Draw knife question

[High-Desert]

I was curious if anyone knows of a quality draw knife with a small 4-5" blade. I'm tired of using my huge drawknife for chasing rings. I saw a Mora with a small blade, but it has a straight handle.  Any opinions on the straight handle vs the standard 90ish degree handles?

[osage outlaw]

I prefer an 8" draw knife with a slight curve for chasing rings.  Check your local antique or junk stores or flea markets for an older one.  I have a very small draw knife but it's almost to little for chasing rings.  It works good on lighter detail work.  There is no name on it.

 

[High-Desert]

I'll check out the antique stores, I see a lot of ole tools in there. The drawknife I use now is 10", which I use to tear off most of the wood down close to the ring I want, but something a little more delicate to get through the last couple rings would be nice, but not quite as delicate as a scraper. I haven't tried it, so it may not be what I actual want.

[justsomedude]

Check the burr on your scraper...I got one 'right' and now I understand why you need one

[osage outlaw]

A blade 6"-8" would work really good for chasing rings.  You can find them on the big auction site but they are pricey with the shipping. 

Check out the How to page.  There is a really good post about putting a burr on your scraper.  If you have good steel and follow the steps it will make a great scraper.

[Pat B]

Are you holding your draw knife with the bevel up or down? With the bevel up the blade digs in and you can really take off a lot of wood quickly, which can be good or bad. With the bevel down you have more control so you can finesse the wood off gently.
L actually like a longer draw knife because it gives me more leverage when needed.

[willie]

the mora has a double bevel with a low angle, I like it for some things, but its not the same as most draw knives

I have two different bevels on my large antique knife. the center has a steeper bevel for coarser work, but I maintain a more delicate shallower edge, out by the handles.

[High-Desert]

I use bevel down. I don't have any trouble chasin a ring with the long drawknife, I just don't like my hands out so far apart and wanted to try a a smaller blade where I feel like I have more control. The large drawknife works awesome for Osage where the blade just find the ring, but with yew, it doesn't take much to rip through a couple rings. The scraper works great for getting through the last couple. rings. Maybe my technique is just weird. I tear down close to where I want to be, go back and get close to the ring I want, using the large drawknife, then to the last ring with the scraper. I was just looking for something smaller for the middle step.

[Stick Bender]

I have a couple bigger draw kniefs plus the shorter strait handled  double beveled Swedish push knief the short strait hadled one is good for taking off bark and sap wood but is not real controllable like the larger ones.

[willie]

stick,
 do you actually use it as a push, or a pull?

[Stick Bender]

I actualy use it as a push knife for back pealing rings when I have to go deep in a stave , if you use it as a pull type draw knife it is not very controllable because of the double edge and strait handles the blade seems to want to torque & the short spread on the handles doesent give good control at least not for me but works great for pealing bark off or sap wood !

[gifford]

High Desert - you might want to check out the drawknives made by ARNO. They have about 5 inch blade, convex, concave or flat blade models. I've seen them in use at MoJAM, and they sure do take an edge. The drawknives aren't cheap but may be worth it to you. I've thought about getting one myself but haven't done as of yet.

[High-Desert]

Great! Thanks everyone for your help. I will check out ARNO. I don't think I can have too many quality hand tools even if it fills a small niche.

Eric

[PaulN/KS]

The Mora is more for carving but I have one and use it for detail and light duty work. They are scary sharp and the blade flexes a bit which can be handy for some stuff.