Does anybody have a technique or apparatus that allows them to make TD limb wedges without a thickness sander? I have a ton of scraps laying around and at 12.50 a pair from Bingham's they add up quick. I just can't seem to wrap my head around how to keep them square without a thickness sander.

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I'm guessing by square you are talking about even thickness?
You could stick a sheet of sandpaper on a dead flat surface, like a tablesaw or granite plate and check it with some calipers, while sanding, to keep it even. Or if you have a tablesaw, you could rip them on edge. Two passes and they should be good to go.

I use this sanding drum with a copying wheel. The wedge is elevated on small nails. There is a plexiglass template on the bottom.

Do you have any wood working machines?
That may help us Help you

Currently at home I have a bandsaw, grizzly spindle sander, old craftsman 8" table saw and a dewalt 12" miter saw.  I have access to fully outfitted woodshop at the school I teach at but we are currently closed down and do not have access this is the reasoning for my question. Thanks for the replies thus far.

Flem I'm not sure what you mean about ripping them on edge,  unless you're talking about a taper jig.

Quote from: Buemaker on March 25, 2020, 07:32:16 PM
I use this sanding drum with a copying wheel. The wedge is elevated on small nails. There is a plexiglass template on the bottom.

buckeybowhunter, you spindle sander will work with a rub collar and a jig like Buemaker has here

Thanks Max, is the collar something I would need to build?

yes or get someone  to make it for you.
This is the one I made, the rub collar is less than half way around and  the assembly off of a RIDGID
Oscillating Edge/Belt Spindle Sander, I bought the display at Home Depot for 100.00 missing some of the parts but all I wanted was the belt assembly

Awesome, pretty cool set up there Max.

Nicely improvised, Mark
Do you grind lams with that setup, or is it just for profiling?

I have a baby drum sander and " The Hod drum sander". for my lams and wedges
I have patterns for the back of the riser to fit the glueup form and sanding curves for multiple colored woods.
I glue paper templates on the glued up bow riser and ruff out the shape of my riser with it and most of the site window. 2nd picture
all the curves were made with the pattern sander

Just after pattern sanding the riser.

Max, could your set up work with the unit off a regular belt sander?  My old disc/belt combo sander just died. I use the Robo sander without any problems now. 

For wedges, has anyone used a disc sander using the adjustable slide guide?

Sorry I did not see your question yesterday, Robert. I was assuming yours was a thickness dilemma.
I was thinking you could do a rip-flip-rip, to get your initial thickness with the fence and then use a miter gauge to get your taper.
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Flem,  thanks for clarifying.  I can do a rip flip rip, but my question was not geared towards initial thickness but rather the taper. I do not currently have a miter guage for my saw. But I ordered a robo sander for my drill press going to give buemakers method a whirl with it when it arrives.

Max great looking bows and thanks for posting.

Max them handles look great.

Bue before running the wedge through your template sander are you rough cutting the angle on a bandsaw?

Yes, rough cutting on the band saw. I use 40 grit paper on the drum and a little hand sanding to feather it out.