recommended tools for newbie

[M P Clark]

alright, after reading the books I could get ahold of and reading forums; I believe I'm ready to make my own fiberglass bow.  What power tools would the seasoned bowyer recommend?

I've been looking at a free standing band saw with 1 HP and 14 in opening.  Would this be over kill?  Would a smaller bench top model work?  I also plan on using a dremel to help with shaping the wood.

I'm also designing a sled for the band saw so I can rip a tapered lamination from a 2 x 2 board.  I have elm, wild cherry, hickory, and oak that was cut from my families land.

What are your opinions for other tools that could prove helpful.  I didn't know if a bench top sander, plainer, or table saw would be of noticeable benefit.  I already have rasps, nock file, air compressor and sanding items.

my design will be a one piece recurve with 18 in riser and 2 in wide limbs.

[Sam Harper]

A 1 HP 14" bandsaw is perfect.  A smaller bench top model will work, but it'll be a pain to use.

You should get a belt sander.  It's useful for all kinds of things.  You can even use it to make a lam grinder.  There's some pictures of how I did it here:

 http://poorfolkbows.com/glass3.htm

[macbow]

As shown in Sam's link. The addition of the,disc sander is useful.
Grinding the fiberglass to size versus cutting of the band saw is a good idea. Fiberglass will eat up a bandsaw blade. Heavy grit  50 or 60.
The Dremel tool is very difficult to handle in,shaping risers etc.
A small spindle sander works wonders. But rasps will do the job.

[MoeM]

In fact you won`t even *need* any powertools... (ok grinding own lams is pretty tough without...)
I did my first Hill with a benchtop bandsaw (riser) and a cheap stationary belt-/discsander but I know someone who just got an angle grinder and a lot of filing...
But the more and heavier your machinery gets the more fun and time to focus on other aspects you`ll get....
Bandsaw and beltsander are magnificent start anyway!
(follewed by edgesander, thicknesssander, good tablesaw, spindlesander, drill press, pneumatic drum sander and all that other stuff I don`t even have space in my workshop^^)

[jsweka]

An oscillating spindle sander is one of my most used tools - great for getting fade outs paper thin and for grinding the width of the bow quick.  Also good for shaping risers.

[MoeM]

-and you can upgrade a spindlesander to a vertical thicknesser! I wouldn`t hesitate to get me one of those cheap and handy Ridgid spindle/edgesanders; unfortunatly they aren`t available for 230V what makes ma mad   :mad:

[Magnum in Ms]

A 3" drum sander in a drill press is very handy.

[inksoup]

without band saw you may feel like you are working in hell...
serious.

on the other hand, if you did not build one yet, run away as fast as you can. this is highly addictive. run run...

[Dan Bonner]

Tools I use in order of importance:
Tablesaw $400
Cheap 6"x48" belt sander with 9" disc $150
Cheap spindle sander $100
14" bandsaw $400
A $40 angle grinder is also a big help.

Bonner

[bigbob2]

My 'can't do without' tools in order of priority are 1. Bandsaw, 2. bandsaw 3. bandsaw,! spindle sander, disc sander and my home made 'Mc Iver' lam grinder.Did have a 3'' drum in my big pedestal drill but they tend to go out of round a little and can do much more with the various bits on the spindle sander.Oh as Dan says a 4''grinder is super useful as I use a diamond cutting blade to cut my limbs down to near my lines and finish with a 36 grit sanding pad. Does the job in minutes.

[Bowjunkie]

Order of importance for me...

Bandsaw

Spindle sander

Table saw

I made a pile of bows with just those for power tools.

[M P Clark]

thanks for all the input, the band saw gets delivered this week.  I've been looking at the sanders (spindle and bench top versions).  Also, a fence for the bandsaw, since it doesn't come with one.  Kerg offers one that gets good reviews, and they officer a micro (fine adjuster) for it.

On to my next question:  looking at air hose for the form.  Does anyone know the diameter that bingham projects provides?  I found another place that sells it by the inch, but they only offier 1.5 inch diameter.  Will the 1.5 work for 2 inch limbs (since the hose is mostly flattened in the form)?

[monterey]

Presently I use a small bench top bandsaw (wood cutting only, glass will destroy your blade in a couple inches).  A bench top drill press with sanding drums from 3 inch down to about 1/2 inch.  A hand saber saw.  A bench top table saw.

My first couple bows I built with no power tools whatever.  Did all the cutting and shaping by hand tools.