Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: youngbowyer33 on September 01, 2009, 08:37:03 pm
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what are some basic bow making tools that you just cant do without?i would like to hear the top 5 most necessary tools from everyone in their own opinion and why.
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Hatchet (roughing out) , draw knife (roughing out) , Swedish push knife (scraping, tillering and ring chasing) , curved shave hook (ring chasing) , Surform (rough tillering), That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Jawge
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Drawknife for removing large amounts of material. Spokeshave for finer material removal, but still for removing material to get down to dimension. Then a cabinet scraper with a well tuned up edge or old hunting knife sharpened to a razor edge to scrape small amounts of material in the tillering stage. The spokeshave could be replaced with an agressive wood rasp.
I have recently cheated and purchased a quarter sheet random orbital sander. Oh man!!!!!
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Not to long ago we had a talk about this subject. Heres the link: http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,5289.0.html (http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,5289.0.html)
The tools l use the most is a belt sander and a draw knife for roughing out the bows shape. For tillering the bow l use a scraper and a belt sander.....for final tillering l use a scraper. Dont use power tools if your just starting out.
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draw knive for all my shapeing, files to work down belly when i am starting tiller and handle work, then a scraper for finale tiller, and alot of sandpaper.
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Draw knife for removing large portions of wood and bark. a good wood rasp and a good scraper. The only other tool I would hate to loose in my 14" band saw but for many years and lots of wood removal it was a draw knife. OH! I guess sandpaper for number 5. ;D
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oh i forgot a mason jar to burnish the wood with. good cheap tool.
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I like a heavy draw knife. Good set of scrapers. Good vise or bench. Nich 49 rasp. 4 in 1 rasp.
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Scrapers first, I have them all but use my scissors sharpened with an Accusharp scissors sharpener the most.
from the left, Bowyer's edge (never could sharpen it just right, chatter chatter...), Mystic bow scraper, not great, scraper from Loyd in MO, made lots of bow with this one, cabinet scrapers, very nice, necessary especially the round nose for cleaning around pins on osage, and my favorite, a half pair of scissors, cheap, sharpen in 15 seconds and cut like crazy but a course cut not smooth like the cabinet scrapers. The Accusharp scissors sharpener is on the far right.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/allmyscrapers.jpg)
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Other tools, Nicholson #49 pattern makers rasp, Nicholson half round course file, chain saw file for nocks, draw knife, cabinet scrapers.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/bowmakingtools.jpg)
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...and of course, Eric's "gizmo"! ;D
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Yep, gota' have a gizmo.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/presentationgradegizmo.jpg)
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Eric's 2nd picture is about all I use,except fot the band saw. ;) :) Done many without the saw but I would sure miss it now. :)
Pappy
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Here is my list, like the others you will see that it is pretty basic.
- Bandsaw, being able to rough out a stave in 10 minutes is a real treat, however if i didn't have a bandsaw a nice sharp broad axe (that is one that is flat on one side) would suffice.
- drawknife, can't be without a couple, one dull for chasing a ring, one sharp for actual cutting.
- spokeshave, quickly becoming my favorite bow building tool, love it, love it, love it.
- ferriers rasp, i use my cheap ferriers rasp more than i use my expensive rasps because i can't hog off wood with #50 without it plugging up on me.
- Nicholson 49 or 50 or UBR10, unmatchable performance when more controlled wood removal is needed.
- card scrapers, the one and only tool for final tillering as far as i'm concerned.
If you omit the bandsaw and expensive file i'd image you could pick up the other tools: hatchet, drawknife, spokeshave, ferriers rasp, and card scraper for about 50 bucks if you got some from 2nd hand stores, flea markets etc.
you don't need a lot of tools to make really good bows, just search "hatchet bow" and see what people have done with only one simple tool.
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Bandsaw, a 6x48 belt sander, a good vise, a sharp spokeshave with a curved blade, a Nich 49 rasp, and a bowscraper. That's six but I'm a tool fiend.
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My tools are a little basic. Farriers rasp, a couple different draw knives, chainsaw file, and sand paper. I have a band saw, but it is 12" and the blade is too weak. I do use a hatchet alot.
Almost forgot all my homeade scrapers.
TJ
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People maybe forgot to mention... a good metal vise with pads to hold the bow at the handle, not a woodworking vise. It made ALOT of difference for me. Some folks use a bow horse. But the vise is easy to get somewhere used. 4" wide jaws work fine. I asked a while back and that's what the answer post pics showed. Pawn shop... yard sale... friend's garage...