Tools for building a selfbow????????

[snag]

I know of skilled bowyers that can take an axe and build a bow. But for my first attempt I think I need all the help I can get! What is a list of tools that would be helpful in this project? I have a draw knife and some cabinet scrapers. Looking for a good used band saw....what else would be nice to have?  Thanks, David

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Your gonna need a four way rasp and good used farriers rasp is nice to have. Also a good vice or something to hold your stave is great as well.

 If you do any boo back bows you can use a hacksaw blade doubled up as a toothing scraper.

 The most important tool you will need is patience LOL

 Stiks

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Oh yeah I forgot a good tiller tree with the pulley is awsome too.

[John Scifres]

My first ten were built with a hatchet, a surform rasp and a butcher knife.

A measuring device, pencil, drawknife, a 4-way nicholson rasp and a scraper are all you need to start.  A chainsaw file helps to cut the nocks.

A tillering tree and a sturdy vise and bench really help too.

I use in some order: chainsaw, chalk, measuring device, wedges and sledge, shellac and paintbrush, truck, drawknife, scraper, measuring device again, pencil, bandsaw, rasps and files, scraper, tillering string, tillering tree, rasps and scraper again, chainsaw or small round file, sandpaper, finish, leather cutting tools, string jig, string serving tool. [ibuprofen or darvicet sometimes on really hard days]

Get a few under your belt before you move to the bandsaw.

[Silent Bear]

the tools are fairly simple, all you need is a good vise,hatchet, drawknife and sandpaper, like stiks said the most important tool is patience

[Shaun]

Bowyers edge wood handled scraper is worth the $50.

Everyone else covered the basics.

[snag]

Anyone ever make a shaving horse to work on? I found some plans for one and thought I'd make one.  Looks like I don't really need a band saw for now.  The tillering tree is something I'll have to make that I forgot about.
 
Shaun, I've been looking at the Bowyers edge on Dean Torges' site.

I'm starting to get the feeling that this stuff might get under my skin like making arrows!     :rolleyes:

[scrub-buster]

I use a bench only for removing bark and sapwood on osage.  Once I get to the yellow stuff, I move to a vice.  A band saw will save you hours when roughing out a bow. Files, rasps, and a drawknife are good tools also.  For a cheap scraper, take a pair of scissors apart and use the two halves.  That is what I use to do the fine scraping around knots.  The point is great for wedging wood away from pin knots.

[John Scifres]

I've had mixed results with shave horses.  If sized right, they can be effective.  But if too small or awkward to use, they hurt my back and are tough to use.  I am thinking about building one for my outside work area but it will have to be just the right size.

[fujimo]

TILLERING GIZMO.
everyone seems to have overlooked this ingenious, yet simple tool.
while you are learning what to look for in tiller profile, this will help eliminate failure.
search it here on this  forum. loads of reference to it.
good luck.

[snag]

Thanks guys. I'll check out the Tillering Gizmo Fujimo.  I was actually thinking of putting an old driftboat seat on the shaving horse for some back support and padding.

[Bruce Prosser]

The Bowyer's Bible 1-4

Comstock's The Bent Stick

Bench vise, drawknife farrier's rasp, cabnet scrapers, or a half of your wife's best sissors, long tillering string and tillering board (never used a tillering tree, but will be making one soon).

YouTube videos on the subject and this forum.

Make the wood shavings fly but above all, have long slow fun.

Blessings, Bruce

[snag]

I love that last statement Bruce!

Here's a video I found on YouTube...pretty cool workshop and an interesting man. It would be fun to spend some "shop time" with this guy.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB_EQP3FoHw&feature=player_embedded

[DesertFox]

Best tool I have, to date, is a small flexible draw knife. What used to take me 2 hours with a rasp and a plane now takes me half an hour.

[Steve B.]

David,

If you plan to build a few bows, or more, then for about $200 you should get a big rasp and stave press from Raptor Archery, first.  These will save you much trouble and you will probably do better work.
The band saw is essential too but total band saw work on a bow is usually just a few minutes so if you only plan to build a bow or two then you could always lay out the bow and find someone who would let you borrow the saw for a few minutes and you're done.

I can't tell you how much hassle you'll save with the rasp, and the press.

Early work on the stave can get pretty violent so the vise/press should really be anchored well.  The stave press sits on a base and pole which you can bolt to a table.  But what I did was not use the base at all but went to Home Depot and got a metal fence pole and concreted it into the ground and set the press on it.  
So it is very solid, quiet, and of course is outside where dust and shavings don't clutter your shop.  
Its WELL worth the money, again, if you are going to make many bows.....and you will.

Steve

[snag]

I think you are right Steve. This selfbow thing will become an ongoing love like building arrows. I figure I can get by without the band saw until I find a great deal on one. I have access to one for the time being. I've got a furrier's rasp and some other hand tools. So that will get me by. Sure need something to secure the stave while I am going after it though.

[Shaun]

Band saws are often available on Craigs List. It does not take much of a BS to make bows. A Craftsman 12" will work fine as a starter. If you get the bug bad, a good 14" Delta or Griz will be in your future.

[Silent Bear]

I wouldnt spend the money on a bandsaw its not needed in making bows, spend the money on some bowmaking books and some wood

[shamus]

thoughts on tools  

hope it helps

[Steve B.]

Snag.  While you are sorting out your tool desires, find a spot in the yard and concrete in a hunk of pipe.  Then at some point come and borrow my press and try it for awhile.  I am on the "west side" of portland.  Even if you go with the vice, you should try the press.

I don't know how big or sharp the furrier's rasp is but the one I got from Ted is scary.  It's super course on one side and very course on the other.  You could cut through a 2 x 4 with it in probably a minute or two of furious rasping.  Its a big time saver.

I tried taking the last stave down with just a draw knife and no sawing.  No way.  I went and had it sawn.

If you want the press just PM me.

sb