A few selfbow tools

[Pat B]

These are a few of the tools I use when making selfbows. One is Eric's "gizmo" used while tillering to help find the stiff spots in the bent limbs. The other, with the two dowels sticking out and the pencil in the center is a centering tool for staves. With a dowels held tightly to the sides of the stave I pull it down the stave; leaving a pencil mark down the center. With some staves I will work it with the right dowel in the forward position one time and the left dowel another. Usually both lines are along the same pencil line but often with crooked staves the pencil line will divide so the center between the 2 lines is the center.
   The other tools are a farriers rasp, a half round rasp and a Nicholson #49 rasp as well as a scraper and the gizmo and centering tool, flexible 6" ruler and draw knife and of course a pencil.
 
 
 
 

[shamus]

now THAT is an interesting gizmo!

[CheapShot]

Looks pretty much what I use on my attempt at making bows. I like the stave centering tool you came up with. If you don't mind I'm going to make one too, looks like a very usefull gadget.
I recently took apart a old pair of sissors to use as a scraper, works really well and easy to resharpen using the existing angle on the sissors.
My shop is a 2x12 saw horse with a vise mounted on one side. It sits out side under a hickory tree. Cool in the summer, cooler in the winter. But I don't have to keep it as tidy as your's Pat.

[Pat B]

I copied the centering tool from someone else. Feel free to use the idea. I believe the royalties have been paid! d;^) The centering tool will work on any stave that will fit between the dowels no matter how snaky.
   I have never used scissor halves for a scraper but I know folks that do with good success.
   If I cleaned up my shop, I'd never find anything. It would be nice to be outside for some of the bow work but I'm stuck with a 28'x32' basement shop. d:^( so I protest by keeping it messy.d;^)

[bowmaker07]

Looks just like my workspace Pat! Same tools and even the part about the basement workshop, at least it's heated and there's a tv and stereo.For the gizmo I made two, a 6" and a 4". The 4" works better as the limbs bend farther and closer to the fades.

[Pat B]

I have only the 4" gizmo. I usually eyeball the early bending.
  My basement isn't heated but I don't mind the cool, especially when removing bark and chasing a back ring. It has never gotten below 40 deg, even if it is 10 deg outside. No TV or stereo either, just 2 dogs going in and out.

[bowmaker07]

My dog won't quit eating bark and shavings.

[Pat B]

It will keep them regular and some woods may prevent or eliminate worms.

[bowmaker07]

Or, maybe someday I'll get lucky and find a perfect stave laying in the back yard!

[Bow-n-Head]

Pat: when you use your (Eric's) tillering GIZMO, do you use it on a BRACED bow, or do you use a tillering stick to hold it while you check for flat spots???

[Pat B]

I use the gizmo as I tiller from brace through almost to full draw on difficult staves. If I get the bow to bend well in the early stages of tillering I don't need the gizmo, usually, the rest of the way to full draw.
   Beyond a certain point(about brace height), I don't like using a tiller stick. I believe it puts too much unnecessary stress on an uneducated stave. Sometimes I find it necessary but usually I can get a bow to full draw using the tiller stick only for the first few inches, if at all.

[dc51]

Pat: I'll have to give the centering tool a try.
I've got a stave I've been trying to find center on and having a heck of a time.
Thanks

[Pat B]

Works like a champ. Be sure you make it wide enough so the dowels go on either side of the stave.

[Chuck Hoopes]

Looks like my shop.  Lets face it- once we get going on a Bow, we are on a Mission-- As far as I go, if its not something Iam going to trip over, its fine where it is.  Love the centering gizmo.- clever in its simplicity.

[Roy Steele]

PAT check out my way of useing a tillering strick.No exstress while teaching the bow wood memory.You end up with correct weight and draw leanth.Never going over your intened bow weight no exture stress.An I like to hear your way of tillering.I'm all ears PM me.

[DCM]

I love that centering tool Dawg.  I'm fixin' to steel that idear.

A vice is a perty dog-gone handy tool as well, which I see in yer picture.  A secure work piece saves a man a ton of work, headaches and mistakes.  imho

[Pat B]

David, I wish I could claim it as my own but I'm not that smart...but smart enough to use it when needed!