Best tool for reducing weight?

[Rain Bows]

Just a question concerning weight reduction. After you've achieved your desired tiller, what specific tool do you use to reduce the weight on the bow? I have pretty much everything, but the scraper seems to most logical? My farriers rasp works well, but I'm afraid it wont take wood evenly?

[ajooter]

Scraper it is!  Ferriers rasp removes too much wood at that point.

[DC]

If the tiller is good, nice even scrapes the full length of the limb.

[Rain Bows]

great, thanks as always guys. So what exactly is the Rasp used for with most bowyers? Mainly just "Hogging" off wood to get to floor tiller?

[ajooter]

great, thanks as always guys. So what exactly is the Rasp used for with most bowyers? Mainly just "Hogging" off wood to get to floor tiller?

I think you got it.  Maybe a heavy floor tiller....then I switch to a Nicholson 49 till I get closer.

[Joec123able]

I use the 90 degree edges on my chisels, works awesome as a scraper and for slowly reducing weight.

[osage outlaw]

A good scraper.  If you are real close to final weight you can use sandpaper. 

[bubby]

I don't use a rasp after floor tiller, in fact i use a scraper to get final floor tiller. You want to keep the wood as cleaned up as possible from scratches and such so that when you hit final tiller you don't lose much weight with final sanding

[JonW]

I have heard about guys using a belt sander. 

[Pat B]

I use a scraper from floor tiller on unless there is a problem then a fine rasp to get me back on track.

[BowEd]

It can depend on what kind of wood your working too.
Osage and red cedar are two way different type of woods.

[Msturm]

yep heavy toothed side of the rasp to rough it out and get it into shape. the little toothed side to get to floor tiller and then a scraper from then on out.  I avoid power tools for  two reasons: one oops, and your bow could be toast. second, I don't have them at my apartment.

msturm

[mullet]

I use a scraper or my draw knife at a 90 degree angle.

[Chris3kilo]

When I scrape with my knife I alway end up with little "bumps" in the wood. Am I pressing down too hard or is the knife to dull?

[Msturm]

Chris3Kilo, scraper chatter happens for a variety of reasons. dull, wood grain. try and switch up the angle you are scraping, scrape in the other direction file the little bumps down flat with a fine file, there are may options, just play around until you get it.


Msturm