Do I need a joiner?

[Don Armstrong]

I am getting set to make some takedown recurvess and longbows. Do I need a joiner for the angles on the risers and to square the risers. Is there another fairly easy way to do this, after cutting, with a table saw. Thanks, Don

[macbow]

Don the jointer is excellent for squaring etc. I don't think I'd do the angles that way. I'd be more into using a belt  or disc sander to smooth out the angles after the cut.
Need some input from guys like Kenny M.
Ron

[Don Armstrong]

Thanks Ron, In the DVD from Bingham', they used a joiner after cutting the angles on a band saw. I'm going to make a jig and use my table saw. I was wondering if the joiner would be needed or could I hand sand with a block or some other method to get a smooth surface. I had thought of a piece of 1/16" phonlic but many said you could get some noise. Don

[kennym]

Hey Don, smooth and square is good, even a little off square will make you pull your hair out!

It tips the limbs to the side and causes a lot of problems.

I saw mine with a jig on the table saw, then use a disc sander carefully to smooth up.

I put a pc of glass on the back of my next TD longbow riser full length of riser. Hope it doesn't make noise! LOL

[Crooked Stic]

Yep get it square first for sure. The most accurate way I have found is a sled for the table saw. It has to be square also. If you had two identical sleds so you did not have to flip the riser block on the second cut would be even better. You would be cutting both pads with the same side down and that would be square to one side and each other. I smooth mine with a long block sandig to 180 grit.Also the ramps need to be checked for hieght. That is laying a straight on each pad and they should meet right over center of the block and be paralrll with each other.  web page