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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Tajue17 on December 20, 2015, 11:22:00 AM
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I want to set up a bow making area and I need some real world advice on what I really need.
I never had my own bow drying box, does anyone have a good link for the most popular I can build.
I have a bow horse,, it was randy's from saxon archery pretty he made it from scratch. have a few draw knives, lost all my cabinet scrapers..
I used a tillering stick but thinking about making a tillering wall instead?
give me some ideas I want to keep it simple making bows for myself and friends.
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A tiller stick is handy until first brace then a tiller tree is better and safer. I got plans for my hot box from Bingham's Projects but a Google search should give you lots of options. A farriers rasp and another finer wood rasp are both handy. Eric Krewson's Tillering Gizmo is a great tool and they are simple to make. A band saw is nice to have but not necessary. A good hand ax and a draw knife will do the same job with a little more work.
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I love a double cut bastard file, use it a lot, a 4 in hand file/rasp, chainsaw/rat tail files, slim triangle files to get Nocks started. Band saw, table saw, spindle sander all very useful, though not necessities. Would like to get an edge sander someday.
Set up a tiller tree, it is better than a tiller stick in my opinion. I used a stick at first and it works fine, but nice to stand back and see how the limbs move.
Cabinet scraper and gizmo for the tillering.
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Things I wouldn't want to make bows without on a regular basis...
Chainsaw, sledge and wedges, drawknife, shellac, Nicholson #49 rasp, farrier's rasp, cabinet scraper straight and gooseneck, heat gun, bandsaw, drying box, 4" ratail for string grooves, air compressor and paint gun, and my tillering tree(rope and pulley setup).
I have a bow horse but haven't used it in years since I have a bench vice and prefer it. I don't use a notched tillering stick at all since I start em off right on the tree from the get-go.
Honestly, I trust and rely on my tillering tree to help closely balance their limbs relative to my holds such that I hope I never have to make a bow without it.
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thanks for the posts,,,, I actually do have a old US made vice I bought at a yard sale for making bows and almost forgot until bowjunkie mentioned his.. I need the rasps and scrapers though especially the one that gets into the little dips.
do you guys remember Murry Gaskins? I used to buy staves from him but who is the best person who has them now already split and sealed?
tillering tree it is,,, and a bandsaw would be nice is there a certain size bandsaw that is the favorite (maybe a powered coping saw)
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Yep, I remember Murray. I bought staves and hickory backing pieces from him years ago. I recently glued up a bow with one of his backings and have just one more left.
Mike Yancy at Pine Hollow Longbows sells good staves. So does Gary Davis at Rattlestick bows. Gary's are mostly spliced billets and chased to a single growth ring on the bow's back. Good quality. Good guys to deal with.
If you can swing it, I'd get a 14" bandsaw with at least a 1 h.p. motor. Check out Grizzly tools.
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If you are on a budget Craig's List is covered up with bandsaws at times. It is hard to beat a well kept American made 12" Craftsman as a starter saw. They run around $75 on Craig's List.
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found a band saw at work I can have for free but might be too big i will get a pic and see what you guys think.
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Build a solid work bench. Glue every joint with carpenters glue and run long screws into every joint, then anchor it to the floor. Mount the vice on one corner and pad the vice jaws with heavy leather.
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Put a post on the end of your workbench to support the staves you have in your vise.
I use my post to help me straighten wood as well.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/straighteningtakedown.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/bow%20making/straighteningtakedown.jpg.html)
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Originally posted by Tajue17:
found a band saw at work I can have for free but might be too big i will get a pic and see what you guys think.
If it fits through the door, it aint too big!
Even if you have to lay it on it's back to get it in. :goldtooth:
Dave.
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I agree, if you can get a free bandsaw, take it! Disassemble and get it in and reassemble it if you have to, they're not complex machines, but if you can get a free one, a big one at that, that is a great score!
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I made a simple and cheap drying box a while back. Its a 1' x 1' x 7' insulated box with a large hold cut in each end. I put a small space heater up to the hole and turn it on. I get warm air flowing over the stave. It gets a little to warm so I crack the door to adjust the temp. It works very well for drying out staves. I hung it up on the garage wall and it doubles as a shelf.
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its a big one I will post pics tomorrow but its commercial grade I think but because it doesn't have a shield our safety rep cut the end of the cord off I just need to re-attach it.
scrub-buster I like that idea,,, I've heard of them made with dimmer switches and meat thermometers sticking into the chamber but does the space heater make the wood too dry, do you go by time?
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I leave a roughed out bow in there for a few 1 hour sessions before tillering just to make sure its dry.
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Even if the saw runs on 3 phase or high voltage, remember, you can swap out the motor. It would cost less than a new saw and you can blow your buddies away with the tree trunk splitting monster in your shop. :bigsmyl:
Dave.
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heres the band saw its a delta , it has the regular 3 prong wall plug that I just have to connect back together because they cut the plug off which means do not ever use this equipment,,,,,I guess the brandnew commercial ones automatically stop when you hand touches the blade or goes near it I'm not sure.
(http://i.imgur.com/ph6fL2F.jpg)
I have to figure out how to get this thing home I have a small car because of my long commute.
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That's Perfect... Merry Xmas... :)
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Nice score! Looks like you got a Made in USA one too! Getting that saved you a nice chunk of change, band saw is a real good tool for making bows. Can ruin one real quick too if one isn't careful, don't ask me how I know. ..
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That's a great saw. That will do anything you will ever need it to.
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That's a real nice bandsaw. Well worth paying to have it brought home.
Dave.
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I hauled one home in the trunk of a Pontiac sunfire once.there easy to take apart and put back together.at least to the point it will fit in your car.once its set up you won't believe you ever lived with out it.
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Also in case you didn't know a razor blade and some penetrating out will take that rust right off then a coat of paste wax and your set.
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That is an awesome saw. I've used one for many years. That's a $500+ score.
I would not skimp on the blades. http://timberwolfblades.com/
Get Mark Duginske's bandsaw handbook.
Build a solid workbench and get a 6" vice with magnetic pads. You can get then=m at Lowes.
(http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/091162/091162008393lg.jpg)
If you are going to cut your own wood, get a good (I have a Stihl) chainsaw.
If you are going to chase rings get a good draw knife. I like a 10". Learn to sharpen it. Make sure your vise and bench are positioned where you can comfortable hog wood off.
Get a good Nicholson #49 rasp.
Make sure your work area is fairly clear and you can sweep up quickly and easily. Mulch your shavings.
I will unequivocally say you need a tillering pulley setup. There's lots of how to's here.
Take pics and study them. Learn to post them and ask for advice here.
There is no substitute for a sharp cabinet scraper.
I built a drying box 15 years ago and it got used maybe 10 times to dry stuff. The rest of the time it was storage. I tore it apart last year. But if you are going to force dry wood, you will need it. Make sure you can easily slide wood in and out of it. Get a hygrometer.
Get a heat gun and make a straightening caul if you are going to make osage bows. You'll need a bunch of clamps too.
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Here is the great news about scrapers you can make them out of just about any scrap metal. I like old saw blades myself so far. I go to a local lumber mill and they have the big bandsaw blades piled up I ask for a couple and they love to hand them over. I am working on some now from circular saw blades now. If I get them done I will show you. saw blades make great knife blades and broad heads also.
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thanks everyone for the tip above I will be bringing the saw home this week. thanks for the link on those blades I will need to get a spare for sure.
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Old handsaw blades are also a good source of steel for scrapers. You can use a dremel to cut them out.
Dave.