So I'm a newbie at building bows I actually yacht fully built one yet the first one I tried (red oak board bow) I ended up shaving WAY to much off the width of thesis and it ruined it. any way I have a Stanley rasp from Lowe's and the thin metal piece (the rasp itself I guess????) Actually snapped in half and I was just having a hard time shaving wood off in general. so just wondering what yall would recommend and I'm on a very limited budget. thanks guys
Buy a used farriers rasp. It's one of my main tools for bowbuilding. Used they cost about 8 bucks from the knocking point. I believe they are a sponsor here.
Cool thanks this'll definitely help
And a good draw knife... they double as scrapers, so you can move those further down the list.
Also a normal wood rasp and some files. If things are really tight, you can get one of those 4 way combo rasp/file things.
Yeah I found a draw knife for about 60 bucks from an antique shop. Ill prolly run to tractor supply to see what they. have. ok really dumb question what exactly is the scrapper used for?(obviously for scraping) but is this for after the tiller or what?
A quality ferriers rasp can take you from stave to functioning bow all alone. It will actually finish much smoother than most think it can. You can finish the bow with progressive sanding alone. If you dont want to spend money on a rat tail you can cut in pin knocks with a ferriers rasp. Its an awesome tool with some practice. I tiller with mine until Im within 3-4#'s. Then I sand the marks away and the extra draw weight.
$60 is a lot to pay for an antique draw knife. You can buy a good quality new one for about that much.
look around before you buy.
Dave.
May be my site will help.
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/index.html
Jawge
Another vote for the ferriors rasp.
Ok I think ill get the farriers rasp from TSC its like 25 bucks but its worth it if its that diverse of a tool. thank y'all for the help ill probably post some pics in a couple of days to show my progress and get some more pointers. once again thank y'all for the help I do appreciate it.
Whitehawk, I have a bunch of used farrier rasps that I get from a that does work for us. Send me your address and I'll send one over to you. They are a great tool.
Your a good dude Tony!
Good one, Razorback. Our local feed/farm store sells farrier rasps for around $12.00.
Last fall I found a drawknife at an antique shop for $15.00. Woodcarver 2 is right about that price. It's high.
I use an old fillet knife as a scraper.
A good hatchet comes in handy, too.
Love the farriers rasp. Once I started using it I never touched the Stanley Shurform again. Takes a lot less skill to use than a draw knife. You will be surprised at how fast they will take off wood so be careful.
For a board bow all you need is the farriers rasp a 4 way rasp for the fades (curved side), scraper for the finishing tillering, and something to cut the nocks. Sand paper to make it pretty.
Keith
No problem Red Hill. I have a bunch and have given quite a few away and done some trading with them. If I can help get some people started I am a happy fellow.
Darn, I wish some one would send me a free farrier rasp:)
I'll send you one Roy if you pay the twenty bucks shipping.
:goldtooth:
Well I guess ole RazorDazor hain't gonna respond DVS, so I'll send ya $40.00 and ya kin buy some good whiskey fer yer troubles son:)
Better yet, just bring me a bottle yourself.
Ya sure, then I'd haft ta arm wrastle ya for a sip:)
I agree with your attitude, Razorback. I've put together one or two "tool kits" for kids interested in making their own bows. Atwoods has cheap rasps and I sometimes gather in a few extra tools here and there. I keep wishing someone could have gotten me started out in making bows when I was younger.
I'll send you one when I send your arrahs back to yah. You know only real selfbowyers use farriers rasps. We'll be taking your glue away permanently pretty soon. We'll just leave you enough to keep the dentures in.
Now THAT was good Tony! You know Roybert Redford quite well I see.
The problem with the glue is he eats it, and thats bad on a guys belly.
Thumpen list has been edited to include the last two smarty pants:)