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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: ericmerg on May 09, 2012, 07:18:00 AM

Title: list of tools
Post by: ericmerg on May 09, 2012, 07:18:00 AM
what tools do i need so i can start buying them
Title: Re: list of tools
Post by: briarjumper12 on May 09, 2012, 08:23:00 AM
Farriers rasp (what a farrier uses to rasp horses' hooves) for quick stock removal.  
#49 nicholson cabinet maker's rasp.
A cabinet scraper set.
I like Dean Torges' Bowyer's edge for scraping too.
Draw knife for removing bark.
Numberous files that you can pick up at the hard ware store.  Small round file, big half round file.  Flat bastard file.  I use files to remove rasping marks in the wood during the final stages.
That's about it if you want to do it all with hand tools.
The only power tool I use the Arbortech woodcarver on an angle grinder to aid in the roughing out process.  Google it, it is cool.
John
ps  This is a list for selfbows.  Not glass.
Title: Re: list of tools
Post by: Eric Krewson on May 09, 2012, 08:43:00 AM
I have an Arbor tech carver, used it for removing bark and sapwood from osage staves when I overloaded myself with a yard full of freshly cut logs.

It is not a precise cutting tool and has a very limited place in bow making. It makes a very rough cut, gouges out a crater in a heartbeat and was so aggressive I abandoned it and went back to my drawknife.

The tool is like a mini stump grinder and cuts like one. It is pretty expensive, you could buy a good used bandsaw for the same price.
Title: Re: list of tools
Post by: George Tsoukalas on May 09, 2012, 09:04:00 AM
There are buildalongs on my site where I discuss tools. Keep your early efforts simple. No power tools. Eric alluded to how quickly they can remove wood. Slow tools are better than fast particularly in the beginning.
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/index.html
Title: Re: list of tools
Post by: Cuban Missile on May 09, 2012, 03:15:00 PM
Find a good used band saw and and the rest of the hand tools that briar jumper said.  

I haven't seen this Arbor tech carver but I would take Eric's word on that, also listen to what George says there.  Slow tools are better than fast in the beginning.  

Oh and every bow (success or failure) is knowledge gained.  Keep at it and you'll do fine.