For building glass bows, what/if any are the alternatives to bandsaws?

jf

A CNC mill!!  Just kidding. Fo the rest of us nothing really does the job of a bandsaw like a bandsaw. For cutting out complex shaped risers and limbs a bandsaw is the only way to go, unless you use hand tools. It's worth the investment.  Take care, Matt

Talk to Hera.

Online to Hera right now!  His recent post is what inspired my question.  I build about 1-2 bows per year and not every year.  Certainly a bandsaw would be nice but 3 kids and 5 dogs, my shop is pretty much full!!

I think a Japanese pull saw may work!!!!

I've wondered if a frame saw with a scroll blade might work also. Seems to me to be a precurser to the band saw. Anyone use one?

http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=724

i used a jigsaw and it worked well enough i suppose.  like warrior i don't build alot of bows and can't justify buying a bandsaw..but i would love one for x-mas!!    

There is a english style "Bow Saw"  that has a wooden frame a adjusts like a coping saw only bigger. It's what people used to use before there was a bandsaw. HOwever when I've seen them they aren't cheap. I bet you could find an old Sears 12inch band saw cheap if you kept your eyes open. I've had one for 30 years and when tuned up it works fine.  I just googled up an image if you want to see the bow saw

I`ve made about 30 bows and have never used a band saw and do a pretty quick job of shaping the limbs,shaping the handle and cutting the shelf. I use a 4 1/2" Makita grinder with sanding disc pad and 36 grit disc. I can take both sides of both limbs down in about 10 minutes,handle takes about 15. But I am very used to grinding accurately as I do ornamental iron work. The best part about the grinder is, it only costs 70 dollars at Home Depot. I would use the grinder even if I had a bandsaw as I tend to suck with saws,any saw.

Drum grinder or better yet, diamond or carbide bit in a drill press.  Or you can use power sander like a belt sander, but it takes a while.  Or a scroll saw.  No matter which of these you use, stay well outside the lines and finish with sander, as the above methods will quickly wander on you.
BEST YET, go to a local cabinet shop and get them to help you, it won't take 10 minutes.  Even if you have to pay them a little or a 12 pack or something.

Dan
I've been taking my stuff to a cabinet shop for a while now.  Just getting kinda tired of it; the guy is SUPER nice, but I just tire of waiting for it.  O'h well, he got paid, I got my bow!!!

My local Menards has a Delta table top bandsaw for $69. Not suitable for production work but if you are only doing a couple a year, what the heck.

Do you know how many HP it is?  Sometimes they are 1/3hp but maybe that is enough for time work.  That is all that I need it for is trim work.  I buy my risers and laminations.  I will check our Menards here and see what they have.  thanks.

Hey guys il lhave to find it but i have a magazine with plans in it to make a shop built jig to turn a regular jigsaw into basicaly a scrollsaw/bandsaw ill go through my collection to see if i can find it and post a pic of it later

Look in you local want ads, especially if you have a free ads magazine like the Thrifty Nickel or Augusta's IWanta. Got a decent older 14" Craftsman with 2 used blades and 4 new ones for $75.  Of course you can do a fair amount of shaping with a router.  Still do that, especially on the riser, even with the band saw.  I image you could take it slow on the limbs to save time on the belt sander.