Small Tools for Bow Building

[Interseptor]

What are some of the small hand held tools that you use for bow building?  Tools that help with fine detail.

[scrub-buster]

A chainsaw file for the nocks, and some real tiny files for arrow nocks.  I have a variety of small smooth files that I use to smooth out the grip area.  I only make selfbows.

[George Tsoukalas]

These are the tool I use. Not pictured is a 4 in 1 rasp, Surform and chain saw file.
I like to use those shave hooks for taking out nicks and for ring chasing.
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/osage.html
Jawge

[John Scifres]

May I recommend a search for "tools"?  Go to the search button right above this dialog box, under the sponsor's ads.  Search for "tools" in the subject only on the Bowyers Bench and you will find a wealth of information on this subject.

Respectfully...

John

[Jim Rocole]

dremel tool

[Michael E]

I'm a newcomer, so my list reflects that, but my most useful tools are:

1. A drawknife. I like the Arno flat drawknife, which is the one 3Rivers sells although I bought it elsewhere. This will take a board through rough shaping and floor tillering faster than a cheap bandsaw. Touch up the blade by periodic honing on a buffing wheel with a little compound.

2. A spokeshave. I have a few inexpensive ones that work great after tuning up. For that I used a $10 Harbor Freight 4-surface diamond sharpening block. A flat one with help straighten wavy surfaces and a curved one with follow curves. Flatten the bottom and the back of the blade, sharpen the blade, and you have a great tool.

3. Cabinet scraper. This will handle final tillering and make finished surfaces smoother than you can accomplish with sandpaper.

[red hill]

A farrier's rasp. It can remove wood quickly and the extra mass helps you work with less fatigue.

[wazabodark]

A thumb plane is nice to have around. I've also found that a piece of broken window glass makes a great scraper. You just throw it away when it gets dull. The guy that works the glass cutting station at our Lowe's just gives me the drop offs. You can probably get the same kind of hook up if you play your cards right. A cabinet scraper only costs about 12 bucks, but you gotta sharpen it. Glass comes in all different shapes, is razor sharp, disposable, and free. Wear gloves though.

[MoeM]

I recently bought a file from army stock on a yardsale, it`s about 20" long overal and weight`s bout a pound or so but it`s a great addition on the regular sized rasp/file equippment for building glass bows. I really love it and come to the conclusion SIZE MATTERS^^
The other experience I recently made is that oscillating triangle sanders are none to a second when it comes to blending in overlays, really time saving while improving the results!

[LittleBen]

You can get away with almost no tools. A selfbow can be made fairly quickly with nothign but a machete or hatchet, a rasp, a file, and a hunting knife as a scraper.  plus the usual sandpaper.

[MCNSC]

I saw somewhere a fellow was using different size PVC pipe and hardwood shapes wrapped with sandpaper for riser sanding and blending in fades.
Sent you a PM Doug

[delongbows]

Red hill made a great suggestion with a farrier's rasp. Removes the most wood with the least amount of effort while rough shaping.
Dave