Ipe with hand tools!

[HoorayHorace]

Anyone ever work ipe with only hand tools? Trying to get some boards to dimensions......and it is a killer 

The stuff is like steel!

Handtools are all I can get right now, but I'm thinking it is a lost cause.

[bubby]

epe might test your metal, and your tools, but hang in there you will get it, if your gonna build bows ya can't have any quit

[HoorayHorace]

You could make armour out of this stuff!

Tempted just to start swinging at the stuff with the axe, but will keep my cool 

[Pat B]

After cutting the back profile with the bandsaw I used only a #49 Nicholson rasp and cabinet scraper on the hickory backed ipe bows I built. When I got used to building bows one way the wood doesn't matter that much to me.

[Badger]

      Same as Pat, I use my nicholson 49 and a scraper all the time. But I do cut the profile with a bandsaw.

[Knoll]

Welllllll, guess I better hope for bandsaw as Christmas gift!!

[PatM]

I just use a farriers rasp. A farriers rasp will eat through it in a hurry if you clamp it well and know how to wield a rasp.

[George Tsoukalas]

I never worked ipe. I like the color of the wood though. Jawge

[Joec123able]

I love handtools, I don't even want a bandsaw. I get plenty of satisfaction doing all the work from cutting the tree to finishing the bow. Powertools are nice but hand tools get the job done with patience and determination.

[steve b.]

Wear a dusk mask or you may suffer serious consequences.

[mikekeswick]

I wouldn't even have started!
Are you trying to reduce it down to where you can do a glue-up with it?
If so I'd find a good local furniture makers and get them to rough it out.
Same if you are trying to get a surface dead flat for a glue-up - ask them to run it through a drum sander.
There is zero chance i'd waste my time trying to get slats ready for a glue-up by hand....no way! As mentioned ipe dusk is a killer.

[DarkSoul]

I've ripped a (surfaced) 1"x5" decking board into three slats of about 1˝" wide by hand. I just used a hand saw. Sure, it takes time and the cut will not be straight and flat enough for gluing. But that's what the 1˝" wide face is for That comes pre-surfaced and nearly ready to glue off the shelf. I prefer to use a circular saw table to rip my ipé boards to the right width, but a hand saw does work. Also a simple jigsaw will work and it's a lot cheaper than a band saw.
After the glue-up, I use a hand plane to rough out the blank. That goes a lot quicker than a rasp and it keeps the dust down. It also creates much straighter lines, while it's easy to make hills and valleys with a rasp.

[Hamish]

High angle planes (60 degrees), with a high speed steel blade will allow you to work dense tropical woods without tearout. They are specialist items though, and are pretty expensive. You also have to know how to sharpen, and have appropriate sharpening stones.
Unfortunately you either have to buy expensive powertools or handtools, or work at a snails pace, with what you already have. Its not a bad idea if its your first couple of bows as slow work gives you time to learn and digest the process. Rushing is a bad idea when learning.

  Hamish

[HoorayHorace]

My hatchet seems to be doing ok.

I'm getting the rough blank now. I already have the boo cut out to the correct dimensions, but getting the ipe crafted into a bow blank ready for gluing is tough.

Thanks for the heads up on the dust mask 

[bubby]

If you are building a bow with no reflex you should glue it up before reducing next time