Best Way To Tiller Ipe

[arachnid]

Hi guys.

I'm working on a new ipe bow and my scraper doesn't seem to remove that much wood off the belly. I tried sharpning it but it didn't do a lot.
Is There any better way to work with ipe?

Thanks
Dor

[Badger]

  If I am making a flat bow I use a scraper primarily and very slightly round the belly, as I get closer to final tiller I mostly scrape down the middle to flatten it back out. If I am making a rounded belly longbow I use a nicholson rasp and a scraper, mostly a scraper.

[Badger]

  I should have added that I use a belt sander to get it "slightly bending" You can go too far real easily if not careful.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Id try to get a burr going on your scraper. I have 3 various scrapers I use, all straight edged. I just worked an ipe bow this weekend and all 3 peeled the wood right off in nice curls. Matter of fact It is probably the nicest working wood Ive ever used.

[arachnid]

  If I am making a flat bow I use a scraper primarily and very slightly round the belly, as I get closer to final tiller I mostly scrape down the middle to flatten it back out. If I am making a rounded belly longbow I use a nicholson rasp and a scraper, mostly a scraper.

Wouldn't that concentrat to much pressure on the crown of the belly?

[Badger]

  If I am making a flat bow I use a scraper primarily and very slightly round the belly, as I get closer to final tiller I mostly scrape down the middle to flatten it back out. If I am making a rounded belly longbow I use a nicholson rasp and a scraper, mostly a scraper.

Wouldn't that concentrat to much pressure on the crown of the belly?

   If you read my post I said slight round, it is still almost a flat belly section, as you get closer and scrape down the middle you are now flattening out the slightly rounded section so you end up with a flat belly section. Slightly rounded means the center is maybe 1/32 thicker than the edges, it just makes scraping a bit easier and if it is confucing just keep it flat.

[PEARL DRUMS]

I like a shallow "D" on woods like ipe. Same as Steve pretty much. Especially when they get real narrow.

[arachnid]

O.k I think I got it.
Thanks guys.

[PEARL DRUMS]

I take a rasp and make a 1/4" wide chamfer from fade to tip on each side of the belly to get a good round shape started. Then tiller and smooth it off at the same time with a scraper. Makes for perfection!

[arachnid]

I take a rasp and make a 1/4" wide chamfer from fade to tip on each side of the belly to get a good round shape started. Then tiller and smooth it off at the same time with a scraper. Makes for perfection!

You keep the belly rounded or do you flaten it? ( I'm making a flatbow).

[PEARL DRUMS]

This particular bow Im referencing has a shallow "D" cross section. Round edges are good on all flat bows to. You can still chamfer the edges 1/4" and make them nice and rounded. Just be sure your backing is thinned down and rounded wel, or else you'll have very little ipe left when you hit weight. I wouldn't go over 1 1/4" wide.