tools to buy

[big-o]

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?

[aero86]

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

[Keenan]

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

[0209]

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

[sweeney3]

You'll find the draw knives at Home Depot right next to the chicken lips and frog fur.   

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.

[big-o]

I will try an find a Sure Form and pick up a block plane blade to use as a scraper.

[Gonzo98]

Your best bet for a draw knife are antique shops for around 20 or so bucks.

[landman]

I managed to find a draw knife at Lee Valley for $40.  Seems to be alright.

[ken75]

usually a lot of draw knives on ebay. ...just did a quick search about 50 drawknives a lot in the 10 dollar range

[sailordad]

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

[Del the cat]

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

[bucksbuoy]

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.

[George Tsoukalas]

Cruise the flea markets for antique d knives. They are awesome. Jawge

[youngbowyer33]

I also think you should get a spokeshave. Wonderful tool on clean wood, nightmare if there are big knots.

[Kitsu]

only thing you need is a hatchet and a sharp knife and you can build a bow, rather slowly!  lol

or a big knife , 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