you get going they are great.

Offline PatM

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Re: red oak bow, draw knife fail
« Reply #8 on: September 29, 2016, 02:19:48 pm »
You need a good fade transition and glue on a 1/8" tapered lam on the back about 12- 14" long

  Belly works better I would think.

Good point but the back works for me,  Bubby does the back lam as well.. most pronounced R/D bows are built that way usually having 2 colored lams.

  Are you sure you're not talking about a power lam?

Offline bow101

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Re: red oak bow, draw knife fail
« Reply #9 on: September 29, 2016, 03:01:33 pm »
always thought a power ;D lam was sandwiched......................
"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are."  Joseph Campbell

Offline Jim Davis

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Re: red oak bow, draw knife fail
« Reply #10 on: September 29, 2016, 03:32:26 pm »
+2 on adding to the back. No worry there about a perfect tapered transition. Just work the area to make it flat, glue on your replacement wood, then thin it with rasp and scraper as noted above.

Jim Davis
Jim Davis

Kentucky--formerly Maine

Offline PatM

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Re: red oak bow, draw knife fail
« Reply #11 on: September 29, 2016, 04:25:34 pm »
always thought a power ;D lam was sandwiched......................

   Sure but you mentioned "pronounced R/D" and I've never seen a one foot overlay on any bow tip, certainly not TWO of them.

Offline FilipT

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Re: red oak bow, draw knife fail
« Reply #12 on: September 29, 2016, 04:50:56 pm »
If you use draw knife for everything like I do, try to always go with the grain, never against it. But if you must go against it at some places, let it be short draws.

Offline mikebarg

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Re: red oak bow, draw knife fail
« Reply #13 on: September 29, 2016, 06:23:00 pm »
I need to slow down and not be so aggressive with the draw knife. I'll try to use the rasp and sander more.


Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: red oak bow, draw knife fail
« Reply #14 on: September 29, 2016, 08:02:35 pm »
Yes, always with the grain even if you have to turn around. More on my site. Jawge
http://traditionalarchery101.com/
Set Happens!
If you ain't breakin' you ain't makin!