What to purchase?

[Flyboy718]

Got a $30 gift card from 3 rivers for Christmas and I want to use it for my I think new addiction to building self bows.  That being said, what would YOU get from 3 Rivers for $30 for a new selfbow builder?

[PEARL DRUMS]

Rasp, scraper set, glue, Tru Oil, leather squares, artificial sinew

[formerbutcher]

Traditional Bowyers Bible 1

[Flyboy718]

I guess I should have mentioned what tools I already have:  metal yard stick, 4-way rasp, Stanley Sureform rasp, tape measure.

[bjansen]

I would get some string and serving material

[bigcountry]

Originally posted by bjansen:
I would get some string and serving material

True, if your going to build bow, your going to constantly need to make specialty length strings.

but a decent scraper is a must.  You got to resharpen that scraper, so you need a burnisher, however some use a screwdriver but I find a carbide burnisher great.

[Pat B]

That's what I'd say...a couple spools of B-50(2 different colors), a spool of serving(I like the camo stuff) and a "Little Spinner" serving tool. If you still have more money a bow square.

[John Scifres]

You can't go wrong with B-50 for sure.  You do need a scraper though.  There's also a new video by Gary Davis about making bows.  Mark Keller's video about whitewood bows would be a good investment.

[scrub-buster]

Gary Davis DVD, Rattlestick bows.  At least thats what I would buy

[SEMO_HUNTER]

I was going to say a spoke shave because I love mine, but the B50 and serving is a great idea also. Learn to make your own strings if you plan on building bows for any length of time.
I reccomend the braided serving, and get the better quality serving jig it's well worth it! Trust me on that one.

[beetlebailey1977]

Get the 3 piece scraper set, you need that.  The burnishing tool is what you need to put the hook on the scrapers but you can use any hard steel.

[formerbutcher]

sounds like you need another gift card  

[Flyboy718]

Well, I think I have it narrowed down to the Bowyers Bible I or a scraper set...leaning towards the Bowyers Bible.

[hova]

i would buy string material. i can get scrapers and artificial sinew just about anywhere... and if i need TBB vol 1-4 i would just ask someone on here.


-hov

[Flyboy718]

then again, i need a tillering tree and a weight scale to finish this red oak board bow.

[Dave Bowers]

I got an farriers extra rasp if you need it...pm me

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Originally posted by Flyboy718:
Well, I think I have it narrowed down to the Bowyers Bible I or a scraper set...leaning towards the Bowyers Bible.

Get the King James Version and pray for the best.        

You can make your own tillering tree, don't waste your gift card on a board with slots cut in it.
Use that money for bowstring material and braided serving.

Search for "Tillering Board" and I'm sure some plans will pop up.

The search feature for this site is up top just to the right of where it says "My Profile"

[don s]

i've been wanting a scraper for a while and finally got one. i'm so glad i did. you cannot properly burnish a scraper which is hardened steel with a screwdriver. the screwdriver is softer steel than the burnisher. if your going to get a set of scrapers, get the rod too. jmo.
                don

[Flyboy718]

Seeing a lot of reply's about a scraper...what does a scraper do and does it do anything that another tool could do?  I am following the poor folk bows red oak build along and it doesn't mention a scraper.

[Pat B]

After floor tiller a scraper is all I use for tillering. When I learned to do it this way my bent sticks became bows.