Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: lonniels on February 04, 2008, 07:16:04 pm
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I am just wondering what tools bowyers prefer to make their bows. I have recently bought a bow kit and am trying to make my first bow. The kit is hickory. Rasp? Spoke shave? Just wondering what I should get. Thanks, Lonnie
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My favorites of favorites are the ax (just a heavy ax head is better- I can't get quite as wild), rasps, and a vice. I don't use drawknives as much as I used to, since I've gotten better at playing with the ax, but use them to touch up the roughed out bow.
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A good rasp and a cabinet scraper. Spokeshaves don't work that well especially when you have wood with grain running other than perfectly straight. Your hickory is probably pretty straight though.
I like the Nicholson #49 cabinetmakers rasp, although the Ultimate Bowyers Rasp from Dean Torges is a better tool that removes wood faster and leaves just as smooth of a surface. The second is more pricey than the first ($75 vs $45). You might find a cheap rasp to get yourself going, I think some of the big stores sell an inexpensive Nicholson rasp for about $10. If you get into this, you'll be doing yourself a favor by getting a good rasp. Saves lots of effort and results in a better job.
A Stanley Surform is a good inexpensive alternative for removing lots of wood early in the process. Get the kind shaped like a rasp, and get the concave blade for it.
Scrapers can be purchased fairly cheaply as a set in places like Grizzly Industrial. My set is by Marples. People are always saying I've lost my Marples. I think thats what they're saying anyway.
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I love the spokeshave the best. Axe, drawknife, spokeshave, rasp in that order.
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Hatchet, drawknife, rasp, scraper.
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For about $7 you can get a 4 in 1 rasp at any hardware store, its flat on one side and half round on the other, course on one end fine on the other. Works ok for the money. For a scraper I actually prefer my big old butcher knife. Personally I don't care for surforms. A chainsaw file for nocks and some sandpaper will finish ya out.
As you gain more experience and decide to stay with then is the time to invest in some quality tools. But for about $10 you can be making shavings and bows. Good luck and renenber take your time its not a race and have fun.
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I second the spokeshave, after bandsawing it is my primary tool then the scraper.
I tryed early on to use draw knifes and don't like the feel as much as the spokeshave, you just have to have a light touch so it doesn't skip
VB
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I like the spokeshave also, some woods a draw knife works better, I keep them both handy. axe, drawknife, spokeshave, rasp, about all you need. Steve
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I love my fariers rasp! (horse shoe rasp) Pretty cheap,and it really hogs it off. Also a knife,several scrapers,chainsaw file,4" vise,a draw knife,for at least ripping bark off,parachute cord for tillering string,and a subscription to Primitive Archer. Yep,that oughta get ya goin.
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LIke Hillbilly ................ Hachet...........sharp and I mean SHARP! :o Rest same as him. Sharp hachet can also be used as a scraper. ;...bob
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Get yourself a hatchet, farriers rasp, Nicholson #49 rasp, cabinet scraper, a small carving file and a pocket knife and you're good to go.
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Since I don't have a bandsaw, I use a Japanese saw for very straight staves, sharp hatchet, drawknive, short curved knive (skinner type), spokeshave, coarse rasp, cabinet scraper and a vice of course.
Radon
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I use about what Gordon said ,most of the time,but have tried lots of things.I am a tool nut
so I get anything I think I can use,some don't get used but once.Farriers rasp Nicholson 49-50
and cabnit scraper is the main tools. :)
Pappy
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big rock, little rock, littler rock >:D
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What brand of rocks are you using Jamie?
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What brand of rocks are you using Jamie?
;D ;D ;D
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For me:
Table saw, bandsaw,spokeshave, rasp, scrapers, and sandpaper. Usually in that order. Most important? The rasp. Don't buy junk. My rasp cost $100. I cringed at the thought, but it's worth every penny.
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stihl , ridged, and stanley >:D
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Thanks for all the responses. I think that spending money at the beginning saves in the end.
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Check out bowyersedge.com for the rasp I was talking about. I got my best prices on the Nicholson rasps at some boat building website, I forget the name.
Jamie, Stanley rocks! Priceless.
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a good knife, a hatchet, a rasp some files and sandpaper. no powertools what so ever.
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Thanks for all the responses. I think that spending money at the beginning saves in the end.
You'd be amazed what a little looking 'round flee markets will yield. I found a beutiful, seemingly hand-forged drawknife for $15. I've seen lots of good axes, files and the occasional rasp, all for under $20 a piece, usually closer to $10. Tools are harder to kill then other flee market stuff ;).
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Kegan hit the nail on the head. Most of my tools are from the flea market. I made my drawknife by putting pieces of an axe handle on a scithe blade I got for a dollar. Its definitely worth looking into. Some of the older files and rasps are forged from better materials than youll find at home depot.
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i deffinately agree on the flee market stuff. ive gotten most of my tools from either flee markets or yard sales. i got a really nice scraper set for 3$from a lady at a yard sale whos husband used to make cabinets for a living. also got a barely used farriers rasp for 2$ just down the road from that one. as for the tools i use: occasionally a table saw for mass wood removal, drawshave/hatchet (the hatchet more often than not), various rasps, a block plane on strait grained stuff, and scrappers.
Phil
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Not necessarily primitive, but a good schnitzelbank is a beautiful thang.
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what's a schnitzelbank? Is that a freezer full of veal cutlets? maybe Uwe could help us out on this... yavol!
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I will have to check out flea markets and yard sales for sure. Maybe I wont have to spend alot of money. Thanks
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farriers rasp, drawknife, gooseneck scrapers, the 4 in 1 rasp afforementioned is indespensible in my bow tools. cheap too. just use a wire brush to keep your rasps clean. spokeshaves are tricky and the effectiveness depends on the type of wood. they work very fast and effeciently on yew, maple, and oak but harder woods will chatter if the tool isnt set just right. bandsaws are expensive but they'll turn 6 hrs of work into 5 min of work when you're roughing out a bow. you can get a decent refurbished bandsaw for 400-500 dollars. the refurbishing is done by the factory on most and they still carry the same warranty.
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what's a schnitzelbank? Is that a freezer full of veal cutlets? maybe Uwe could help us out on this... yavol!
A schnitzelbank is like a Cobblers Bench
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I use a band saw, belt sander, and hand tools.
I only work with osage so my hand tools are a draw knife, #49 Nicholson pattern makers rasp, course half round file, bowyers edge, half pair of scissors(scrapes real well) , various cabinet scrapers and a chain saw file for nocks.
James town Distributors has #49 Nicholson files on sale now at a great price. The #49 is all you need. I have the #49 and #50 but seldom use the #50.
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I will have to check out the best place for rasps. Thanks
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I made my first few bows with a hatchet, and draw Knife, 4 in 1 file, and cabinet scrapper. I had power tools but at that time just wanted to make them using hand tools only. Now I use a bandsaw, draw knife, oscillating belt sander (Rigid), Ferrier’s rasp, #49 rasp, Bowyers Edge, Universal Bowyers rasp (from Torges), 1/8” chainsaw file, double cut mill bastard file, and sandpaper 100-600 grit.
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I would Like to just use my machete, I wonder how much time it would take. It has a chisel end and I was thinking of making a scraper on the back edge. its a bit shorter cause it broke chopping down the eucalyptus years ago. I wish I had a band saw instead of using the planes,those things wear me out. Nice thread.PK
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Like I said I am a tool nut,wished I could get by with just a rock like jamie,but I like
my hand tools.Also use a band saw and belt sander for rough out and tips.Here is what I have collected over the years,use some a lot and some only once.
Pappy
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The little files and picks and gouge tools are really handy when working on snaky ,knotty wood.
For good clean /straight stuff I do use them much. :) You defiantly don't need all this stuff to make a bow but thought it might give some folks an Idea of things that are handy. :)
Pappy
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Wow, pappy! I have a serious case of tool envy.....
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Ya'll went and left out my favorite stave tool the froe.
(http://www.freebirdarchery.com/images/froe-my.jpg)
(http://www.freebirdarchery.com/images/froe-my2.jpg)
Ralph
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Welch I have one of them also,don't use it much but I have a friend that swears by it.He will take sap wood bark all off at the same time on an Osage stave ,by standing it on its end and driving the fro down through it.It will usually run out on me so I do it mostly with a draw knife. :)
Pappy
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You can use the blade as a lever ,it will stop it from running out. If you pull the handle toward ya the crack will run away from you,and vise versa. That's why the handle is kinda long ,for leverage.
Ralph
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I like using my large farriers rasp, a semi-aggressive rounded file and then of course scrapers. An assortment of fine through gouging sand paper is good to have. A 1/8" round file.
For debarking (outside Spring-time), I've been using a very dull scraper made from a rounded hunk of aluminum bar and a large diameter screw driver (used like a burnisher over the bark to help it lift - works amazingly well and doesn't mar the underlying wood as a slip of the scraper will).
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I guess I should add too:
* 20' section of small diameter strong rope
* 150+# rated pully
* 100# hay scale
* 8' 4x4
* 2' 2x4
For the tillering tree.
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Awesome pics everyone. I use a hacthet, drawknife, surform, 4 way rasp, standing belt sander, cooper's tools, Swedish push knife and that's about it. Jawge
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Pappy,
Great assortment of tools, some day...
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I'm a tool addict too. Here's a couple of pics of my drawknife collection. I have a few froes too, and the usual assortment of scrapers and small stuff. I might mention that Dean Torges also sells a small rattail file that I like better than a chainsaw file, its more aggressive and doesn't clog like the chainsaw file.
http://groups.msn.com/LenniesBowPage/tools.msnw?Page=1
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great set of tools Pappy Do you use jointer hand planes? or jack planes I got some stanleys made in the 50's some gave me.
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is it me thats ending the threads, can we see more tools?
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Nah its not you but there are only so many tools one can use to make bows.
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I have a small, flexible drawknife that I can't do without, I broke it once and couldn't do any bowmaking until I got another one. I have a large, stiff one that I use for really large stuff, like debarking staves, but for everything else, I use my little drawknife. Seriously, I would recommend a Flexcut 5" drawknife to most of the bowmakers I meet. (Is it okay to post the names of those who don't advertise in the mag as long as they're not archery related ???) I just about make all of my bows, from start to finish, with just that drawknife.
Other than that, I sharpened one of the butterknives that had the small serrated edges, and it makes for a great scraper. I use a rasp, and occasionally a sharp hatchet. That's about it.
Sean
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It is great to see what everyone is using...
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I have a small, flexible drawknife that I can't do without, I broke it once and couldn't do any bowmaking until I got another one. I have a large, stiff one that I use for really large stuff, like debarking staves, but for everything else, I use my little drawknife. Seriously, I would recommend a Flexcut 5" drawknife to most of the bowmakers I meet. Sean
where did you buy this Drawknife Sean?? I would be really interested in getting one
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These are the tools that I have used on my Yew bow.
7" Fulton drawknife
Stanley 51 spoke shave
2 Miller Falls cavity planes
scraper
I find the cavity planes very handy from every thing to light shaving the entire limb to delicate work around knots.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y220/loosenock/tools.jpg)
Joe
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I bought a German adze the other day,ruffin out, I did'ny think I could find another tool to use. I keep wanting to buy a band saw,My favorite electric tool.
Loosenok those scrapers are Nice or shaves?.PK
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PK the wooden handle scraper at the top is hand made. The two shaves, one on each side, are called cavity planes. both of them are made by Miller Falls. I use them like scrapers. One of them is set and cuts a shaving about the thickness of a sheet of newspaper and the other one cuts a finer shave about the thickness of a cigarette paper. Both are handy shaving around knots and cutting a radius below the handle. I could post a few closer pictures if you would like to see them.
Loosenock.
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Well Sean.....you never answered me ...so I did a little hunting on the Net...and found that little 5" flexible Drawknife.....and what a little worker it is!! You can take off little Ribbons or Hog off big slices with it... I am impressed......I am sure that it is going to be a great addition to my little collection!
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That does look to be a nice little unit yankee where did ya get it. Bettter PM me the details
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Dana............PM sent