bow making with hand tools

[lebhuntfish]

Well, I personally wouldn't buy that one. I would look for one that is American made. I believe that one is cast. I would at least try to find one that is not casted. JMO Patrick

[arachnid]

Ok now that's chinese for me....
What do you mean by "cast"?

[Springbuck]

Ok now that's chinese for me....
What do you mean by "cast"?

   I think he means the metal is cast, like cast iron, where hot metal is poured into a mold.  I have never even heard of that for files of any sort, but many manufacturers do run blanks through a rolling jig to cut/ raise the teeth, which is not as good as somone cutting the teeth in by hand onto the annealed blank, and then heating and quenching the steel to harden it.    I don't klnow manufacturers by reputation for farriers rasps.  I just bought what they had at the seed and feed store, 15.00 and it was great.

   You might want to look into the "shinto" rasps, too.  A very clever design, and not too expensive.  Ebay has some, last I looked.

[arachnid]

I actually got in contact with a farrier that pointed me to her supplyer. He's got USA made rasps for 110 NIS (about 25$).

[lebhuntfish]

Cast metal, the file is made from liquid metal that is pored into a form the shape of a  file. There's no doubt that It will remove wood but if you look a bit more you should be able to find one that is solid steel for around 20 bucks! Patrick

[lebhuntfish]

Sounds like you are on the right track arachnid! I just think that you will be much happier with one like that. It should last you a life time.

Springbuck I have some files that I got from Lowe's when I first started and they are cast. Junk at best and the teeth are uneven on some of the rougher ones as well. I dropped one on the concert on purpose and it broke in 3 pieces. So I just use them for things I don't want to use my good ones for.

Sorry I forgot you aren't in the US. Good luck and let us see your file when you get one. Patrick

[crooketarrow]

  I never used anyting but a chainsdaw. HATCH,DRAWKNIFE,RASPS,SCRAPERS,SAND PAPER BY HAND. Maybe in 10 years after I get a little older a little hurter. After 23 years of building sefbows all bows right now I'm not there yet. Besides I like the exture work.

[PAHunter]

I use a draw knife and then Ferrier's rasp.  On red oak boards I only use the draw knife cautiously because it removes unwanted gouges occasionally.  Heck u could make a bow with just that if it didn't need to be purdy.