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Author Topic: Starter Tool Box  (Read 9806 times)

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Offline Paul F

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Starter Tool Box
« on: April 19, 2013, 10:33:05 pm »
So, unless I am just not that good at searching the forum (this is most likely the case), what would you all reccomend for someone to have as a good basic set of tools to start bow making.

1.  Drawknife or Surform
2.  Farrier's Rasp
3.  #49 and #50
4.  Chain saw file (what size for nocks)

Any suggestions?  Thank you very much in advance.

Paul F.
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Offline soy

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Re: Starter Tool Box
« Reply #1 on: April 19, 2013, 10:48:35 pm »
cabinet scraper ;)
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Offline osage outlaw

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Re: Starter Tool Box
« Reply #2 on: April 19, 2013, 10:49:48 pm »
5. scraper, flat and rounded
6. Vise
7. B-50, FF, or similar bow string material
7. superglue
8. A bunch of clamps.


From what I have read and heard, the newer #49 and #50 are foreign made and not near the quality of the older American files.  You might be better off with a shinto or other quality rasp/file.
« Last Edit: April 19, 2013, 11:04:35 pm by osage outlaw »
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Offline Joec123able

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Re: Starter Tool Box
« Reply #3 on: April 19, 2013, 11:43:45 pm »
A vice you don't absolutely NEED but it makes work so much easier. A rasp is probably my best tool I have for bow making you can make a whole bow with just a rasp. A draw knife is good to have for chasing rings and roughing out. Sand paper to make your bow beautiful. Clamps are good but all of mine are broken and I survive with out them. Hatchet works good for removing wood quickly when your just starting a bow 
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Offline killir duck

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Re: Starter Tool Box
« Reply #4 on: April 20, 2013, 12:19:05 am »
a good hatchet, I have pretty much completely quit using a drawknife for roughing out bow blanks because a hatchet is way faster and easier for me
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PRIMITIVE ARCHERY what other way can you play with sticks and rocks all day and not look like a little kid

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Offline JackCrafty

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Re: Starter Tool Box
« Reply #5 on: April 20, 2013, 02:03:06 am »
When I started building bows seriously, all I had was my basic woodworking tools and some carpentry tools.  I've never gone out and bought a "special" tool for making bows.

Chain saw
Circular saw (I use this mainly for cutting ipe boards)
Crosscut saw
Heat gun
Hatchet
Small sledge hammer  (for aiding in splitting logs/staves)
Disc Sander
Belt Sander
Orbital sander
Sandpaper
Pocket knife
Wood files and rasps
Clamps
Band Saw (I bought this to simplify my shop - it does almost ANYTHING)   ;D


Or you can buy specialized hand tools like the ones mentioned.  It's up to you.
« Last Edit: April 20, 2013, 02:08:52 am by jackcrafty »
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Patrick Blank
Midland, Texas
Youtube: JackCrafty, Allergic Hobbit, Patrick Blank

Where's Rock? Public Waterways, Road Cuts, Landscape Supply, Knap-Ins.
How to Cook It?  200° for 24hrs then 275° to 500° for 4hrs (depending on type), Cool for 12hr

Offline sleek

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Re: Starter Tool Box
« Reply #6 on: April 20, 2013, 03:40:00 am »
All it takes to make a bow is ONE 7 inch long knife with a decent heft, and best design I have seen is a drop point. I have made many with just my marine survival K-bar knife. Start to finish, including cutting the tree down. I am building a knife that is better than my current one, but its hard to beet a K-Bar. Last bow I made with just a knife is posted here...

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,37163.0.html

Primitive archery is supposed to be simple, basic, effective, and fun. Get overly complicated with the tools makes the build less fun, and ruins the best part. Sometimes, a knife and a piece of wood is as good as a fishin rod and a little creak on a hot day.
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Offline vyadha

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Re: Starter Tool Box
« Reply #7 on: April 20, 2013, 05:09:02 am »
You're gonna need a broom
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Offline chamookman

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Re: Starter Tool Box
« Reply #8 on: April 20, 2013, 05:11:37 am »
A carpenters pensil tucked behind Your ear, for marking and using as a straight edge when tillering. Bob
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"May the Gods give Us the strength to draw the string to the cheek, the arrow to the barb and loose the flying shaft, so long as life may last." Saxon Pope - 1923.

Offline Del the cat

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Re: Starter Tool Box
« Reply #9 on: April 20, 2013, 05:57:29 am »
Spokeshave,
Length of string (tie a feather on one end for an exciting toy ;D :-[),
Masking tape,
More masking tape... for holding the string onto a stave for getting a centre line and 101 other uses.
Del
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Offline WillS

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Re: Starter Tool Box
« Reply #10 on: April 20, 2013, 06:12:57 am »
The most important tool in my box is a dreadnaught file.  Its basically a car bodywork file but it works so well on wood and horn that I use it for everything.  I rough out with a hatchet, then drawknife, then dreadnaught file right up to final tiller.  I've made a couple of bows using nothing else! They go through knots like butter as well.
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Starter Tool Box
« Reply #11 on: April 20, 2013, 08:25:47 am »
Skip that shurform, they stink bad IMO. Grab a scraper rather. Odds are you will have to make one or trade for one made from thicker steel. I havent seen a place to buy .060" an up scrapers. The rest of your list is all you need, skip the Nicholson 50 for now. Your 49 and a scraper will do, unless money isnt an issue. I assume the obvious pencil, tape measure and sandpaper are covered.
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Offline Eric Krewson

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Re: Starter Tool Box
« Reply #12 on: April 20, 2013, 09:18:09 am »
« Last Edit: April 21, 2013, 10:15:36 am by Eric Krewson »
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Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: Starter Tool Box
« Reply #13 on: April 20, 2013, 10:10:09 am »
You'll see pics of tools on my we site.
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/index.html
Here's my list.
2 wedges
hatchet
3 lb sledge
drawknife
Swedish push knife
shave hooks
ruler
pencil
rope and pulley
4 in 1 rasp
Surform
Optional-stationary belt sander, radial arm saw or crosscut saw
Jawge

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Offline JackCrafty

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  • Sorry Officer, I was just gathering "materials".
Re: Starter Tool Box
« Reply #14 on: April 20, 2013, 10:57:18 am »
Dang, I forgot to mention tape measure and pencil.  Now where did I put the darn things... ?   ;)
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Any critter tastes good with enough butter on it.

Patrick Blank
Midland, Texas
Youtube: JackCrafty, Allergic Hobbit, Patrick Blank

Where's Rock? Public Waterways, Road Cuts, Landscape Supply, Knap-Ins.
How to Cook It?  200° for 24hrs then 275° to 500° for 4hrs (depending on type), Cool for 12hr
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