Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Joec123able on November 14, 2013, 04:12:48 pm

Title: How i work on bows without a vice
Post by: Joec123able on November 14, 2013, 04:12:48 pm
Since my vice broke on me I had to come up with a way to work bows easier so here's how I work on them now. All it is is a large Y shaped fork piece of Osage all I basically do is sit the bow in the middle of the Y and Basically sit on the bow lol use your own body weight to hold the bow down and it seems to make raspig easier and allows you to rasp with two hands it allows you to work the handle the limb thickness and width you just have to move the bow up and down the fork

(http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q681/joec123able/B88C6B63-53E9-4F4E-98BE-0E7A02F988E4-232-0000001CCA811ACA_zps4e7b2592.jpg)

(http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q681/joec123able/910EE924-02F0-4DB0-8168-3C7BFAE9F14D-232-0000001CD3B378F1_zps79acdf7f.jpg)


(http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q681/joec123able/54353421-B6A5-4B8F-B6B2-CAA016BFBEA0-232-0000001CCF402C64_zpsa5a0300f.jpg)

I know this looks and sounds so stupid and I was hesitant to even post this lmao but hey trust me it does work very well
Title: Re: How i work on bows without a vice
Post by: Gsulfridge on November 14, 2013, 04:22:48 pm
What ever it takes man!!  Pretty creative.
Title: Re: How i work on bows without a vice
Post by: lostarrow on November 14, 2013, 04:24:05 pm
Nothing stupid here. Looks like a good use of what is on hand.
Title: Re: How i work on bows without a vice
Post by: AhMunnaEChoo on November 14, 2013, 04:45:22 pm
I just got a vice last week, prior to that Id work sitting in the floor with the stave in my lap,  wrapping my leg over it, or wedging it againts the floor/wall and my waist (belt) and working away from me... It worked but the vice makes things muuuuch nicer. Thats my first bow stave there.. ;D


ok, n/m I'm not sure how to upload pics
Title: Re: How i work on bows without a vice
Post by: BOWMAN53 on November 14, 2013, 05:01:23 pm
before i made my work bench i used to clamp my bows to an old book case and sit on it, used it like a bow bench.
Title: Re: How i work on bows without a vice
Post by: Joec123able on November 14, 2013, 05:11:03 pm
I just got a vice last week, prior to that Id work sitting in the floor with the stave in my lap,  wrapping my leg over it, or wedging it againts the floor/wall and my waist (belt) and working away from me... It worked but the vice makes things muuuuch nicer. Thats my first bow stave there.. ;D


ok, n/m I'm not sure how to upload pics


Lol I did the exact same thing
Title: Re: How i work on bows without a vice
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 14, 2013, 05:22:21 pm
Very crafty.  That's putting a crotch to good use >:D
Title: Re: How i work on bows without a vice
Post by: huisme on November 14, 2013, 07:30:10 pm
I just cut a wafer of elm and stand the stave on it for all my hatcheting and rasping (I use a farrier's rasp). My super-advanced steam bending form is a 2x4 with some scrap screwed on to hold various forms 3/4" (for the tip of the bow) from another block of 2x4.
Title: Re: How i work on bows without a vice
Post by: rps3 on November 14, 2013, 08:09:07 pm
If you are on the lookout for a new vise, let me suggest watching craigslist for a blacksmiths post vise. I got 2 of them and paid 70 bucks a piece, they are on e-bay for a lot more, just have to be patient. They are perfect for all phases of making bows
Title: Re: How i work on bows without a vice
Post by: toomanyknots on November 14, 2013, 08:53:27 pm
Pretty creative. I use something I made to put the bow up against, it is about the same concept. I will post a pic...
Title: Re: How i work on bows without a vice
Post by: toomanyknots on November 14, 2013, 08:59:11 pm
Here's what I use, I just put the bow up against it and rasp/work it. I have carpet to pad it so the bow doesn't get nicked. I use the carpeted part on top to do nocks and tips...

(http://i1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb392/toomany7/DSCN3563.jpg) (http://s1203.photobucket.com/user/toomany7/media/DSCN3563.jpg.html)

(http://i1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb392/toomany7/DSCN3564.jpg) (http://s1203.photobucket.com/user/toomany7/media/DSCN3564.jpg.html)

(http://i1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb392/toomany7/DSCN3565.jpg) (http://s1203.photobucket.com/user/toomany7/media/DSCN3565.jpg.html)
Title: Re: How i work on bows without a vice
Post by: toomanyknots on November 14, 2013, 09:01:58 pm
Very crafty.  That's putting a crotch to good use >:D

Ha
Title: Re: How i work on bows without a vice
Post by: Joec123able on November 14, 2013, 09:03:25 pm
Well that's pretty cool Toomanyknots
Title: Re: How i work on bows without a vice
Post by: steve b. on November 14, 2013, 11:40:28 pm
Whatever works, Joe.  I can't say enough about the Stave Press.  Treat youself to one someday.  You won't regret it.
Title: Re: How i work on bows without a vice
Post by: wood_bandit 99 on November 15, 2013, 12:06:45 am
I have a stave press and It is amazing. Sometimes I wrap my body in weird positions to rasp tho. Whatever I find holds it more stable
Title: Re: How i work on bows without a vice
Post by: Marks on November 15, 2013, 12:26:39 pm
I have an old plywood work table. I lay a rug down on it and C-clamp the opposite limb I'm working on to the table. I fold up cardboard on the top side to keep the clamp from biting into the wood. I don't have a pic so use your imagination.
Title: Re: How i work on bows without a vice
Post by: Joec123able on November 15, 2013, 04:34:08 pm
I have an old plywood work table. I lay a rug down on it and C-clamp the opposite limb I'm working on to the table. I fold up cardboard on the top side to keep the clamp from biting into the wood. I don't have a pic so use your imagination.


That's funny I did the exact thing and I have a ply wood work table to I just clamped it with the limb I wanted to work hanging off the table worked well only problem now is I don't have any clamps anymore
Title: Re: How i work on bows without a vice
Post by: Tom Leemans on November 18, 2013, 09:40:53 pm
One of the most useful platforms I ever worked on was a 6X6 laying on a couple horses. I clamped the bow to it with a quick clamp. Worked nice when I was thinning limbs.
Title: Re: How i work on bows without a vice
Post by: Marks on November 19, 2013, 12:07:07 am
I use quick clamps some but mine don't hold well.