Many folks have asked how to shape the profiles of their bow without using a bandsaw. So, here's a little description of how I do it. This is a maple pyramid bow that I just started. Go ahead and lay out the bow as described.
The first thing I do is cut the fades and along the thickness taper for about an inch with a coping saw as such:
Next I shape the THICKNESS (side profile). I use a sharp hatchet and go WITH the direction of the grain. If you go against, you'll tear out wood past your line. Generally, you'll work one limb towards the grip, the other away from the grip. I start by angling the sides from the middle of the belly down toward the thickness line. This will leave a crown on the belly. Here's a few pics of that process:
Then I knock the crown off to flatten the belly out:
The next thing I do is cut the front profile (limb tapers). I do this before truing up the limb thickness so that I don't have so much wood to work. I use the hatchet to get it close, then a Stanley Surform rasp and block plane to true it up:
Then I have to redraw the side profile (limb thickness) line:
I use the Surform rasp and to flatten and true up the belly, then round the edges of the limbs and it's ready for tillering. Total time from beginning the layout to getting it on the tree was 1 hour and 45 minutes. Didn't take long at all, and sure cut down on the dust in my shop! Just keep your hatchet sharp and your fingers clear.
PS: I find that I have much more control with a hatchet. A drawknife works fine, too, but I just don't have enough finesse with one to work a board stave with it.
Topic: The "So You Wanna Build a Bow?" Build-Along (Read 20020 times)
