Douglas fir and a good razor blade taper tool?

[Zradix]

Hey gang.
Thinking about trying out some surewoods.
I have a bearpaw deluxe taper tool.
[attachment=1]

It works very well with spruce, cedar and even ash.
Never tried douglas fir...Surewood's site says they can be difficult with a razor tool.
...just curious what ya'll have found.

Thanks

[M60gunner]

I have the old Tru Taper jig that I use for fir as well as cedar. Doing it by hand I get tear out on Fir. But when I bought the drill motor accessories from the Renfroes Fir is easy as cedar. I believe there is an accessory available for that tool you have. If your planning on using a lot of Fir it might be worth the price.

[Zradix]

Interesting.
I don't plan on doing much of them...just a dozen or so....for now to see if I like em.
Just didn't want to get myself into a situation of having a bunch of shafts I can't taper worth a darn...lol

[Jack Denbow]

I think you can order them from Surewood cut to length and tapered. That may be the way to go until know whether you like them or not.
Jack

[Zradix]

That's a thought.
I don't know the length though.
I sorta pick the spine and tip weight and trim the shaft to fly well.

[STICKBENDER98]

Give Steve a call at Surewood, they offer test kits in different spine weights.  I'm pretty sure they could fix you up with different spines and lengths already tapered for you.  I have tried the tru taper jig also on the fir shafts and it wants to splinter and split instead of shaving. 

Jason

[Tedd]

This thing works great on Douglas Fir. No ripping out the grain at all. I have only done about 2 dozen but it is still really sharp. Time will tell how long it lasts. It cuts cedar like butter. (I think my previous post got pulled. Either that or I didn't hit "post". So I'll just say this was purchased from Custom King for $7.50)
Here is a sample taper I just did on a Surewood Douglas Fir.
[attachment=1,msg2791306]
[attachment=2,msg2791306]
[attachment=3,msg2791306]

[M60gunner]

If you do proceed with the tool you have please let us know how it works out. My tool will be scrap metal as soon as I run out of blades. Yanks you

[Zradix]

Thanks Guys.

if I do go this route I'll ket you all know

[rraming]

The bearpaw deluxe tool works on fir shafts, I have used it and own one of the original shiny ones, It will eventually look like a washboard but not crazy, more grip for adhesive. Woodchuck does work better though, smooth

[Zradix]

Cool Thanks!

[SlowBowinMO]

Hand held taper tools work great on DF.  The key is a sharp blade and light pressure.  Push too hard or get impatient it'll start to cause problems.

[pavan]

i bought a one speed plastic drill for $5, a 6" grinding disc, hose clamped it to a board with slot for the grinding disc, made a straight line to the grinding disc and then a 5 degree line to the disc with finish nails on the line as a  guide.   Then the other day, blast it all anyway, my good drill died while I was fixing my garage door and had to take my taper tool apart. 

[hitman]

X2 what SlowBowinMo said.

[YosemiteSam]

X3 on SlowBowinMo's comment.  I've only done a dozen or so but I've just been using the cheapo pencil sharpener version that 3Rivers sells.  Works fine.  Just keep the pressure light.  I'm sure a sander would be better but I can use up a lot of cheapo razor sharpeners before it's worth stepping up to the sander.