Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: karaterick on April 06, 2013, 10:45:00 pm
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Ok. I only have about $150 to spend so I need to know whether a band saw or table saw is better suited for roughing out board bows. I will be using primarily red oak and hickory.
I am not looking to go the most minimalistic approach. I'll get minimalistic maybe when I start using staves, but right now I just want an efficient way to get my board to close to bow dimensions. I rather enjoy taking my time in shaving the wood, sanding and tillering, but not the rough out.
Please keep in mind I only have about $150 so I'm probably only looking at a 9" - 10" band saw or whatever comparably priced table saw is available.
Thanks
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Get a bandsaw, it'll be more versatile than a table saw especially if you get into backings and trilams.
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go on craigslist. You might find both for a $150. For brand new 150 won't go far.
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Nothing on my local CL right now. I figure the thickest boards I'd be running through it are not much more than an inch. If a $150 saw isn't going to handle that I may have to wait.
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I'd agree about going with a band saw. I use mine a lot more frequently than I thought I would for bows and other projects around the house. My dad is a cabinet maker, so I can use his table saw but I really don't very often for bows.
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Bandsaw for sure. Some people do use table saws to cut freehand, with out a fence, but it is considered extremely dangerous, due to kickback and potential loss of fingers.
Hamish.
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I use both, but a bandsaw is more versatile, I got my bandsaw at a yardsale for $50, 14"er
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So would a 9" band saw work for 1" - 1 1/2" depth cuts? Also, I realize that band saw is the consensus and I trust your opinions, but I am having trouble visualizing why it's so much better than a table saw. I'm new to this. Can anyone explain why? What are the differences?
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A bandsaw will make much more precise cuts and is a lot less dangerous to operate. I use a tablesaw every day at work and it still gives me a good scare every now and then. There are a lot of things a tablesaw cant do, such as cutting in your fades or an arrow shelf. The only thing a tablesaw would be better for would be ripping backing strips and such. More fingers and hands are lost to tablesaws than all other tools combined.
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Look for a 14" bandsaw , it will handle staves when you start on them. Everyone says at least one horse power motor but if it's belt driven you can up the horsepower later.
With the bandsaw you can rip bigger boards down ( say you went by a sawmill and they are ripping oaks or hickory down for pallet boards about four inches thick a bandsaw would handle them ) .
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Did my first few bows on the table saw since that was all I had. Finally spent around a hundred bucks on a 9" bandsaw but all the cuts looked like the ocean since the blade width was limited. I gave it to my son when I got the 14" Grizzly. If I had only $150, I would get the table saw as you can rip wider lumber into bow width strips, rip backer strips, and, if you take your time, you can do your tapers on there too. Besides, you need a table saw to follow Bubby's excellent build a long. If you happened to luck up on a 14" band saw for $150, that would be the ticket, but you might have to wait a while.
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Low hp motors are useless for bows. Unfortunately the motors that come with 9" bandsaws are around 1/4 hp. You'll need 1 hp motor. Jawge
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If you can only buy 1 power saw then my first choice would be (was) a bandsaw. Much more versatile for any kind of woodwork (not just bows). You can do just about anything on a bandsaw you can do on a tablesaw (except for cutting wide flat panels and dados and such) and some things you can't do on a tablesaw.
And like George said, get one with enough horsepower.
Tablesaws are also very dangerous if you don't have experience with them. I even seen very experienced table saw operators get bit (and/or clobbered) by them. I have a serious respect for mine and only use it for stuff no other saw will do (doesn't include roughing out bows). I'll use hand tools and a hatchet before I even think about using a table saw for any bow work.
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if you decide to get a bandsaw, consider upgrading the blade. A lot of people purchase Timberwolfs. http://www.suffolkmachinery.com/ The cutting difference between these & the stock blades that come with the bandsaw are night and day!
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For roughing out bows I would get a bandsaw. But im hoping to get a small table saw for my birthday to cut some laminations. SS
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All bowyers would do themselves an immense favor by going to www.owwm.org (http://www.owwm.org), reading the rules and joining.
There may even be someone in your area selling a great vintage band saw.
Jim Davis
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Thanks for all of the info guys. I'll look for something used for a few days and then decide what I need to do.