Thanks to someone

[Don Case]

I was debarking my Ocean Spray and the drawknife was threatening to cut into the back. Then I remembered reading on here that a dull drawknife works better. I ran a stone over the edge a few times and "presto" all the bark is off in half an hour, slick as a whistle. So thank you to whoever it was that posted that.
Don

[bushboy]

think iread something by jim hamm to that effect,not sure though?

[NeolithicMan]

I dug into a few backs before I got TBB, Jim Hamm dulls/uses the same drawknife without sharpening it for hundreds of bows. So i ran some sandpaper over it and now that drawknife is my ring chaser. I have a big straight drawblade i use to just dig into gnarly wood. and a third is for debarking. a little  dulling and i havent had any issues since

[NeolithicMan]

oh yeah and a forth that is very thin i keep sharp for more detailed work ( around knots and such)

[campx]

Funny, I keep my drawknife SHARP, can't stand it dull!  Then again, I've never used any bow wood that I can chase a ring on!

[Don Case]

So far all I've used the drawknife for is debarking. I tried to use it on some dry Ocean Spray when it was sharp and just dragged the workbench around the shop. I find cutting OS is like cutting plastic. I'll sharpen it again(or get another) when my Doug Maple is dry.

[RyanR]

Just read the same thing in TBB volume 1.

[Don Case]

Maybe that's where I read it. Oh well, someone on here told me to buy the TBB series.

[JW_Halverson]

I preferred a dull drawknife for chasing rings when I had very little experience.  Once I had more tool control, I found I wanted my draw knife as sharp as a broadhead.  Your mileage may vary, do whatever results in a workable bow for you!

[Don Case]

Well, I fit in the "very little experience" slot. 

[huisme]

I can't stand using a dull draw knife on black locust, but when I'm debarking vine maple and ash I prefer something dull. I'm thinking I'll get a new-to-me older draw knife to keep sharp and keep my cheap modern thing dull; it's all that steel is good for anyway 

[NeolithicMan]

antique stored simetimes have good old drawblades.

[IdahoMatt]

I have two.  One of them is a monster for hoggin out rings and dull.  The other is sharp and small for more detail work. 

[Wylden Freeborne]

Don, you ever work Douglas Maple? I cut a bit of it this past summer, but it wasn't good for working out when the summer finished. Wishing I had cut a little more as there was a ton of it by the creek where we lived. Would love to know if it works well for anyone else. Got pics of that OS bow yet?

[Don Case]

This is my only Doug Maple stave
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,42864.msg575048.html#msg575048

I haven't worked it yet. I've been told it works like Vine maple. I'm puttering away at the OS bow but that stuff is so damn hard. I've put a farriers rasp on my Christmas list. I'm trying not to rush it as the weight just stabilized a few days ago. I've been collecting wood so that when I'm all set to go I've got lots of wood.
Don