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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Innocente on March 28, 2010, 10:54:00 PM

Title: No bandsaw?
Post by: Innocente on March 28, 2010, 10:54:00 PM
just pulled my first fiberglass attempt off of the form, and i'm trying to figure out how to cut out my bow outline.  i don't have a bandsaw, but i do have a jigsaw.  i also have a dremel, with sanding disc things, and a teeny skill saw attachment.

would the sanding disc thing work well? anybody tried it?
Title: Re: No bandsaw?
Post by: Shore08 on March 28, 2010, 11:03:00 PM
What about a hacksaw? I think I remember hearing about someone using that to cut it out.

Dremmel with a cutoff wheel may be an option as well.
Title: Re: No bandsaw?
Post by: carver on March 28, 2010, 11:06:00 PM
innocente, i think i've seen you on PA, right?  You make kickass selfbows, i think.

I would get the jigsaw as far away from your new bow as possible, just in case.  other than that, i've never worked with glass, so i dunno...irwin pullsaw?
Title: Re: No bandsaw?
Post by: Swissbow on March 29, 2010, 02:15:00 AM
I used a jigsaw for my last two bows and it worked out well. I Recommend to use a blade for metal, because the ones for wood won't last very long. With a metal blade I can cut out one bow before it's gone. A metal blade cost me about 2-3 bucks, i think that's not much, compared to the time I can save.

(http://i861.photobucket.com/albums/ab173/07Hawaii/longbow%20for%20alain/P3270363.jpg)

The only thing you have to take care is not to cant the saw. Especially at the tips that can be a bit tricky. But you're much faster that way than sanding it all down.

----------
Andy
Title: Re: No bandsaw?
Post by: Kanga on March 29, 2010, 04:29:00 AM
I do all my shaping on the belt sander.
Title: Re: No bandsaw?
Post by: Moen on March 29, 2010, 05:13:00 AM
Agree with swissbow. I also use jigsaw, but I have mounted it upside down on a plate of MDF. If you cut a slot for the blade first, you get an accurate tool for your outline. But do not try it without masking tape;)
Title: Re: No bandsaw?
Post by: Jason Jelinek on March 29, 2010, 10:30:00 AM
I've used a table saw before for the rough out, but like anything else you can ruin a bow in less than a second.
Title: Re: No bandsaw?
Post by: Innocente on March 29, 2010, 02:57:00 PM
ha you have me confused with a skilled bowyer, carver! i specialize in kindling.

thanks for the advice guys, i had intended to use the cutoff on the dremel, but while knocking off the epoxy with the belt sander, i noticed it peels away fiberglass really well, so i just kept on going, shaved the outline out with just the sander!