I am fairly new to building and have had good success using rasps and such forming handles and shelf's on recurves. The one I am working on now has an Ebony handle and is very hard. I mounted a Kutzall Cabide bit in my Foredom Power Carver and had it nearly roughed out ready for finish sanding in less than an hour. I would suppose alot of people use this method, however if not you might want to give it a try. FWIW