Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: Kitsu on March 19, 2009, 10:15:47 am
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if you had a choice of 2-5 tools to make a bow with, what would they be (no power tools/expensive tools), please state your reasons too, this is mainly to help me learn what else to buy, (i have other tools these are what i use most :P)
the ones i couldnt live without are:
My handsaw
Pocket knife
and My hatchet
my reasons , handsaw to clean up hatcheted trees, or to cut down larger trees that i cant hatchet down in a day :P
My pocket knife because i can use it like a draw knife due to its length and i can push on end of knife and handle and use it like that, plus it is useful for shaping and other purposes.
and my hatchet for cutting down smaller trees, rough shaping my bows, splitting the log into staves, and numerous other reasons.
other tools i like that i CAN LIVE WITHOUT:
Rasp+file (for arrow notches and rough shaping and tillering)
Cheese-grater/hand-plane(dont know the real word for it but it is great for working in the handle :P)
5 lb splitting wedge (for splitting logs into staves :P)
Post your major stuff, and minor stuff, possibly prices and reasons why
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Must need:
hatchet, knife and draw knife
Nice to have:
Swedish push knife, 4 way rasp, cooper's tools
Saves my back:
stationary, 6 x 48, belt driven sander with 40 grit paper.
I've built bows with the first 3.
Jawge
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Must needs
Draw knife/Farrier's rasp/Scraper/.Hatchet
Nice to have
Band saw, 4 way file /chain saw /wedges/ Nicolas 49/50 files /tiller tree/ chain saw file
I have also made several with the first 4 ,but it is sure nice not to have to anymore.
The band saws probably,if used right save the most time. :)
Pappy
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I agree with Pappy's list!
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ah cool, define a tillering "tree" whats the major differences between that and a tillering stick?
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Tools I use and require....
Handsaw
Hatchet
Farriers Rasp
Knife....
I use others of course but these are what I use most....
When I first started it was just a Saw, Four Way Rasp, and a Butcher knife for scraping
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My tiller tree...
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/forDon006.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/forDon002-1.jpg)
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I'm pretty inexperienced, but I'd say my must haves are:
Surform rasp
Nicholson file/rasp
scraper
Now, that being said, I've made a bow using those tools in the brute force manner and it ain't fun. Too much sweating. However, I don't have the space for a bandsaw so my tool kit now consists of:
Bosch jigsaw (for roughing out profile - don't use if for shaping belly though)
draw knife (for general roughing out of belly)
spokeshave (for finer roughing out)
9" smooth plane (for getting flat bows FLAT)
scraper (for tillering)
It probably takes me twice as long to make a bow as someone using more power tools (ie. bandsaw, stationary belt sander), but I do enjoy using the hand tools to work the wood and there's something satisfying about a big pile of wood curls on the floor. If I ever wanted to really make money selling bows, I'd probably get a bandsaw, but then I couldn't work inside my apartment - guess I'd need a shop then.
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i made my first bow with a large tooth 3"x16" ferriers rasp and a handsaw pair of C-clamps... id say those are my must haves, id probably have to add in my dollar store scisors for scraping now that i have figured out how to get them working right. ;D
nice to have:
bandsaw saves tons of time on shaping fades and handle
electric sander (palm variety)
tillering tree and scale
Dustin D
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"MUST HAVE"
Journal for ideas and data
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-journal.jpg)
Good, large pair of scissors
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-largescissors.jpg)
Mini hacksaw
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-minihacksaw.jpg)
Crosscut saw
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-crosscutsaw.jpg)
Small sledgehammer
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-smallsledge.jpg)
Hatchet
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-hatchet.jpg)
Pocket knife
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-pocketknife.jpg)
Swiss small rasp files
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-swissraspfiles.jpg)
Good quality sanding paper
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-sandingbelts.jpg)
Pot and aluminum foil for steaming staves and shoots
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-pot.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-foil.jpg)
Pail of water for cleaning up hide glue & water-based paint......and for dipping sinew.....as well as many other uses
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-waterbucket.jpg)
Candle warmer for warming hide glue and pitch
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-warmer.jpg)
Squeeze bottle for fish glue.....my all-time favorite.....best stuff in the world :)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-gluebottle.jpg)
And, of course....a yardstick
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-yardstick.jpg)
"MUST HAVE" POWER TOOLS (my personal favorites)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-beltsander.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-beltsander2.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-discsander.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-dremel.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-scrollsaw.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-heatgun.jpg)
Fan for blowing away dust, cooling things down, and drowning out the kid noises.... ;D
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-fan.jpg)
"MUST HAVE" ELECTRONICS
Kitchen scale (reads in pounds and ounces)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-kitchenscale.jpg)
Grain scale
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-grainscale.jpg)
Chronograph
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-chronograph.jpg)
"NICE TO HAVE" POWER TOOLS
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-chainsaw.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-bandsaw.jpg)
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST..."NICE TO HAVE" BIG STUFF
Work benches
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-workbench.jpg)
Work Shop
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-workshed.jpg)
Work Trailer
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-trailer.jpg)
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"MUST HAVE"
Journal for ideas and data
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-journal.jpg)
Good, large pair of scissors
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-largescissors.jpg)
Mini hacksaw
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-minihacksaw.jpg)
Crosscut saw
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-crosscutsaw.jpg)
Small sledgehammer
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-smallsledge.jpg)
Hatchet
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-hatchet.jpg)
Pocket knife
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-pocketknife.jpg)
Swiss small rasp files
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-swissraspfiles.jpg)
Good quality sanding paper
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-sandingbelts.jpg)
Pot and aluminum foil for steaming staves and shoots
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-pot.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-foil.jpg)
Pail of water for cleaning up hide glue & water-based paint......and for dipping sinew.....as well as many other uses
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-waterbucket.jpg)
Candle warmer for warming hide glue and pitch
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-warmer.jpg)
Squeeze bottle for fish glue.....my all-time favorite.....best stuff in the world :)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-gluebottle.jpg)
And, of course....a yardstick
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-yardstick.jpg)
"MUST HAVE" POWER TOOLS (my personal favorites)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-beltsander.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-beltsander2.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-discsander.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-dremel.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-scrollsaw.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-heatgun.jpg)
Fan for blowing away dust, cooling things down, and drowning out the kid noises.... ;D
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-fan.jpg)
"MUST HAVE" ELECTRONICS
Kitchen scale (reads in pounds and ounces)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-kitchenscale.jpg)
Grain scale
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-grainscale.jpg)
Chronograph
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-chronograph.jpg)
"NICE TO HAVE" POWER TOOLS
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-chainsaw.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-bandsaw.jpg)
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST..."NICE TO HAVE" BIG STUFF
Work benches
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-workbench.jpg)
Work Shop
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-workshed.jpg)
Work Trailer
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-19-09/p-trailer.jpg)
if you had a choice of 2-5 tools to make a bow with, what would they be (no power tools/expensive tools), please state your reasons too, this is mainly to help me learn what else to buy, (i have other tools these are what i use most :P)
u kinda went a little overboard
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jackcrafty may have went a little overboard but his bows are usaully sweet as all get along with all his other stuff
so ifn thats what he needs then thats what he needs
personally i dont use near that much,but then again my bows dont compare with his either.
i use a sur form,a cheap #49 rasp,chain saw file,scraper blade from a wall paper remover,micrometer
peace,
tim
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A good hatchet: this could be used for alot of the work.
A vice: so many uses for bow building.
A very good rasp: The ubr 10 is the best I have ever used.(sorry but it is a bit costly)
Goose neck scraper: I use this tool all the time.
Tillering tree: This depends on how well you want your bows tillered.:)
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I can’t hone it down to just that few, but here is my list of must have tools:
Adz
Hatchet
Japanese hand saw
Farrier rasp
Spoke shave
Wood rasp
Jack plane and block plane
Cabinet scraper w/steel
Wood clamps
Work bench
Tillering tree
Critical tools:
Digital camera
1” mortising chisel and mallet
Pencils and pens
String for marking center line
Ruler
Various types of files
Oscillating belt sander
Thickness planer
Drill press
Anvil on tree stump
Tiny forge
Propane melting furnace
The thing about tools are, some can be used for different operations, but don’t force a tool to do a job it is not designed for. And some tools I use are not for bows, but for catapults and other projects. The anvil, for instance, is also nice for processing sinew, and just looks cool in my shop :)
Think of tools as investments, and try to get the best quality you can afford when you can. I always try to justify the other uses a tool will serve. Plus, they are therapeutic; after a day or week of work, using my hands is a pleasure and an escape.
Last, many hand tools can be found in antique stores or on Ebay very cheaply but very high quality. I found a superb 100 year old drawknife at a local store, and my best planes come from antique stores.
Dane
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ah, so i should try to go to some antique stores later then :P
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OOPS!.....sorry Hawkeyes. ;D
You answered your own question, though. And I was bored at work.....so I included all that other stuff for the benefit of your readers.
If you want cheap, essential, not commonly used, and only 2-5 things (with reasons) here goes:
1. campfire: heat bending, pitch melting, glue warming, wood drying, black pigment (charcoal), heat tempering, light source, and war/hunt dancing.
2. chert or flint: scrapers, saws, etchers, cutters, pounding sinew (the round nodules), axes, and buffers.
3. sandstone: sanding and shaping.
4. pressure flaker: for sharpening tools.
5. hammerstone: for producing flakes.
As far as the bare essentials, here's what I would use:
1. large knife: combines the usefulness of hatchet, froe, and scraper/bark peeler. Also used to cut splitting wedges for larger logs.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-20-09/q-largeknife.jpg)
2. small knife: scraping, shaping, small cuts.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-20-09/q-smallknife.jpg)
3. sharpening stone: shaping cutting edges.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-20-09/q-stone.jpg)
4. leather strop: polishing cutting edges.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-20-09/q-strop.jpg)
5. wood file: shaping
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-20-09/q-woodfile.jpg)
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I'd say yes, Hawkeyes. I always find great tool deals at antique stores. I never go during tourist season, though, the prices are always higher. :) My best bench plane I got for 5 bucks, and the drawknive I meantioned cost me about 50 dollars. I find it far more satisfying to use tools with a history than a new cheap tool from Home Depot or Lowes.
Dane
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Patrick, now that you opened the stone tool chest can o' worms, why dont you post some shots of your own stone and antler tools?
Dane
OOPS!.....sorry Hawkeyes. ;D
You answered your own question, though. And I was bored at work.....so I included all that other stuff for the benefit of your readers.
If you want cheap, essential, not commonly used, and only 2-5 things (with reasons) here goes:
1. campfire: heat bending, pitch melting, glue warming, wood drying, black pigment (charcoal), heat tempering, light source, and war/hunt dancing.
2. chert or flint: scrapers, saws, etchers, cutters, pounding sinew (the round nodules), axes, and buffers.
3. sandstone: sanding and shaping.
4. pressure flaker: for sharpening tools.
5. hammerstone: for producing flakes.
As far as the bare essentials, here's what I would use:
1. large knife: combines the usefulness of hatchet, froe, and scraper/bark peeler. Also used to cut splitting wedges for larger logs.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-20-09/q-largeknife.jpg)
2. small knife: scraping, shaping, small cuts.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-20-09/q-smallknife.jpg)
3. sharpening stone: shaping cutting edges.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-20-09/q-stone.jpg)
4. leather strop: polishing cutting edges.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-20-09/q-strop.jpg)
5. wood file: shaping
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/3-20-09/q-woodfile.jpg)
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Dane, good idea. Today's Friday and I don't have to go to work tomorrow...and the camera is available.....heheh :)
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I'd say yes, Hawkeyes. I always find great tool deals at antique stores. I never go during tourist season, though, the prices are always higher. :) My best bench plane I got for 5 bucks, and the drawknive I meantioned cost me about 50 dollars. I find it far more satisfying to use tools with a history than a new cheap tool from Home Depot or Lowes.
Dane
i am gonna have to show my dad this post :P because he doesnt believe me that some tools at antique stores are cheaper than the ones at home depot >.>
btw, if i find one at a flea market, how much should i bring, i mean, how much would people normally sell a drawknife for at a flea market...
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As for tools you would absolutly have to have to make a bow if you only had an option of 2 tools...
id say:
1. my usmc issue (K-bar) reasons:
you can use it for varoius applications if your carful and know how to handle it then it will be your:
- hatchet
- draw knife (must use real cuation here and carful how you hold the blade side while using as a
draw knife..
- scraper...
2. a must have is a good size roll of U.S. Para cord...
reasons:
it can be used for various applications:
- Bow string
- handle wrap
- string for a fire makeing bow and stick technique (dont know what its actually called)
(the inside strands or innards) can be used for...
- wraping or fixing splinters
- string silancers
- wraping arrow heads ( stone or trad points)
- wraping and securing the self nocks
- wraping fletching (feathers)
those would be my upmost 2 basic items i would want or need if i could only have 2 items with me to start out with making a bow... or basic survival bow everything else would fall into natural resources like "wood" for bow arrow and fire... feathers would be nice but could realiy on natural resourse for that as well glue would be nice but could always make up some pitch soo that would fall into natural resources (would also like to have a lighter handy but if not could always make oe the hard way)
if i had a chioce of only five:
1. k-bar (stated above)
2. para cord (stated above)
3. rasp (makes reducing wood alot easier and faster more effective)
4. file (for smoothing out what was rasped and removing smaller amounts of wood and i use for making string grooves, and can be used to re-sharpen or put edge on K-Bar)
5. Lighter or some sort of advance heat sorce... (for heat treating bending and shaping and straightining )
thats just the pretty basic stuff...
i really would like a whole lot more in my bow making kit...
like some type of glue... but i can think of four just in glues..
- wood glue
- super glue
- fletching glue
- hot glue sticks for points
and thats just in glues... :D