Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: big-o on November 19, 2010, 08:35:09 pm
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I am going to Home Depot this weekend and I was going to pick up a draw knife, block plane and a rasp. Any suggestions from the experienced builders out there?
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i dont know that home depot would carry a draw knife or even a block plane. pick up a rasp and a surform plane. if you have a farm and ranch store near you, they might have the same tools a bit cheaper.
only thing you need is a hatchet and a sharp knife and you can build a bow, rather slowly! lol
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I will use a draw knife when hawging off allot of wood and farriers rasp but for tillering I like cabnet scrapers and the 1/2 planer blades that are about 6" long
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Definitely pick up a surform and a ferriers rasp. Those two tools are awesome for getting down to the final stages of tillering. I picked up a blade for a planer and use that as a scraping tool. Really those are the only three tools that you need for getting a stave to full draw. Hopefully thats helpful.
_Ian
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You'll find the draw knives at Home Depot right next to the chicken lips and frog fur. ;D ;D ;D
I finally found a drawknife at our littel local hardware store. Only place in the area that has them. Great tool to have around for bows and other what-nots. A ferrior's rasp is really handy, and then an assortment of less agressive rasps. Use a knife as a scraper. File your hatchet down real sharp and you're good to go.
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I will try an find a Sure Form and pick up a block plane blade to use as a scraper.
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Your best bet for a draw knife are antique shops for around 20 or so bucks.
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I managed to find a draw knife at Lee Valley for $40. Seems to be alright.
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usually a lot of draw knives on ebay. ...just did a quick search about 50 drawknives a lot in the 10 dollar range
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all you really need to make a bow from a piece of wood are a few rock tools
however if you want to be a little more modern i would recomend
antique draw knife(much better then the newer ones)
sureform
some sort of scraper(ive used everything from old scissors to knife blades,to scrap steel pieces)
sandpaper
string
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Spokeshave is nice on some softer woods (Yew, Hazel), it fits somewhere between drawknife and rasp in my book. And they are V cheap.
Del
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Am I the only guy using a hammer and chisel? I do 90% of my carving with them and the shurform rasp. The crooked knife works great too for anyone (like myself) who doesnt have a special bow vice because you can hold the bow in one hand and carve with the other. Mora makes them for like 15 bucks. You can use a regular knife with the pull technique like a crooked knife but be careful you dont slip and disembowel yourself.
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Cruise the flea markets for antique d knives. They are awesome. Jawge
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I also think you should get a spokeshave. Wonderful tool on clean wood, nightmare if there are big knots.
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only thing you need is a hatchet and a sharp knife and you can build a bow, rather slowly! lol
or a big knife :P, my favorite tool for building a bow, is a bowie, its big, sharp( IF YOU TAKE CARE OF IT), it can be used for chopping like a hatchet, and can be used like a drawknife as well(keyword is like, you can line it up, hold onto the tip and the handle and pulll back slowly for similar results,)
a good bowie will cost like $25 they arent expensive, and are a great tool in my opinion
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Am I the only guy using a hammer and chisel? I do 90% of my carving with them and the shurform rasp. The crooked knife works great too for anyone (like myself) who doesnt have a special bow vice because you can hold the bow in one hand and carve with the other. Mora makes them for like 15 bucks. You can use a regular knife with the pull technique like a crooked knife but be careful you dont slip and disembowel yourself.
I sometimes use a chisel on the grip and fade area...
Del
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My best draw knife came from an antique store for $20. I picked up a farriors rasp from a farm supply store for $17. Keep an eye on your local craigslist.com site. There is usually a lot of good quality tools for a fair price. That is where I got most of my power tools. Some of the older tools are better than the new ones they are selling today.