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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: DanielB89 on October 31, 2014, 09:09:00 AM
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I am wondering what are the essentials for building a bow to you? specifically a 1 piece bow. I have been wanting to build one for a few years and reading the "tri lam" forum just makes me want to do it even more. my main concern is the amount of tools I have or don't.
I have a table saw, and miter saw, skill saw, orbital sander, and a few different files.
is this enough to build a bow?
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Bandsaw would be the most useful thing I can think of for you, followed closely by a disc or edge sander of some sort (belt sander clamped down 90 degrees to table would work too.)
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X's 2...
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The minimum you need, is probably a handsaw of some kind, half round rasp, half round file, and sandpaper, but thats getting pretty basic.
I own two main power tools, a benchtop belt/disc sander, and a small benchtop bandsaw. A bigger bandsaw is really a better move for making bows, but the benchtop belt/disc is fine. Other than that everything is done by hand on mine.
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There was a young man from overseas a few years ago that made nice bows with hand tools like files rasps and his go to tool was a angle grinder.
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I build all my bows pretty basically.
1. Access to a bandsaw (don't need to own one) to cut out truly square forms from pressure treated 2x10s and risers is you build that kind of bow.
2. Bicycle innertubes for rubber bands to hold the wood and glass laminations to the form while the glue dries
3. 18" or 24" belt sander (used upside down mostly) to shape limbs
4. Finish sander for edges and such
5. Assorted sandpaper and sanding blocks
6. Round file for forming nocks.
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i still have my first bow i built, when i arrived in the country. An ash self bow, built from an ash board!!
i borrowed a battery powered skill saw to cut the profile, bought a nicholson #49 rasp and a cabinet scraper. thats all i had , and all i used- chased a ring- on the most perfect board i have seen (didnt know what i had at the time!), and tillered away!!
the bow has less than desirable tiller- but is still shooting today!
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Didn't happen Wayno wif out pictures.. :laughing:
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Funny Wayne, my first bow was an ash board bow. Made it a bit too narrow, has about 4 inches of string follow and a couple of hinges. Ooops.
I also like floor tillering a self bow with an angle grinder. Always use one to shape my risers even on glass bows.
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My first bow was a hickory self bow. I made it with a hatchet, wood rasp, and sandpaper following Mike Yancey's videos online. New nothing about tillering( still don't) and the bow took about 3 1/2" string follow but shoots pretty hard and good. Still got it and will take it out at some point this season, just because! :thumbsup: made several bows that way. you really don't need much to get started. I didn't really start aquirng power tools till I started doing glass.
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A table saw works great for cutting lams and making the shape of the bow. I use a hand held jig saw for cutting the handle shape. All you need to finish it is a rasp and a scraper for tillering and sandpaper from 60 to 220 grit. I started out using a Surform rasp, but found that I like a Shinto saw rasp better. I think the Shinto costs a few dollars more than the Surform. I use a chainsaw file to cut the nocks in and like to use a Gizmo for tillering. An inexpensive calipers for checking thickness while tillering is nice to have, too.
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My oak board bow was shaped and completely tillered with a $29 angle grinder. I recently purchased a small ban saw. I think I should have got the belt/disk sander first.
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My first red oak board bow was made using a factory (un)sharpened 5"draw knife, a Stanley shurform rasp, some files and some sandpaper. While it wasnt a hunting weight bow,it turned out just fine. Ive upgraded significantly since then, but you dont NEED much to start. Good luck and have fun!