Trad Gang

Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: karaterick on February 26, 2013, 11:31:00 AM

Title: Using a Plane??
Post by: karaterick on February 26, 2013, 11:31:00 AM

I'm new to the site and to bow making. I am starting to dive into board bow making and have a couple of questions I need help with to get me started.
First, what is the best tool for the initial bow cut-out? ie band saw, jigsaw, table saw, router ect.

Secondly, it seems that everything that I have read suggests using a rasp to shape and hone the bow into shape. Why not handheld wood plane? I would think that would do a great job.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Title: Re: Using a Plane??
Post by: Roy from Pa on February 26, 2013, 12:56:00 PM

Band Saw.

You could use a plane for something's but your going to need a good rasp and a scraper.

Welcome to Trad Gang.

Title: Re: Using a Plane??
Post by: Nicon on February 26, 2013, 01:04:00 PM

When i first tried making bows, i used a little cheap block plane to shape the sides. Problem with a plane is, you can't plane concave surfaces. A drawknife or spokeshave would be much better.

Btw i'm a big fan of hand planes.  :D  Even though i'm not a woodworker. But occasionally, when i do plane some boards, it's strangely satisfying.
I even tried to make a plane jig for tapering laminates.  http://nicon.planet.ee/vibu/planejig01.jpg  but the thin laminates would bunch up from the force of the blade.

Title: Re: Using a Plane??
Post by: karaterick on February 26, 2013, 01:26:00 PM

Thanks guys. Great info!

Title: Re: Using a Plane??
Post by: LittleBen on February 26, 2013, 01:46:00 PM

I still dont have a bandsaw as I live in an apt, a small one at that. I'v used a hand plane (and an electric hand plane) for teparing the sides of the limbs. It works well, plus it doesnt hurt to use a littl eelbow grease from time to time. works OK on the limbs from past the fades to the tips, but you cannot do anything near the fades where its concave as Roy mentioned. A spokeshave would be a perfect companion for working that area. A rasp, some mill files, and a scraper are basically necessary and are very inexpensive.

Title: Re: Using a Plane??
Post by: karaterick on February 26, 2013, 02:18:00 PM

Thanks!

Title: Re: Using a Plane??
Post by: kevinbarry on March 05, 2013, 11:45:00 AM

I use a block plane to rough out my board bows.I then use a scraper and a 3"x21"belt sander to tiller.Rasps and files and jig saw for the shelf and handle.Hope this helps.

Title: Re: Using a Plane??
Post by: George Tsoukalas on March 06, 2013, 01:03:00 AM

Board bow info on my site along with buildalongs. Jawge
 http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/archer.html

Title: Re: Using a Plane??
Post by: onemississipp on March 09, 2013, 10:02:00 PM

After buying all the tools and making a few bows. You can really get along with just a rasp and scraper.

Buy a nice rasp and make your own scrapers.

A draw knife makes for fast work cutting profiles but then it's down to rasp and scraper anyway.

Saw for cutting profile, Japanese pull saw.