Draw knife for board bows...does it work?

AZ_Shooter · January 18, 2012, 06:56:00 PM

I just spent many hours trying to rough out the taper on one limb of a maple board bow, and I have a long way to go. I typically only see draw knives mentioned when working staves, but will one work for board bows?

Thanks!

BTW, just got Paul Comstock's "The Bent Stick". Great read and very informative.

George Tsoukalas · January 18, 2012, 07:20:00 PM

Sure, I've used drawknives on boards. Be careful about it digging into the wood. If it does attack the wood from the other side. Jawge

PEARL DRUMS · January 18, 2012, 08:56:00 PM

A rasp would be much better most often.

AZ_Shooter · January 18, 2012, 10:22:00 PM

I have a 4-in-1 rasp that I used for about two hours on the board, man that was tough. I guess I should also seek out a good farriers rasp.

George Tsoukalas · January 18, 2012, 10:33:00 PM

My sie may help you.
Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/

GentlemanArcher · January 19, 2012, 12:12:00 AM

I've been using a spoke shaver on red oak and walnut boards. It works pretty well. Way faster than the rasp and hardly any tool marks to clean up.

GA

red hill · January 19, 2012, 01:35:00 AM

Yes. Like Jawge said, if it takes too big a bite cut from the opposite direction. Take your time. The drawknife works well for taking off a lot of wood on a board bow. I picked up a pretty good farrier's rasp from a farm and feed store for about $12. It takes wood off pretty quickly and is easy to use.

Grey Taylor · January 19, 2012, 02:29:00 AM

Another option is the Shinto rasp . They have a coarse and a fine side and take wood off like a rabid beaver yet remain very controllable.

Guy

Nim-rod · January 19, 2012, 07:22:00 AM

Go grab a small plane. It makes short work tapering the sides and the belly can be done too starting at the edges and moving into the center.

Cuban Missile · January 19, 2012, 09:53:00 AM

HAHA Rabid Beaver. Nice description.

k-hat · January 19, 2012, 02:04:00 PM

I'm with Nim-rod, i used a small plane for the boards that i did, worked nicely. Be careful of direction: one way works fine, turn the other way and it digs wood out, never figured out how do predict which way was correct other than a trial run both ways on the board. Get close to your lines with the plane and zero in with rasp/scraper.

Good luck with it!