Tools and Stuff...

[smj]

So, I thought we might share a thread on what tools work well for bow making. If you have some that you really like, post'em here and tell us at least some of what we need to know to use them! We can all learn something.

I like scrapers. But with a scraper, or any hand tool, you need it sharpened right. Whats a scraper? Just a thin metal plate...



(I just got an order in from The Missoure Trading Company, and will promo these guys this time!

www.missouritrading.com/bows.htm)

Now, to use this little beauty, you have to prep it.

Start with squaring up the edge - I have a glass plate glued to a board as a starting point...



The foggy section in the middle is where I spray with adhesive... I also mask the rest so that the glue does not make it all sticky everywhere!



And mount sandpaper to it. This gives a flat surface, and you can pick the grit you need to work the flaws out of what ever tool you are sharpening.



For a scraper, you need to first square up the edges. This means sanding down the edge you want to sharpen, and the side of that edge as well. You want these square!

First we'll do the skinny edge,



Now we'll do the flat side. Don't lift it up, you want this flat.



Now roll the edge on with a burnishing tool... Or an old cold-rolled steel of some sort... Most use old chisels - I like the control of the burnisher, and I didn't have a chisel to use!



Rub back and forth until the edge rises along the length. Now, not shown here - You need to burnish all three sides with about 10 to 20 strokes until the metal shines brightly and the resulting edge is square. Now just on the thin edge, as shown in the photo, increase pressure, and as you work increase the angle of the burnisher to the thin flat face to about 5 degrees. You can test these on the back of a finger nail. It will shave it nice and neat!

I also bought a new rasp from Missouri T -



I can't wait to use this baby, I think it will work really slick! Let you know after this weekend!!!

[smj]

Here is a better photo of the assortment of rasps that I like.

The Shinto with the red grip works really well with hickory. It is rough on one side, smoother on the other. To the far right, a medium/mild rasp. To the left of the bow - the big toothed wonder... You want to be very careful with this guy, those teeth leave some big cuts! To the far left, two items that a lot of people have - I almost never use. I don't like the feel of the surform, a personal thing probably, and the black rasp next to it is not smooth to use. It snags a lot and is not a joy to work with. Maybe on really soft wood? The short little 4-in-1 towards the middle is a very good tool to have. Spend a buck or two and put handles on all rasps!


Now, you hear folks say to use a string to find the centerline... What does that mean??? Here it is. The board you look at seems reasonable. However, when compared to the straight edge, you can see some bend in it. Still, it is hard to say just how much bend is there... So, you put a string down the middle. At least, you find the middle on one end, in this case the far end, I then find the center at the middle of the board and mark it with a dot, then put the string over it and see where the other end of the board is at. To do this right, I have a 7 foot length of serving with a weight on either end. I toss the weights off opposite ends of the board. I adjust the string so that it goes through the center dot at the very end of the board. Then I go to the other end of the board and hold the string so that it goes through the middle dot as well. You want to be careful that the string does not drag in the mid-section of the board. You can place a pencil under the string at both ends to help keep it up off of the board. The string is now marking the centerline. Place a dot under the string every 10 inches or so, then go back with a straight edge and mark it end to end. The surface I am working on is flat, I ran it over the jointer prior to marking... ( I have one, so I use it!) Now I can lay out a pattern on this slat and cut it out for making bows. A pattern is nothing but another tool...



By the way, I picked up some contact cement and put some cork on top of one side of my bench. This makes for a really nice surface to work on! It is glued from end to end and should not come up.

[easternhunter]

SMJ....at the yard sale this weekend, there was awhole table of old rasps surforms and there WAS a Shinto as you call it....I was gonna pick them up, but got distracted and left them behind!

They MAY still be available...I am calling tonite to see.

[smj]

You will not be unhappy if you do! Although, on the rasps that do not allow one to replace the cutting surface, make sure that they are not all dull or miss-used. Then when you use them - make long strokes that go from say the grip section all the way out to the tip of the limb. Short strokes will get in trouble quick and leave your limb with dips worn in it. I can post a few picks of how to use them if you like.

Like I said, I am not a big fan of the surform, but this is only because I really like the others better.

[easternhunter]

Some were better than others of course, but that's normal coming from a farm.
Shinto looked lightly used as did some of the smaller rasps.
Yeah, I'd like to see some pics of your stuff...
that cork is a great idea...softens the clanky sound of rasps and clamps thrown around.....

[smj]

Shinto - I think - is who made the rasp of mine. I think these are called saw rasps. Replacement parts can be found -

www.highlandwoodworking.com/browseproducts/Shinto-Saw-Rasp-Replacement-Blade.html

[smj]

By the way, I have been saving a hickory longbow for serious tiller work until the Shinto rasp got here... Worth the wait! It worked really slick!!! So, you can start with the cabinet rasp, very course indeed. Then switch to the saw rasp - course side, then switch to the fine side. Finish up with the cabinet scraper, sand lightly. You have to take care that you don't take to much off at once, but the combination is wonderful.

[easternhunter]

I called the people that had the sale last nite...seems alot of the files and rasps are still there.
Along with a bit more ash, maple and yellow birch lumber....I gotta make a trip up there soon!

[Coca Cola]

Neigborhoods garage sale. I hope to find some good tools. Not that I know how to use any. lol

Good thread. Thanks for the tutorial on how to sharpen them

[easternhunter]

HEre's the files and rasps I got last nite from the same location as the previous wood find.....SMJ, the SHINTO was already sold. All tools are in great shape too!



Also, additional lumber I couldn't leave behind at that price!!