Bowyers Edge vs Spoke Shave

[Roy from Pa]

They are ok for sure. But a scraper doesn't need setup. Just personal preference I suppose. It's all good.

[Bowjunkie]

Roy, I have 72" ERC 1/4" thick. How do you want it tapered exactly? Parallel in the handle area then tapered 1/8" from dips to tips? Limbs same length or shorter bottom limb? Lemme know the details.

[PEARL DRUMS]

See how that works Jeff? Roy helped me along so I use only a scraper. Bowyers Edge lovers generally leaned on Dean to learn a lot of what they know. It all makes sense now!

[Bowjunkie]

I DID lean on him, hard. Still do. Most of my bows are quite Torges-esque. If they're half as nice as his, I'm cool with that.

Hey, wait a minute... old RoyBoy's leanin on him as hard as anyone. He's been stuck on them Torges-style BBO's for how many years now? And he don't like The Edge?. .. uh-oh, so much for your theory  

[PEARL DRUMS]

...............I never thought of that, your right. He couldn't build a non-Dean bow to save his a$$. Guess my theory is shot full of holes now.

[rainman]

For you guys who don't like to mess with the setup on a tool, do you set up your bandsaw?  That takes a lot longer.

[Bowjunkie]

I have countless tools that require more set up or maintenance than my Bowyer's Edge. Tool set up and care is an integral part of woodworking.

That said, though I do take reasonable care of my tools, I could probably do a better job of it. I can kind of relate to what Pearly's sayin' though... cuz when I go down to the shop, I want to work on BOWS dang it. In fact, it's usually the thought of a bow in particular that beckons me there in the first place.

Right now I'm thinking about the yew ELB stave leaning against the bench that needs the sapwood thinned... and the BBO tri-lam ready for the tillering tree... NOT thinking about sharpening my scrapers that need it, doing the roller bearing guide upgrade on my bandsaw, changing blades on my jointer, finishing the workbench in the corner, etc.  

[recurvericky]

I bought a Bowyers Edge from another tradgang member that had not been used. Some may not like it, but I think it is the cats meow.

[Shaun]

My favorite tool and I would not be without it! Even keep a spare just in case.

A spoke shave is an entirely different tool. Spoke shave is a cutting tool that is basically a very short soled plane. I use one often on ELB profile limbs (arched not flat profile) and keep it very sharp and well set up.

The bowyers edge is a scraper set up in the same short sole. A scraper uses a fine curled burr to cut micro thin shavings and will not dig in like a cutting blade.

The advantage of having the scraper in a short sole is that it cuts high spots and rides over low spots evening out the surface. An unmounted scraper follows the dips and does not even it up.

Would hate to build a bow without my bowyers edge.

[recurvericky]

The more I use the bowyers edge the more I like it. Great tool.