Getting it done with what ya got

[bambam]

Not all of us have a fully outfitted workshop. Had a big 2 inch, 7 foot serviceberry stave that needed to be split in half with a band saw but no band saw and no draw knife. Taped up the pointy end of a machete with duct tape leaving about 9 inches of blade and put on heavy gloves, now I had a draw knife. Between that and a farriers rasp the material was removed in 40 minutes. Straightened and flattened the stave by bending it between nails into a 2x4 then bending the nails over.

[BOWMAN53]

i got the tools, clamps and i have tillering tree but no bench or table to clamp wood too. scrapping and rasp is a pain in the butt. buuuuuuuut if you love making bows youll get er done

[Buckeye Guy]

I seem to do most of my work on bows at the events I go to not many tools on
a camp out 

[George Tsoukalas]

I agree. I don't own a bow grade bandsaw. Just do it! Jawge

[Pappy]

That's the spirit,use what you have. I have when I started done it with very few tool,draw knife and a filet knife, BUT I do love my tools now.
   Pappy

[Eric Krewson]

There was a fellow at a few of the shoots several years ago who could take a stave to shootable bow with a hatchet in less than an hour, not a great, finished bow but a shooter.

You can make a bow with a pocket knife if you take the time but if you plan to make more than one or two bows I suggest buying a few better tools.

I see $10 draw knives at the local flea market pretty often, not in great shape(rusty) but usable, same for files and rasps, they usually can be had for around $2 each.

[Pat B]

Eric, was that Stim Wilcox? I watched him do that in about 30 minutes at the Classic a few years ago. Stim's book is a very good reference for bow building.

[George Tsoukalas]

Yes, Stim did that. I first saw him at ETAR and then at the Pokenhope in ME where he has been going every year.

[Del the cat]

Yeah, no good complaining about the staves and tools you don't have.
When people ask me wahts the best wood for making bows? I always say "The bit you have"
I remember sitting on a workmate folding bench holding an axe as a drawknife, to debark logs...  got a numb backside and sore hands did the job tho' 
Del