Black Walnut (flatbow?) in progress. Input needed!

[Thunderlizard]

Howdy Ya’ll.

Continuing work on this black walnut stave, and am curious what’s next...

It’s 69” tip to tip at this point, and I’ve used a geometry compass to mark the thickness from the back. The sharpied line is where I’d like to remove wood to.

It runs the length of the stave on both sides, with a lot more room left for the handle and fades.

It’s 1/4” thick at each tip, and a little bit bigger closer to the handle to make an (hopefully) even taper in thickness.

Main question is: should I keep going with a draw knife or hatchet, or play it safe and start to rasp?!



Any input is greatly appreciated!


- Pat

[Mo_coon-catcher]

For that little bit of wood removing you can go to a rasp. With a sharp staking you can take walnut to the line since it cuts so well. But why take the chance of having a tear out and dropping weight too much when you have this little to remove. I love walnut for a bow, comes in low mass and generally quiet in the hand.

Kyle

[dylanholderman]

depends on your comfort level with said tools.
i use a large knife for most rough work and i can chop to a 1/16'' of my line with most woods.

that said i would probable just use a rasp at this point too, especially near the tip like that. 

[upstatenybowyer]

rasp

[bjrogg]

I'd go with rasp. Or scraper
Bjrogg

[ohma2]

Rasp

[Thunderlizard]

Thanks for all the suggestions Ya'll - seems like rasping is the unanimous decision here!

[gutpile]

farriers rasp.....gut

[simson]

I never use a hatchet, sometimes a rasp (working on knots or blury wood). My tool is a razor sharp draw knife, but that's only me.