Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: youngbowyer33 on December 07, 2009, 11:06:00 pm
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im thinking of asking for a draw knife for Christmas, would this be a could one? also checking if posting link s works so if not i apologize (http://www.l eevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=20115&cat=1,41131,41140[/url)
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well that didnt work as i had hoped, but it sorta worked
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I've got three and didn't pay that much for all three together. Check out the antique stores and E@#*. Should be able to get one around 15 - 20 dollars prurdy easy. That does look like a good'n though, if'n ya gotta have a new one.
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http://www.harborfreight.c om/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96829
That one works great...I still prefer a hand planer over anything else, though.
Just for reference: http://www.h arborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92553
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if i have a big hand planer and i only use white wood do i even need a draw knife?
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I never use my draw knife.
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now that i think of it i probably wouldn't use it alot either, i just hear about them all the time and want one.
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They are discussed often...but I believe it has to do with it being how things were done in the "old days". A hand plane is a relatively new invention by comparison. With a skilled hand, you can shave off much more material with a draw knife than with a plane, but it does require a skilled hand. Lots of practice. Lots of lumber. I put my draw knife up there with circular saws and band saws...I've ruined more staves with them than made bows all together.
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i use mine for debraking and remvinf mass off a stave if i dont do that on the band saw
which is usaully this time of year cause it gets too damn cold outside to be in the garage for any length of time
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i use the fire outa one, thats all i use from debark to cutting it into bow shape then a rasp and scraper.
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I'm with woodstick - I can turn my 100 year old drawknife on edge and make shavings as fine as a hair, or cut large amounts of excess wood from a stave in a hurry. You could basically make an entire bow with JUST a drawknife if you knew how to use it.
Mine can be "scary sharp" and has only bit me once !!!
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only once, dern. mine dont like me then. ha ha
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Does anyone ever use a spokeshave here? I agree with all above statements made above, a drawknife can be an excellent tool in experienced hands, it can also ruin a piece of work but I still say turn it over and use it bevel down for fine work. My drawknife was made in 1922 and is always scarey sharp and with the bevel down can take a gossimer fine shaving.
The spokeshave I use is made by vertias and can make convex, concave and flat cuts and is an EXCELLENT tool and I can make curlys thin enough to see through with it, I just never hear anything about thier use here in the bow-making world, just scrapers which I know are not used for any major shaping work.
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I have a concave and convex spokeshave that I love to use. I use a block plane on boards too.
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My favorite draw knife is a double bevel knife, swedish made. I exagerated the length of the bevel on one side and I tend to flip the draw knife from one side to the other as I work depending on which side seems to be working best. Spoke shave is also valuable, you can take very fine shavings with ither spoke shave or draw knife. Steve
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If your going to build bows from staves, you should have a draw knife. The one you posted looks good, but as mentioned you can find good ones at the flea markets.
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I use my draw knife and hatchet 90% of the time.
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Yeah I had never seen a draw knife and mad my first bow using one, never looked back and still have the one I bought. I have been thinking about getting another one only because the one I have is an antique and has a crack in the blade that sometimes digs when I don't want it to, but even then I am so used to it if I am working on a spot that needs finesse I just stay away from the crack. The three tools I use until I'm finishing a bow are drawknife to get the bow down to dimensions, then a farriers rasp to get it down to floor tiller, then my scrapper to fine tiller it. Sometimes I'm lucky and after using the scraper don't even bother sanding, it saves a lot of time if your careful.
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I'm working on a board bow and took this picture today. This was a cheaper plane- a craftsman for under $20- and it works great for reducing stock on boards. I've never had much luck with draw knives on board bows. On th flip side, I couldn't imagine trying to work a stave without one. I have a sharp one I got from Woodcraft and one I keep dull I got at a antique shop (which I use much more than my expensive one). Unlike Mullet, I never use a hatchet, never could really get the hang of it. Different tools for different projects and different styles of working on the wood.
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I use mine for all bows. Jawge
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I like the looks of your draw knife George, very similar to mine. Older is better, don't you think ;)? ART
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Thanks, Art. I do. I inherited that knife from my Dad who died in '89. I wonder how old that knife is and where he got it. Jawge
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Go on that bidding site that starts with a big E....type in vintage drawknife and find one that is in good shape...thats what I did...got a keen kutter from the 20's or 30's that works great.
-Ky
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I used my Grandfather's draw knife for years before I ever got into bow making George. He passed away in '39. Looked like it had a hundred years use on it but was still a great tool. Someone with sticky fingers happened to lift it. My brother bought the one I'm using now at a flea market and except for being in better shape, you would swear it's the same knife. Couldn't do without it now. ART
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Those old knives are awesome., Art. Too bad your grandfather's got stolen. That really is a shame. Jawge
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Mine is a Jennings and it was made in 1906. Looks close to new and I can't imagine that there is a better one out there. I've used it in my boat building endeavors for about the past ten years and have never felt the need for another one.
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i'm quite sure it has to do with the steel quality back then... old hand saws, as well as very old planes had wonderful steel that you can get a good edge on that lasts longer...my grandad used to sharpen his own hand saws. the sharpening jig and set pliers disapeared in a garage sale my folks had.... i was sick when i found out my mom got rid of so many of those hand tools.... tools shouldn't be sold, they need to go to grandsons... that will give them to thier grandsons... Kirk
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Something about old cutting tools that people typically misunderstand is the quality of steel. A lot of cutting tools made half a century ago, and earlier, are made of low carbon mild steel...where as, today, people are fascinated with "stainless" steels. I can tell you that my home made draw knife...made from a 12" piece of 1/8X4 mild steel strapping...will out cut both of my new stainless ones. I won't even get into the cost difference...
For kicks I broke my knife out today to work on a stave I've been carving for about two weeks...took two cuts to destroy it lol. Caught a grain and dug too much out. Wasn't a great stave. Oh well. For those of you who really want to use them for everything, get a lot of scrap practice.