Hey Guys,
I'm Jon Warwick, inventor of the StavePress. I'm a bow maker just like you guys (albeit not as talented as some) here in Mississippi.
This is a new product on the market, but I've designed, re-designed, re-designed, and tested, tested, tested this device over the past several years.
I really have to say that its the cats * for holding a stave while you're working it down to a bow... but I know guys like you all who test it and report on it here on PA are the real judges.
Unlike a shop vise, where you have to carefully set your wood in the jaws each time you re-set, you can just throw the wood in the StavePress and tighten- it will hold anywhere on the bow with no damage... snakey part, straight part, it doesn't matter. This is a much faster and safer process for the wood fibers.
It will hold your wood firmly but gently- never crushing the wood fibers like a shop vise, and since it binds from the top and bottom instead from side-to-side, you can really bear down on the wood with your hand tools. Its portable, can be clamped anywhere with C-clamps, and is heavy enough to hold a big piece of timber... it weighs 27 pounds. It has padded jaws that won't dent or scratch the wood at all when you get close to the final bow tweaks.
Next time you see the banner come up at the top of the page, click on it and go see my website for a demo video and more info, or go to
www.stavepress.comif you're curious.
Best to all, Jon